To improve road safety and increase access to markets, UNOPS provided project management and technical assistance for the rehabilitation of more than 300 kilometres of roads in Niger.

A new UNCTAD report analyses the world’s ocean economy – worth an estimated $3-6 trillion – and assesses how human activity and multiple global crises have significantly affected different sectors.

There is ample evidence that investing in women is the most effective way to lift communities, companies, and even countries. Nevertheless, there is still a significant gender imbalance in maritime. The International Day for Women in Maritime celebrates women in the industry and is intended to promote the recruitment, retention and sustained employment of women in the maritime sector, while raising the profile of women in maritime. Through its Women in Maritime programme, IMO makes the concerted effort to help the male-dominated maritime sector move towards gender equality. Watch a video on the Seawoman project.

UNCTAD will host the third UN Trade Forum to identify trade policies to help countries grow their economies while tackling challenges and accelerating progress towards achieving the SDGs.

UNCTAD - in its latest Trade and Development Report Update - warns that developing countries are facing years of difficulty as the global economy slows down amid heightened financial turbulence. Annual growth across large parts of the global economy will fall below pre-pandemic levels and well below the decade of strong growth before the global financial crisis. Developing countries are facing a projected foregone income of $800 billion and battling unprecedented levels of debt distress. Global growth in 2023 is expected to drop to 2.1%, compared to the 2.2% projected in September 2022.

For 15 years, Mavilde de Assunção Alves has struggled to maintain her hives, which have dwindled from 15 to 8. After attending a UNCTAD training workshop, she’s more confident about the future.

World trade hit a record $32 trillion in 2022, but growth turned negative in the last half of the year. Environmentally friendly products defied the trend.

The Bhutanese government launched the ground-breaking G2B digital government portal, using UNCTAD’s customizable digital platform, making it the fastest place in the world to start a new business.

Complex and stringent rules of origin, the “passport” for goods, can prevent businesses from taking advantage of trade preferences, according to a new study by UNCTAD.

Only eight years remain to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. CEOs are calling for more concrete commitments to sustainability in businesses, according to the 12th UN Global Compact-Accenture CEO Study.  This year’s study, “Reimagining the agenda,” provides perspectives from a record 2,600+ CEOs across 128 countries and 18 industries. The report explores the challenges and uncertainties that business leaders face today and the opportunity surrounding sustainability as the path forward. The report will be presented at the World Economic Forum (Davos, Switzerland, 16-20 January).

Global trade should hit a record $32 trillion for 2022, but a slowdown that began in the second half of the year is expected to worsen in 2023 according to UNCTAD’s Global Trade Update.

Hemp is an amazing plant that is eco-friendly and used in food products, biofuels, textiles and even building materials. Its global market could hit $18.6 billion by 2027, a new UNCTAD report says.

Celebrating female entrepreneurship, a recent UNCTAD publication tells the stories of 21 women from developing countries who’ve defied a myriad of challenges to build successful businesses.

A new UNCTAD report calls for increased investment in maritime supply chains. Ports, shipping fleets and hinterland connections need better prepare for future global crises and climate change.

A new report by UNCTAD explores how urban entrepreneurs, or urbanpreneurs, use innovative solutions to tackle challenges triggered by rapid urbanization and drive the expansion of smart cities.