Globalization, including a phenomenal expansion of trade, has helped lift millions out of poverty. But not nearly enough people have benefited. And tremendous challenges remain.
We support developing countries to access the benefits of a globalized economy more fairly and effectively. And we help equip them to deal with the potential drawbacks of greater economic integration. To do this, we provide analysis, facilitate consensus-building, and offer technical assistance. This helps them to use trade, investment, finance, and technology as vehicles for inclusive and sustainable development.
Working at the national, regional, and global level, our efforts help countries to:
- Comprehend options to address macro-level development challenges
- Achieve beneficial integration into the international trading system
- Diversify economies to make them less dependent on commodities
- Limit their exposure to financial volatility and debt
- Attract investment and make it more development friendly
- Increase access to digital technologies
- Promote entrepreneurship and innovation
- Help local firms move up value chains
- Speed up the flow of goods across borders
- Protect consumers from abuse
- Curb regulations that stifle competition
- Adapt to climate change and use natural resources more effectively
Ultimately, we are serving the citizens of the 195 countries that make up our organization. Our goal is prosperity for all.
Secretary-General
Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica is the first woman and Central American to serve as UNCTAD’s secretary-general.
Ms. Grynspan is a renowned advocate of human development, who has helped to focus the world’s attention on relevant issues such as the reduction of inequality and poverty, gender equality, South-South cooperation as a tool for development, and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, among others.
A former vice president of Costa Rica, Ms. Grynspan joins UNCTAD from the Ibero-American Conference where she also led the organization as secretary-general.
Deputy Secretary-General
Pedro Manuel Moreno of Spain was named Deputy Secretary-General of UNCTAD by the United Nations Secretary-General on 4 November 2022.
He has over 20 years of experience of working for multilateral and intergovernmental organizations in programme, management and strategic positions both in the field and in headquarters.
Featured publications
6 UNCTAD facts and figures
Promoting
development
59
years
development
59
years
Membership
195
members States
People in our team
698+
Regular budget
for 2022
81+
million
for 2022
81+
million
technical cooperation
expenditure
53
million
expenditure
53
million
Projects
255
in 73 countries
UNCTAD in the UN system
UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964. Our headquarters are located in Geneva, Switzerland, and we have offices in New York and Addis Ababa.
UNCTAD is part of the . We report to the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council but have our own membership, leadership, and budget. We are also part of the . See our place in the .Featured podcast
History in the making: Where has 100 years of multilateralism got us?
This episode of The Weekly Tradecast takes a step back in time with Danielle Hughes, chief of the Records Management Unit, by looking at the history of the United Nations and also how UNCTAD, the UN’s trade body, was formed.