UNCTAD

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

INTRODUCTION
Established in 1964, UNCTAD promotes the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy It is the principal organ of the United Nations General Assembly dealing with trade, investment, and development issues. It focuses on ensuring that domestic policies and international action are mutually supportive in bringing about sustainable development

KEY FUNCTIONS
The organization works to fulfil this mandate by carrying out three key functions:
It functions as a forum for intergovernmental deliberation It undertakes research, policy analysis and data collection for the debates of government representatives and experts It provides technical assistance tailored to the specific requirements of developing countries, with special attention to the needs of the least developed countries and of economies in transition

Main Activities of UNCTAD

Trade and commodities Investment and enterprise development Macroeconomic policies, debt & development financing Technology and Logistics
Special program for least developed countries, Africa, landlocked developing countries & small island developing States

Organization Structure
The organization structure of UNCTAD consists of 1. Conference : at which member States make assessments of current trade and development issues, discuss policy options and formulate global policy responses 2. Trade and Development Board: guides the UNCTADs work for four years between the meetings of conferences 3. Commissions: The Trade and Development Board currently has three Commissions that meet once a year to address policy issues in specific areas and provide guidance for the work of the secretariat. 4. Expert Meetings: The work of the commission is supported by discussions among specialized technical experts in specific fields. Up to 10 such Expert Meetings are convened by the Commissions every year. They allow the government representatives attending the Commissions to take the advantage of valuable technical input from academics, practitioners and the private sector 5. Secretariat: The UNCTAD secretariat also services the commission on Science and Technology for Development(CSTD), which is a subsidiary body of the United Nations Economic and Social Council

Inter-governmental Process
Trade and Development Board

Commission on Trade in Goods, services and Commodities

Commission on Investment, Technology and Related Financial Issues

Commission on Enterprise, Business Facilitation and Development

Commission on Science and Technology for Development

Expert Meetings

UNCTAD: Aid for trade in action in India

The project provides direct assistance to both government and nongovernment stakeholders, helping them
To gain from international trade; To mitigate the negative effects of globalization; and To have greater influence on trade policies and agreements affecting India in particular the poor.

The project, through its network of more than 400 partners all over India, has supported activities mainly in those products
which have export potential; which are produced in the rural regions of the country; and which employ a large number of poor people, including women.

To build the capacity to trade, the initiatives have focused on

providing information and training on standards applicable in various markets; conducting design development workshops; providing guidance on export-oriented best practices; etc.

The Creation of Multi-stakeholder Advisory Panels on Environmentally Sound and Economically Viable Management of Secondary Lead in India and the Philippines

 The project focuses on two clusters of activities:

(i) (ii) a preparatory, analytical phase for creating the multi-stakeholder panels a series of meetings of a multi-stakeholder advisory panel in India and the Philippines

Activities in India
UNCTAD and UNDP will soon start collaborating on implementing a project on the use of multi-stakeholder approaches and business partnerships in facilitating access to and effective use of environmentally friendly technologies. UNCTAD is currently holding discussions with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Central Pollution Control Board and TIFAC on the thrust and level of detail of the envisaged studies. The Government has already formed an inter-departmental working group on sound collection and recycling of scrap batteries, which will provide further guidance on desirable analytical work and involvement of other stakeholders.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_ Conference_on_Trade_and_Development http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?i ntItemID=1530&lang=1 http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?i ntItemID=3358&lang=1 http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Page.asp?i ntItemID=3361&lang=1