United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Q1. How have the COVID-19 pandemic and the current food, energy and financing crises changed the priorities of your organization?
UNCTAD is the focal point in the UN system for the integrated treatment of trade and development, and interrelated issues of finance, technology, investment, and sustainable development. The Covid-19 pandemic upended all these topics which resulted in a reorientation of UNCTAD’s work toward the monitoring of the effects of the global pandemic on manufacturing, trade, including commodities’ trade, digitalization, foreign direct investment and economic growth.
The war in Ukraine and all its dimensions, in particular the related implications for food and energy security, shipping costs and the geography of trade required UNCTAD to focus attention on these important issues and track in almost real-time, key developments and potential implications. The disruption caused by the war is compounding the challenges faced by a world that has already been battered by COVID-19 pandemic and climate change factors. A slowdown in the global economy, inflation, the cost-of-living crisis, financial strain and uncertainty are worrisome especially for vulnerable people and developing countries, including the least developed countries.
UNCTAD has been the first UN agency to alert the international community on the impact of the war in Ukraine on trade and development. Following of which, the United Nations Secretary General established a Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance whose workstreams coordination has been handed to UNCTAD.
UNCTAD quickly adapted to the new needs from developing countries and focused its economic research and analysis capacities on identifying and measuring the economic impacts of the pandemic and of the war as well as on providing policy advice and raising awareness. Many publications and analytical work supported by a wide collection of data on trade, shipping connectivity and routes, as well as shipping costs and port operation, have contributed to inform decisions by governments, the intergovernmental process and the UN system regarding the economic implications of the war in Ukraine and the prolonged pandemic and related lockdowns.
Q2. How has your organization supported Member States to accelerate their recovery from COVID-19 and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda? How has your organization cooperated with other UN system organizations in these efforts to achieve coherence and synergies?
Soon after the beginning of the pandemic, UNCTAD, based on the result of its analytical work identified three projects which immediately provided relief to countries on trade continuity, MSME sector and mobilization of financial resources. These projects were jointly implemented with several UN partners.
Please highlight up to three high-impact initiatives, especially those that address interlinkages among the SDGs and involves interagency collaboration. Concrete initiatives might be selected to be spotlighted during relevant intergovernmental meetings.
| Initiative | Global Initiative towards post-Covid-19 resurgence of the MSME sector |
| Partners | UNDESA, ESCWA, ESCAP, ECLAC, ECE, ECA |
| Relevant SDGs | SDGs 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 17 |
| Member States benefiting from the initiative | Available to all developing countries |
| Description |
The COVID-19 crisis is plunging the global economy into a deep recession and micro, small and medium enterprises – which play a major role in emerging economies – are amongst the hardest hit. With more than two-thirds of the global population employed by MSMEs, the unprecedented outbreak of COVID 19 has shown how tightly their activities are woven into the economic and social fabric of the world and therefore how fundamental their role is in social and economic resurgence. The current crisis threatens to push back the limited gains made on gender equality and exacerbate the feminization of poverty, vulnerability to violence, and women’s equal participation in the labor force. The project approach is built on the notion that nobody should be left behind. The objective of the project is to strengthen the capacity and resilience of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries and economies in transition to mitigate the economic and social impact of the global Covid-19 crisis. The project will be structured in five clusters addressing most critical areas of the MSME recovery: • Mobilize entrepreneurial ecosystem and strengthen business skills • Simplify business registration and facilitate formalization • Improve access to finance/financial literacy • Increase access to technology and innovation • Enhance access to markets |
| Website | https://msme-resurgence.unctad.org/ |
| Initiative | Response and Recovery: Mobilising financial resources for development in the time of Covid-19 |
| Partners | ESCAP, ECLAC, ECA |
| Relevant SDGs | SDGs 8, 10, 17 |
| Member States benefiting from the initiative | Available to all developing countries |
| Description |
While the ongoing Covid-19 crisis is first and foremost a public health threat, it is also, and increasingly, an economic threat. Many developing countries face distinct limitations on their ability to mount appropriate stimulus packages for their economies as well as far greater challenges to their economies and societies arising from the COVID-19 crisis than is the case in the industrialized world. In many developing countries a large-scale lock-down of their economies to flatten the contagion curve of the pandemic is not feasible without risking the prospect of more people dying from hunger than from illness. The project aims to strengthen diagnostic and policy design capacity of the relevant macroeconomic, fiscal and debt financing authorities in LICs and MICs in order to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure a recovery that enables the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). |
| Website | https://mobilizingdevfinance.org/ |
| Initiative | Transport and trade connectivity in the age of pandemics: contactless, seamless, and collaborative UN solutions |
| Partners | ESCWA, ESCAP, ECLAC, ECE, ECA |
| Relevant SDGs | SDGs 8, 9, 17 |
| Member States benefiting from the initiative | Available to all developing countries |
| Description |
The COVID-19 pandemic represents a supply and a demand shock - both aspects influencing international trade in goods and services. Furthermore, cargo and document handling during global maritime trade can facilitate virus transmission across borders, lockdowns in both major producing and trading countries have crippled international supply chains and regional coordination on the transport response to COVID-19 has been limited. Trade policies including non-tariff measures such as export restrictions on medical goods have been used frequently and have negatively impacted the possibility of most developing countries to mitigate the pandemic. The trade recovery in 2021, stumbled across logistical constraints reflecting continued pandemic trends, supply and demand mismatch and heightened inefficiencies in global transport and logistics. Unprecedented port congestion, historically high shipping costs, extended delays and low service reliability have dented countries access to the global market place, especially in developing regions and undermined a normalization in transport and trade patterns The objective of the project was to implement United Nations solutions, including standards, guidelines, metrics, tools and methodologies to immediately help governments and the business community world-wide keep transport networks and borders operational to facilitate the flow of goods and services, while containing the further spread of the COVID-19 virus. Under the maritime transport component of the project UNCTAD carried out the following activities: Under the port resilience against pandemics component, UNCTAD carried out the following: Under the transport policy and legislation, UNCTAD is, among others, leading a component on the key commercial transport and trade law implications of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Relevant UNCTAD reports include: Under the Trade facilitation component, UNCTAD has been assisting Governments with a capacity building programme focused on strengthening the capacities of its National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFCs). The programme focuses on training of both Government officials and private sector representatives, to successfully implement trade facilitation reforms, including the provisions of the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement. For instance, national transit coordinators have been trained in the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and in Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan). As a result five Rapid Scans of trade facilitation preparedness in times of crisis as well as several national Trade Facilitation Strategies were developed and implemented. Finally, techniques and measures that spans risk identification, risk assessment, and management or mitigation were introduced in ports. |
| Website | https://unctad.org/project/transport-and-trade-connectivity-age-pandemi… |
Q3. Has your organization published or is it planning to publish any analytical work or guidance note or toolkits to guide and support recovery efforts from COVID-19 while advancing full implementation of SDGs at national, regional and global levels? Please select up to three high-impact resources to highlight, especially those that address interlinkages among the SDGs. Selected resources will be highlighted to inform relevant intergovernmental meetings.
| Resource |
The least developed countries in the post-COVID world: Learning from 50 years of experience |
| Publishing entity/entities | United Nations |
| Relevant SDGs | 1 |
| Target audience | Policy makers, diplomats engaged in intergovernmental processes |
| Description | UNCTAD’s Least Developed Countries Report found that the COVID-19 crisis and the emerging two-speed global recovery threaten to reverse many hard-won development gains, which is further aggravated by the creeping adverse effects of climate change. UNCTAD research and policy guidance contends that mainstreaming productive capacities development in these countries is a necessary condition for boosting their capacity to respond to and recover from crises. While LDCs prioritize economic transformation and diversification in their policies, they have critically lacked the means necessary to progress towards the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. |
| Website | https://unctad.org/webflyer/least-developed-countries-report-2021 |
| Language | English |
| Resource |
UNCTAD Covid-19 response |
| Publishing entity/entities | United Nations |
| Relevant SDGs | |
| Target audience | Policy makers, diplomats engaged in intergovernmental processes |
| Description | UNCTAD dedicated portal is a repository of all the work carried out by UNCTAD on the Covid-19 pandemic. It contains publications on the impacts of the global pandemic on trade and development and related policy advice. Topics cover the following (list not exhaustive): Trade agreements Tourism Global trade statistics Maritime transport Ports activity Macroeconomic analysis Foreign direct investments Sustainable trade Global e-commerce analysis Gender equality and trade Competition and consumer protection Investment promotion agencies Least developed countries Small Island Developing States Landlocked countries Digital products Science, technology and innovation Green recovery through trade Sustainable blue economy Global value chains Debt and finance Commodities trade Trade policies (Tariffs and Non-tariffs measures) |
| Website | https://unctad.org/programme/covid-19-response |
| Language | English |
| Resource |
Review of Maritime Transport 2022 |
| Publishing entity/entities | UNCTAD |
| Relevant SDGs | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 17 |
| Target audience | Policy makers, diplomats engaged in intergovernmental processes, businesses, academia |
| Description | Maritime transport is the backbone of international trade and the global economy. Over 80% of the volume of international trade in goods is carried by sea, and the percentage is even higher for most developing countries. The Review of Maritime Transport is an UNCTAD flagship report, published annually since 1968. It provides an analysis of structural and cyclical changes affecting seaborne trade, ports and shipping, as well as an extensive collection of statistics from maritime trade and transport. This year's edition of the report has a special focus on the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic's on maritime supply chains and trade, the implications of the war in Ukraine for shipping patters, costs, food security and the energy training landscape. It also includes a special chapter on growing liner shipping market vertical and horizontal integration and related implications for the competition levels in shipping markets. |
| Website | https://unctad.org/meeting/launch-review-maritime-transport-2022 |
| Language | English |
| Resource |
COVID-19 and E-commerce Global Review |
| Publishing entity/entities | United Nations |
| Relevant SDGs | SDGs 5, 8, 9, 17 |
| Target audience | Policy makers, donor organizations dealing with digital for development |
| Description | The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformations. Digital solutions are increasingly needed to continue some of the economic and social activities remotely. They have been critical for telemedicine, telework and online education, not least to keep alive our social ties in times of physical distancing. However, unless adequately addressed, existing digital divides are likely to result in even greater inequalities. Against this background, a group of eTrade for all partners joined forces in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, with the aim of jointly assessing how the impact of the pandemic was playing out in various regions of the world, what barriers countries and business were facing when trying to leverage digital solutions; what policy responses had been taken; and – not least important – what we could do better to reap synergies and enhance global support to those countries that are the least equipped to manage digital transformation for dealing with the pandemic and beyond. This study on the impact of COVID-19 on e-commerce and digital trade is a collective effort, and the first research-oriented project undertaken under the eTrade for all umbrella. The work was led by UNCTAD and UNECLAC, drawing also on regional reports prepared by UNECA, UNECE and UNESCAP. Valuable inputs and comments were also received from e-Residency of Estonia, the ITC, UNESCAP and UPU. The critical global policy challenge that emerges from this study is that greater efforts are needed to help reduce inequalities in e-trade readiness that currently prevail amongst countries. The pandemic has also demonstrated the importance of ensuring consistency and avoiding duplication in international efforts. The Global Review is complemented by a COVID-19 repository, which gathers more than 250 resources from eTrade for all partners specifically addressing the impact of COVID-19 on the various policy areas. It offers a weekly update and an optimized search function. |
| Website | etradeforall.org/covid-19 and https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/dtlstict2020d13_en.pdf |
| Language | English, executive summaries in Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish |
Q4. How has your organization engaged with stakeholder groups to support SDG implementation and COVID-19 recovery at national, regional and global levels? Please provide main highlights, including any lessons learned. For example, what has worked particularly well as a model for effective stakeholder engagement? If your organization has established multi-stakeholder partnership(s) in this regard, please describe them (name, partners involved, relevant SDGs, Member States benefiting from the partnership) and provide links to relevant websites for more information.
| Partnership | Strengthening developing countries’ digital readiness for e-commerce development in COVID times |
| Partners | eT Ready beneficiary countries, eTrade for all partners, UN Resident Coordinators |
| Relevant SDGs | 5, 8, 9, 17 |
| Member States benefiting from the initiative | Developing countries, mainly LDCs |
| Description | Since the outbreak of COVID-19, developing countries have increasingly recognized the value of being able to leverage electronic commerce. Building on UNCTAD’s eTrade Readiness Assessments (eT Readies), which provide a diagnostic of e-commerce ecosystems of beneficiary countries, UNCTAD has paid particular attention to barriers to harnessing e-commerce during the pandemic. In this context, UNCTAD fosters synergies among development partners, facilitates easy access to relevant capacity-building development solutions and monitors progress made by countries in implementing the assessments’ recommendations. From 2020, building on regular reviews of the implementation of the assessments’ recommendations, in collaboration with eTrade for all partners, eTrade for Women Advocates, UN Resident Coordinators, UNCTAD has organized stakeholder engagement workshops benefiting Focal Points (trade ministry officials) and other key national stakeholders from the community of eT Ready beneficiary countries. These have provided a valuable platform for public and private stakeholders to share and learn from the experience of other countries facing similar challenges, how to better leverage their assessments’ recommendations to mainstream an e-commerce and digital economy development initiatives, particularly in LDCs, in the context of COVID-19 national recovery plans and frameworks. |
| Website | https://unctad.org/topic/ecommerce-and-digital-economy/etrade-readiness… |
| Partnership | COVID-19 and SME recovery |
| Partners | International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), WTO and ITC |
| Relevant SDGs | Goal 8 |
| Member States benefiting from the initiative | Global |
| Description | The initiative supports micro-, small- and medium sized enterprises to get information on trade related regulations and requirements including COVID-19 temporary trade measures |
| Website | https://globaltradehelpdesk.org/ and https://unctad.org/topic/trade-analysis/non-tariff-measures/covid-19-an… |
| Partnership | Strengthening services trade policy-making for Africa's integration into regional value chains in support of the 2030 Agenda |
| Partners | UNECA |
| Relevant SDGs | 1, 8, 9, 17 |
| Member States benefiting from the initiative | Transport services in Ethiopia and Kenya; Tourism services in Mali and The Gambia; Financial services in Nigeria and Togo |
| Description | Through this project, UNCTAD and UNECA provided support to strengthen the capacities of national and regional policymakers and stakeholders to measure and analyze value chains and design services policies aimed at enabling higher integration into global and regional value chains. |
| Website | https://unctad.org/project/strengthening-services-trade-policy-making-a… |
| Partnership | Inclusion of green initiatives in AfCFTA National Implementation Strategies of 20 African Countries |
| Partners | UNECA |
| Relevant SDGs | 12, 13, 17 |
| Member States benefiting from the initiative | Algeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroun, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Description | The project aims to assist participating countries with the identification, selection and initial development of new regional green value chains. The impacts of climate change on selected green value chains will be assessed. Participating countries in each region will elaborate national strategies to support the development of regional green value chains in an AfCFTA context while enhancing their resilience to climate change. |
| Website | https://unctad.org/project/inclusion-green-initiatives-afcfta-national-… |
| Partnership | Oceans Economy and Trade Strategies (OETS): Caribbean and Central American experience sharing workshop - looking back and forging ahead |
| Partners | UNCTAD, DOALOS, Governments of Barbados, Belize and Costa Rica |
| Relevant SDGs | 14, 2, 12, 13 and 15 |
| Member States benefiting from the initiative | Global and Regional event (196) |
| Description | UNCTAD in collaboration with DOALOS have ushered the final (dissemination) phase of the project, “Evidence-based and policy coherent Oceans Economy and Trade Strategies” (OETS) which started in Barbados, Belize and Costa Rica (‘target countries’) in 2018. The project aims to promote sustainable trade of products and services in ocean- based economic sectors within the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) framework. In this context and in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic, project partners organised a high-level experience sharing workshop on 23–24 September 2021 to reflect on achievements of the project, challenges and lessons learned as well as look forward to the future of sustainable ocean economy. |
| Website | https://unctad.org/meeting/oceans-economy-and-trade-strategies-oets-car… |
| Partnership | World Investment Forum 2021 |
| Partners | 68 partner organizations from across the world and including UN and non-UN international Organizations, Professional and Business Associations, NGOs, and Academia |
| Relevant SDGs | SDGs 10 and 17 |
| Member States benefiting from the initiative | All UNCTAD Member States (177 countries represented at WIF2021) |
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The 7th edition of the World Investment Forum took place virtually from 18 to 22 October 2021. It came at a critical time for global investment and helped address the key challenges faced by the investment development community worldwide. Recovering from the Covid-19 crisis and building forward better will not be possible without reigniting investment as an engine of growth and a big push for investment in sustainable and inclusive recovery is needed. Towards this end the Forum examined the challenges and opportunities arising from the triple mega-drivers; the new industrial revolution, the sustainability imperative and the enhancement of economic resilience. During the 5 days-event, participants devised ways to make investment work better for sustainable development, identifying new paths for global value chains to continue providing security and development, ways in which the private sector can work with governments to finance the recovery, leveraging public funds to invest in SDGs and close the funding gap for the 2030 Agenda and modalities for investment promotion agencies and special economic zones to maximize their effectiveness in this digital world, upgrading their strategies to steer investment towards the most vulnerable. The Forum was attended by over 8000 participants. It comprised some 95 events organized over 5 days, including three Summits, three ministerial roundtables and four high-profile award ceremonies and was participated by 66 partner organizations. It gathered 12 heads of State and government, 54 ministers, 24 heads of international organizations, and countless policymakers and legislators. From the private sector, the Forum attracted 70 CEOs of multinationals and stock exchanges, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and family businesses. 44 percent of the registered 8000 + participants, speakers and panelists, were women and 60 percent were from developing countries. |
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| Website | https://worldinvestmentforum.unctad.org/7th-world-investment-forum/ |
Q5. In the 2019 SDG Summit declaration (GA Resolution 74/4), Member States outlined ten priority areas for accelerated action in SDG implementation. Please highlight any major integrated and innovative policies or initiatives that your organization may have adopted in these ten priority areas:
5.1 leaving no one behind;
ASYCUDA: Customs’ contribution to national revenue through revenue collections, and the subsequent investment of revenues into national development programmes contribute to ending poverty in all its forms everywhere
5.2 mobilizing adequate and well-directed financing;
ASYCUDA: Taxes collected on imported and exported goods help provide countries with funds needed to deliver important public services and infrastructure, such as schools, roads and hospitals.
Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative: Stock exchanges are strategically positioned to leverage private sector contribution to the 2030 Agenda. Acting at the interface of investors, companies and government policy, stock exchanges can contribute to the SDGs in two primary ways: they can mobilize investment in the SDGs on a meaningful scale and they can influence the actions of listed companies through listing rules, market education and other practices that promote responsible business behaviour.
The Sustainable Stock Exchange initiative is a partnership progamme supported by UNCTAD, Global Compact, PRI and UNEP-FI. It examines how stock exchanges can work together with investors, regulators and companies to enhance corporate transparency -and ultimately performance – on environmental, social and corporate governance issues and encourage sustainable investment.
Family Business for Sustainable Development: The initiative aims at providing family businesses worldwide with the ways and means to integrate sustainability into their conventional business models, therefore contributing to global sustainable development and inclusive growth, as well as the prosperity of the family business. Key deliverables include the Family Business Sustainability Pledge, the Sustainability Contribution Indicators, a jointly developed platform and a capacity- building programme.
Institutional Investor Partnerships for Sustainable Development: The initiative is a global platform fostering a mutually beneficial partnerships between institutional investors, governments, international organizations and other stakeholders, to support and facilitate investment that can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, especially in developing countries.
5.3 enhancing national implementation;
UNCTAD's Productive Capacities Index (PCI) is a dynamic and practical tool to support developing countries in understanding the status of their productive capacity and how this can be improved. It builds on UNCTAD's long-standing work on productive capacities, which are essential for generating inclusive and sustained economic growth and achieving sustainable development. More information can be found at pci.unctad.org
5.4 strengthening institutions for more integrated solutions;
ASYCUDA: Single Window systems strengthens the roles and outcomes of Customs and Partner Governmental Agencies (i.e. Ministries, Regulatory Border Agencies…) that compose it.
5.5 bolstering local action;
ASYCUDA: In 2020-2021, UNDA (United Nations Development Account) and ASYCUDA signed an agreement (SDG17 – Partnership for the Goals) for the implementation of ASYCUDA guidelines for Customs Administrations to tackle the economic impact of COVID-19. Furthermore, the Programme has tailored its capacity building component by implementing an e-learning platform to raise the skills of Customs officers and perfect their use and configuration of ASYCUDA systems as well as enhance its features (SDG17). It also supports the local IT Customs team and economic operators for the tailoring and configuration of its systems following internationally renowned best practices and standards.
5.6 reducing disaster risk and building resilience;
ASYCUDA : ASYREC, the Automated System for Relief Consignments, in cooperation with OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs). The system provides for automated, coordinated, efficient and facilitated imports of humanitarian relief. This is a tool of the utmost importance for the humanitarian aid coordination mechanism to ensure that the humanitarian response to an emergency crisis proves logistically efficient and effective (SDG11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities).
5.7 solving challenges through international cooperation and enhancing the global partnership;
UNCTAD’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) utilization database allows countries to review trade trends and utilization rates of preferences across reporting countries. It provides information on the utilization of the GSP schemes as well as other trade preferences granted to developing countries and LDCs under GSP, duty-free quota-free (DFQF) arrangements and in limited occurrences to trade preferences under reciprocal free trade areas. More information can be found at gsp.unctad.org
Strengthened resource mobilization, trade facilitation and trade statistics: The ASYCUDA customs system, by applying international standards, trade-related agreements, and through collaborating with other national authorities, countries and international agencies such as the WCO (World Custom Organization), contributes to increased efficiency and coordination, strengthened resource mobilization and trade facilitation and statistics. ASYCUDA directly contributes to North-South and South-South international and regional cooperation through its regional Centers.
End poaching and trafficking of protected species: the ASYCUDA Programme, in collaboration with CITES (Conference on International Trade of Endangered Species), developed eCITES, a cloud-based electronic permit system that provides automated support for permit application, processing, issuance and reporting for the international trade of endangered species. The solution was piloted in Sri Lanka in 2020 and will be implemented in Mozambique in 2022. eCITES helps to take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products (SDG15 – Life on land) by applying the CITES Convention.
Transparency in trade: UNCTAD cooperates closely with World Bank, WTO and ITC and has strengthened this cooperation on trade information such as tariff and non-tariff measures data. The global partnership on transparency in trade ensures that resources are most effectively used and access to trade data is available to large groupings including small and medium sized enterprises.
Trade statistics for the AfCFTA: UNCTAD established a user- friendly website "Integrated trade statistics, tariff offers and rules of origin under the African Continental Free Trade Area” containing trade data and available tariffs offers to assist firms and trade policy makers to realize the trading opportunities arising from the AfCFTA. More information can be found at afcfta.unctad.org
5.8 harnessing science, technology and innovation with a greater focus on digital transformation for sustainable development;
ASYCUDA: ASYCUDA has always combined state-of-the-art advanced technologies with proven in-the-field expertise. It ensures an efficient and tailored support to countries thus contributing to their ICT infrastructure development for automation of Customs and Partner Governmental Agencies services.
Focus on digital transformation for sustainable development, UNCTAD as secretariat of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD) collaborated with Chinese Academy of Science and implemented a technical assistance project in 12 developing countries, including 4 LDCs (https://unctad.org/project/cropwatch-innovative-cooperation-programme ). The objective is to create capacity in the participating countries to exploit satellite data for crop monitoring, thus contributing to food security in these countries. As the project has a localized component by installing tailor-made software data platform in a participating country, it bolsters local action (5.5). This is also a good example of solving challenges through international cooperation and enhancing the global partnership (5.7).
On enhancing scientific research, UNCTAD has also joined forces with Okayama University in Japan to deliver SDGs 5 on gender equality and empowerment and SDG9.5 which calls for enhancing scientific research in developing countries, by fostering and nurturing young scientific talent in developing countries through two programmes: one for young female scientists (https://unctad.org/topic/science-technology-and-innovation/young-female…) and the other for young scientist PHD programme (https://unctad.org/topic/science-technology-and-innovation/young-scient…). The former offers the opportunity for eligible young female scientists from ASEAN and African countries to engage in cutting-edge research activities at Okayama University in Japan for 14 to 30 days. The latter offers eligible young scientific researchers from developing countries to be financed and study at Okayama University for 3-year PhD courses which contributes to the implementation of SDGs.
5.9 investing in data and statistics for the SDGs;
ASYCUDA: ASYPM, the ASYCUDA Automated System for Performance Measurement, is a tool that helps Customs’ high-level representatives take decisions based on data and performance indicators. ASYCUDA also developed software modules that facilitate the compilation of trade statistics via the extraction of trade and customs related data for International Organizations such as WTO and ITC strengthening the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
Trains online: UNCTAD together with UN ESCAP developed an approach linking national trade related policies such as health and safety regulations (non-tariff measures) to the SDGs. https://trainsonline.unctad.org/sdgs
SDG Investment Monitors: Since 2019, the monitors analyse investment trends and monitoring capacities across all SDG-investment sectors.
The Digital Economy Report 2021 called for a new approach to global data governance. Global governance is important to avoid further fragmentation of the Internet; to enable global data sharing; to mitigate widening inequalities; to enhance trust in the digital economy; and to deal with the market dominance of some digital platforms. The multidimensional nature of data requires them to be addressed through a governance framework that factors in economic and non-economic dimensions, including human rights and security. As stressed in Our Common Agenda, it is time to protect the online space and strengthen its governance. How we deal with data will greatly influence our ability to meet the SDGs.
5.10 strengthening the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
The issue of data governance, as illustrated in the point made under 5.9, would be important to address during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
The 4th Oceans Forum on Trade related aspects of SDG 14 to support a post COVID-19 Recovery (April 2021). The ocean’s resources sustain the livelihoods of about 3 billion people worldwide, the vast majority of whom live in developing countries. But those livelihoods are under threat, as the ocean and its ability to sustain life are in grave danger due to human activities, such as pollution and overfishing. The Oceans Forum is organized by UNCTAD, FAO, UNEP, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the OACPS Group, CAF, and IOI with the support of Portugal and Kenya. It is a unique platform to identify ways to change course. It’s an opportunity to find solutions for using trade as a tool to protect our ocean and its resources, accelerating the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14’s trade-related targets and enable a Post COVID-19 sound recovery.
Q6. Following the adoption of the 2022 Ministerial Declaration, please highlight any major integrated and innovative policies or initiatives that your organization may have adopted related to the below, if applicable:
6.1 Member States encouraged "the United Nations system and all relevant actors to take advantage of emerging technologies and their applications, as appropriate, in order to maximize impact and effectiveness in data analysis and collection and stress the need to bridge the digital gap among and within countries" (Paragraph 86)
Analysis from the UNCTAD Digital Economy Report 2021 provided a basis for the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on E-Commerce and the Digital Economy, which addressed the topic “Recovering from COVID-19 in an increasingly digital economy: Implications for sustainable development”. The theme of the eCommerce Week 2022 “Data and Digitalization for Development” further extended discussions around the issues presented in the Report.¨ UNCTAD research showed that despite a sustained growth in e-commerce in 2021 fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses in low-income economies have been unable to fully harness the increased demand for e-commerce, and much of the value from the data-driven digital economy is being captured by a small number of major global digital platforms. Available statistics only provide a partial perspective on the evolution of e-commerce during the pandemic. There is a pressing need for more inclusive statistics on online retail sales, business-to-consumer and business-to-business e-commerce and cross-border digital trade that can provide insights covering a wider range of countries, especially developing countries. The UNCTAD Working Group on Measuring E-commerce and the Digital Economy advances cooperation on measuring e-commerce and the digital economy with a view to supporting evidence-based policymaking, especially in developing countries. The 3rd meeting of the Working Group, held on 28-29 November 2022, discussed mechanisms to enable data transfers from private providers for the use of official statistics, as well as examples of web scraping, among other topics. https://unctad.org/meeting/working-group-measuring-e-commerce-and-digit…
6.2 Member States specifically called upon the UN system "to work with the newly established United Nations Food Systems Coordination Hub, hosted by FAO, to support Governments to develop and strengthen SDG-based national pathways for sustainable food systems transformation" (Paragraph 128)
In the wake of the deepening food crisis that was aggravated by the Russian war in Ukraine, a Global Crisis Research Group (GCRG) was established to advise the UN Secretary-General on the best way of responding to the crisis. The GCRG Food Workstream comprises international organizations active in the food and food trade sector, including UNCTAD, FAO, WFP, World Bank, WTO, UNEP, and other organizations. Recommendations from the working group have helped the United Nations system to tailor its response to the needs of the most vulnerable countries. The GCRG Food Workstream acknowledges that preventing future food crises will primarily depend on the establishment of more resilient food systems in developing countries, particularly LDCs.
Q7. The 2023 SDG Summit is expected to provide political leadership, guidance and recommendations for sustainable development and follow-up and review progress in the implementation of sustainable development commitments and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, including through national and regional consultations, which will mark the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards the SDGs. In the lead up to the 2023 SDG Summit, please provide your organization’s recommendations on how to overcome challenges to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the SDGs, taking into account the thematic reviews and voluntary national reviews conducted to date.
Many developing countries, particularly LDCs and small island countries face challenges in enhancing institutional capacity in respect of harnessing technology and innovation for the implementation of 2030 Agenda and achievement of the SDGs. There is a need for international assistance to help these countries in this regard.