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UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ORIGINS AND BACKGROUND UNCTAD is the principal organ of the General Assembly in the field of trade and development. It was established as a permanent intergovernmental body in 1964 (GA Resolution 1995 XIX) in Geneva as a result of the first session of the conference, affirming the United Nations General Assembly's conviction that international cooperation in trade and development is vital for world economic growth and the economic development of developing countries. UNCTAD discharges its mandate through research and policy analysis, intergovernmental deliberations, technical cooperation and interaction with civil society and the business sector. The organization is composed of 188 Member States, and many intergovernmental and non governmental organizations participate in its work as observers. UNCTAD also collaborates with the private sector in a variety of ways. The UNCTAD secretariat forms part of the United Nations secretariat, with a staff of about 400. Located in Geneva, it is headed by a Secretary General, currently Rubens Ricupero (Brazil). UNCTAD's annual operational budget is approximately US$55 million, which is drawn from the United Nations regular budget. Technical cooperation activities, which have developed as a result of UNCTAD's sectoral expertise and are financed from extrabudgetary resources, amount to approximately US$24 million a year. The conference is the organization's highest policy making body. It normally meets every four years at ministerial level to formulate major policy guidelines and decide on the programme of work. Since 1964, nine conferences have taken place: 1964 (Geneva); 1968 (New Delhi, India); 1972 (Santiago, Chile); 1976 (Nairobi, Kenya); 1979 (Manila, Philippines); 1983 (Belgrade, Yugoslavia); 1987 (Geneva); 1992 (Cartagena de Indias, Colombia); and 1996 (Midrand, South Africa).
UNCTAD's early years were marked by high rates of trade and economic growth (particularly in developed countries), worsening terms of trade for developing country commodity exports, and an increasing income gap between developing and developed countries. Recognition of these factors led to consensus among Member States on needs to increase financial flows to developing countries, strengthen and stabilize commodity markets, and support developing countries' participation in world trade. The specific actions agreed at UNCTAD I in 1964 reflected this consensus, as did those at UNCTAD II in 1968 and UNCTAD III in 1972. The 1970s saw an erosion of the multilateral trading system and a slowdown in world economic growth, with adverse consequences for the trade and economic development of developing countries. Significant decisions were taken as a result of negotiations under UNCTAD auspices on commodity market stabilization (Integrated Programme for Commodities) and preferential treatment for the exports of developing countries (Generalized System of Preferences). Using UNCTAD as a forum for negotiations, the Group of 77 also pushed forward with the call for a New International Economic Order (NIEO), leading to tensions among Member States. By the mid 1980s, dialogue and negotiations between developed and developing countries had become deadlocked in most forums. A perceptible loss of confidence occurred in UNCTAD's role as a facilitator of consensus and a conciliator of divergent views. Multilateral methods of dealing with international trade and development problems were eroded, and several countries began to prefer bilateral approaches. But the momentous political and economic changes that took place in the world in the late 1980s forced a reassessment of international economic cooperation. A fresh consensus emerged in the early 1990s on the need for new actions to support the international trade and economic development of developing countries. This consensus took shape at UNCTAD VIII in 1992. The concept of development had evolved considerably. From a narrow focus on economic growth and capital accumulation, development came to be understood widely as a multidimensional undertaking and a people centred process in which the ultimate goal of economic and social policies is to improve conditions for individuals. Consensus emerged on the urgency of making the international trading and financial systems more responsive to the needs of economic growth and development. Emphasis was placed on economic interdependence and the shared responsibility of all countries to take supportive action. Greater recognition was given to needs for improved policy coordination, the importance of inter linkages between the external environment and domestic policies, and contribution of the public and private sectors. Seizing these trends toward a development consensus for the 1990s, UNCTAD VIII became a turning point in cooperation for development, giving new life to UNCTAD as an institution. The conference helped lay to rest the misgivings of developed and developing countries, which had caused deadlock in the economic cooperation dialogue during the 1980s. The Cartagena Commitment adopted at UNCTAD VIII pledged a New Partnership for Development. It gave priority to development as a means of securing economic, social and human security but also affirmed UNCTAD as the focal point for facilitating and implementing the new development consensus. UNCTAD VIII undertook far reaching reforms of UNCTAD's intergovernmental machinery and methods of work. UNCTAD IX, held in Midrand (South Africa), reaffirmed UNCTAD's role as
the focal point within the United Nations for the integrated treatment
of development and interrelated issues in the areas of trade, finance,
technology, investment, and sustainable development. Member States, recognizing
UNCTAD's clear comparative advantage in tackling trade related development
issues, agreed that UNCTAD should continue to facilitate the integration
of developing countries and countries in transition into the international
trading system in a complementary manner with the World Trade Organization
(WTO). They also agreed that UNCTAD should continue to promote development
through trade and investment in cooperation and coordination with the
International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO, relevant institutions of the United
Nations system and other international organizations. UNCTAD's work would
be geared to the special needs of developing countries, particularly the
least developed countries (LDCs), focus on development issues, be action
oriented, and provide guidance on national policies and an enabling environment
conducive to trade and development. The conference approved a further
overhaul of the intergovernmental machinery, establishing three commissions
and up to ten expert meetings a year. It also confirmed a reorganization
of the secretariat and called upon UNCTAD to integrate civil society in
its work. As part of the preparatory processes leading up to UNCTAD X, the organization
has proposed a number of civil society activities including: UNCTAD'S ACTIVITIES Policy Analysis UNCTAD provides a forum for discussions aimed at considering development
strategies and policies in a globalized world economy. In this respect,
special attention is given to examining and exchanging successful developmental
experiences and drawing lessons from them. In its analytical and deliberative
work, UNCTAD focuses on the following areas: Intergovernmental Structure The intergovernmental machinery has been tightly structured to reduce the number of meetings, encompass all important areas of the work programme, and concentrate on programmes of interest and practical value to developing countries, in particular the LDCs. Cross sectoral issues such as the problems of the LDCs, poverty alleviation, economic cooperation among developing countries, sustainable development and the empowerment of women have been integrated into the work of the organization. The Trade and Development Board (Board) is the executive body of UNCTAD. It is responsible for ensuring the overall consistency of UNCTAD's activities with agreed priorities. It also ensures that the activities of its subsidiary bodies are in conformity with their mandates and are carefully coordinated with other relevant international organizations. In executing its mandated functions, the TDB meets in regular or executive sessions. The regular session of the board takes place in the latter part of the year for approximately ten working days. At this session, a segment is included to deal with a substantive policy item to attract high level participation. Personalities from the public, private/business and academic sectors in areas related to UNCTAD's work are invited to attend. The board deals with interdependence and global economic issues from a trade and development perspective, and it reviews progress in implementation of the Programme of Action for the LDCs for the 1990s and the United Nations New Agenda for the Development of Africa in the 1990s, with policy lessons drawn from successful development experiences. The board may meet in executive session, three times throughout the year with six weeks' prior notice, to deal with policy, management and institutional matters, as well as with urgent matters that cannot be deferred to the regular session. Executive sessions are normally confined to one day in duration. Three Commissions of the Board were established by UNCTAD IX to perform
integrated policy work in their respective areas of competence: The commissions meet once a year, unless otherwise decided by the board, for a duration of five days. In order to benefit from a higher level of technical expertise, each commission may convene expert meetings of short duration, which do not exceed three days. The total number of expert meetings do not exceed ten per year. All UNCTAD Member States are eligible to participate in the work of these bodies. External actors such as non governmental organizations, business community representatives, trade unions, the academic community and other international bodies are also closely associated with UNCTAD's work as observers in intergovernmental meetings, in joint research and in project work in the field. Commission on Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities The completion of the Uruguay Round has created a new trading environment.
The challenges facing the weaker economies in this context include implementing
domestic policy reforms, identifying and exploiting trade opportunities
created by the Uruguay Round, and pursuing policies that could enable
them to derive maximum benefits from these opportunities. Through its
analytical work, the commission helps developing countries and countries
in transition in this regard. It supports developing countries' efforts
to implement their new commitments and take full advantage of their rights,
as well as improve transparency of their trade regimes and identify impediments
to trade. The commission also provides a forum for examination of issues
related to trade preferences and the future role of the generalized system
of preferences (GSP) as an instrument for the expansion of trade.
An area of growing importance is that of integrating trade, environment and development. A concern here is that environmental policies and measures could be used for protectionist purposes. The commission examines trade and environment issues from a development perspective, particularly in the field of competitiveness, market access, eco labelling, multilateral environmental agreements, positive measures (such as capacity building, improved access to finance, and access to and transfer of technology), and trade liberalization and sustainable development. Developing countries that are heavily dependent on commodity exports face special challenges in promoting through trade their economic growth in the context of sustainable development. The commission addresses issues of relevance to commodity dependent countries. It examines successful commodity diversification experiences, contributes to the transparency of commodity markets, and analyses trends in these markets. It promotes the management of commodity resources in the context of sustainable development and assists producers to make use of risk limiting instruments. Commission on Investment, Technology and Related Financial Issues The commission's analysis also encompasses the implications for development of issues relevant to a possible multilateral framework on investment, with a view to maximizing the benefits and minimizing the negative effects of FDI. It monitors the investment policy reviews carried out by UNCTAD with member countries that so desire, in order to provide information on the country's investment environment and policies. The commission examines issues related to competition law of particular relevance to development. It carries out analytical work on restrictive business practices, assists developing countries in formulating competition policies and legislation, and formulates technical cooperation activities in this field. The commission monitors reviews on science, technology and innovation policy undertaken by the secretariat with interested countries in order to identify options for national action. It also identifies policies to favour technological capacity building, innovation and technology flows to developing countries. Commission on Enterprise, Business Facilitation and Development The commission also analyses the specific contribution that FDI can make to indigenous enterprise development and promotes ways to facilitate efficient domestic resource mobilization. It assists developing countries in generating trade supporting services such as customs, transportation, banking and insurance, telecommunications or business information with particular focus on services addressing needs of the informal, micro-, small and medium sized enterprise sectors. In this regard it takes particular account of recommendations adopted by the United Nations International Symposium on Trade Efficiency (1994) and monitors consolidation of the Trade Point Network by making Trade Points fully operational and by establishing new ones. In May 1993, the United Nations General Assembly assigned to the UNCTAD
secretariat responsibility for substantive servicing of two subsidiary
bodies of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC):
An essential complement to UNCTAD's policy-oriented analytical and deliberative work is its technical cooperation programme. This programme is demand-driven, with an emphasis on country-level activities, and its purpose is to enhance the human and institutional capacities of developing countries to promote their own development process as well as those of countries with economies in transition. The focus is on assisting governments to create the necessary policy and institutional environment for development and to improve the ability of countries to participate fully in the world economy. The following are some of UNCTAD's main programmes. Debt Management and Financial Analysis System (DMFAS) Customs Reform: Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) The Global Trade Point Network Management of Transport Routes: Advanced Cargo Information System (ACIS) Environment, Commodities and Changing Consumption Patterns The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Investment and Enterprise Technology Development UNCTAD's Record Over the past three decades, intergovernmental negotiations held under UNCTAD's auspices have resulted in many programmes and international agreements in the following fields: Trade Commodities Debt and Development Least Developed, Land Locked and Transit Developing Countries Transport Other UNCTAD's assessment of the outcome of the Uruguay Round contributed to
recognition of the need for specific compensatory measures at the international
level to mitigate the adverse effects on African countries, particularly
least developed ones. The organization has also pioneered analysis on
trade and environment, which is one of the major issues on the post Uruguay
Round Agenda. Major Publications NGO RELATIONS UNCTAD's formal relations with NGOs are governed by Article XV, Rule
77 of the rules of procedure of the Trade and Development Board, as well
as Decision 43 (VII) of the TDB. Article XV is entitled Observers from
non governmental organizations, and Rule 77 states that: UNCTAD officially recognizes three categories of NGOs. The general category refers to international NGOs that engage in activities related to, or that are interested in, the majority of UNCTAD's institutional concerns- nearly all development related NGOs officially recognized by UNCTAD are found in this category. The special category of international NGOs covers those non governmental organizations and bodies that have special competence in one or two areas of UNCTAD involvement. The third category covers national NGOs with an established reputation, which are considered to have a special contribution to make to UNCTAD's work. These are placed on the register. Consultative status is conferred by the Trade and Development Board. Those NGOs seeking such status are required to provide information on the activities and structure of the organization through a special questionnaire. UNCTAD must get agreement from the member government concerned for a national NGO to be placed on the register. A wide range of NGOs have consultative status with UNCTAD. As of December 1998, there were 181 NGOs in consultative status with UNCTAD: 98 were in the general category, 83 were in the special category, and 12 national NGOs were included in the register. Most are specialized non governmental bodies in specific sectors such as trade, transport, banking, insurance, and a variety of individual commodities such as rubber, tungsten, steel, and so on. Development related NGOs with consultative status are normally in the general category. Both these and non status national NGOs have historically played a very active role at UNCTAD's quadrennial conferences. This has largely involved Northern NGOs engaged in development education and policy advocacy work on North/South relations and development issues. During the 1980s, however, Southern NGO participation in UNCTAD events grew considerably, as elsewhere in the multilateral system. Since its creation, the United Nations Non Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) has played an important facilitating and liaison role regarding NGO participation at the main UNCTAD conferences. At UNCTAD IV (Nairobi, 1975), UNCTAD V (Manila, 1979) and UNCTAD VI (Belgrade, 1983) NGOs engaged in influential, coordinated lobbying including producing an NGO conference newspaper. UNCTAD was then the principal forum for North/South negotiations around the concept of the New International Economic Order (NIEO) and thus attracted many activist NGOs, particularly from Europe, largely coordinated by the International Coalition for Development Action (ICDA). However, since UNCTAD VI the North/South dialogue has faced considerable pressure as a result of a departure from multilateralism throughout the late 1970s and 1980s. During this period, marked by economic recession, developing countries found it increasingly difficult to negotiate development issues and obtain results in the multilateral context. Development NGOs were active at UNCTAD VII held in Geneva in 1987 and produced a conference newsletter. Since UNCTAD VIII, there has been growing interest on the part of NGOs in the organization's work in light of institutional reforms decided by the conference and new areas of activities envisaged for the organization, as well as the importance attached to participation of non governmental actors in the work of UNCTAD. For the first time on the occasion of UNCTAD IX, an NGO meeting was held parallel to the conference. It was attended by around 80 NGOs and was held in two segments. The first, primarily intended for development NGO participants from the African region, focused on capacity building on the substantive theme of the conference, namely globalization and liberalization and strategies to meet Africa's particular needs. The second segment was open to all NGOs attending the conference. It looked at the UNCTAD IX agenda more specifically to plan an NGO contribution to the conference, build advocacy strategies and consider follow up work. Two declarations were adopted at the end of the event: the African Declaration calls on NGOs to give priority to improving their analysis and advocacy work on the implications of globalization and liberalization, and the International Declaration expresses concerns about the globalization and liberalization processes and makes recommendations to governments, international institutions and NGOs. NGOs remained very active during the rest of the conference. They were able to distribute their newsletter and made declarations in public meetings. An NGO also participated in a ministerial roundtable on the future of UNCTAD as an institution. The results of UNCTAD IX concerning the involvement of NGOs in UNCTAD's future activities are included in paragraphs 117, 118 and 119 of the Midrand Declaration. The conference reaffirms the importance of involving non governmental actors in the activities of UNCTAD. To this end, UNCTAD should continue to take into account NGO views by inviting them to participate in an advisory capacity at public meetings of the board and the commissions, and to involve them in expert meetings. In order to enhance the participation of civil society and to build a lasting partnership for development between NGOs and UNCTAD, the conference requested the Secretary General of UNCTAD to pursue consultations with these actors, taking into account the experience of participation of civil society in other United Nations fora and international and regional organizations, and to report with recommendations to the board. It noted the Secretary General's initiative to hold a meeting with actors in development to advise him, and invited him to inform the board of preparations for this meeting and to report subsequently on its outcome. In light of this, the Secretary-General convened the Partners for Development Summit, held in Lyon (France) from 9-12 November 1998. The initiative was the first of its kind for the organization in exploring new ways to forge practical alliances with civil society and the private sector. While the implications for future relations are still being considered, the organization counts among the event's important outcomes the realization of 18 concrete partnership agreements with NGOs, universities and business enterprises. In addition to their active participation in UNCTAD conferences, NGOs maintain informal contacts with key staff members of the UNCTAD secretariat. Those with consultative status receive a wide range of UNCTAD documentation and publications, including sales publications. On occasion, and at its own initiative, NGLS mails substantive and analytical documents produced by the UNCTAD secretariat to appropriate NGOs. At UNCTAD VII, NGOs expressed the need for opportunities to meet with the UNCTAD secretariat in the intervening period between quadrennial conferences. This gave rise in 1988 to the first annual UNCTAD/NGO Consultation, and there has been one every year since, except in 1996. These consultations are organized by NGLS and UNCTAD and bring together key UNCTAD substantive staff and NGOs engaged in advocacy and public awareness raising to discuss and explore common areas of concern. These include international trade concerns such as the GATT Uruguay Round, and related issues. On occasion, government representatives are invited to speak. Both the UNCTAD secretariat and NGO participants find the annual consultation extremely useful, since it allows for exchanges of views and the updating of information. The 1998 consultations addressed a possible multilateral framework agreement on investment, follow-up to the WTO High Level Meeting on Integrated Initiatives for LDCs as well as a "positive multilateral trade agenda" for developing countries. The next NGO consultation will be in September of 1999. It is envisaged that it will form part of the preparatory exercises leading up to UNCTAD X, and explore issues related to the conference theme. Collaboration with the development NGO community is wholly at the level of information, advocacy and public awareness raising. UNCTAD has no co funding scheme for project related activities with NGOs, but it does raise extrabudgetary resources to finance, in particular, Southern NGO participation at its conferences and to cover costs of the annual UNCTAD/NGO Consultation, including Southern NGO participation. UNCTAD/NGO cooperation has been most intense in the preparations for, and during, its quadrennial conferences, and the two conferences on the LDCs held under UNCTAD's auspices between 1981 and 1990. It is a relationship of mutual support at the level of information and ideas, since UNCTAD and NGO policies, while not identical, are often complementary. Formal responsibility for UNCTAD/NGO cooperation resides with UNCTAD's External Relations Service, which is part of Executive Direction and Management. The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) resolution 1996/31 on relations between the United Nations and NGOs contains revised rules on consultative relations with NGOs. The UNCTAD secretariat has prepared a revision of Board Decision 43 (VII) proposing the adoption of the practice introduced in the ECOSOC revision, namely that in addition to international NGOs, consultative relationships may be established with regional, subregional and national NGOs. The board has this matter under consideration and has requested the UNCTAD secretariat report on the results of the implementation of ECOSOC Resolution 1996/31 so as to enable it to make a final decision. The organization's publications are listed in the annual Guide to UNCTAD Publications. The UNCTAD News, produced six times a year, provides comprehensive information on UNCTAD's activities and publications. These are designed for a wide audience. Governments, international organizations, NGOs and other civil society actors are on UNCTAD's mailing list, as well as others who request to be included. Major UNCTAD related events and themes are also covered by the NGLS newsletter Go Between. UNCTAD also receives a large number of publications and periodicals from the NGO community. The UNCTAD website at http://www.unctad.org provides up-to-date information on the organization's current activities and publications, and includes a page on NGOs. Contact: Jo Elizabeth Butler, Chief, Public Affairs Unit and Alisa Clarke,
NGO Liaison Officer, Public Affairs Unit, External Relations Service,
UNCTAD, Palais des Nations, CH 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland, telephone
+41-22/917 5048 or 917 5714, fax +41-22/907 0043, website (www.unctad.org). |
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