Due to UNCTAD’s decidedly pro-South and uncompromising development-focused mission, its quadrennial conferences have traditionally been North –South showdowns. Coming a few months after the adoption of the ambitious and universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 associated goals, the theme of the XIV Quadrennial Conference of UNCTAD (the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) was “From Decisions to Actions.” There was, therefore, reason to expect that this time members would bridge their differences for the sake of reinforcing mandates of the organization critical to the Agenda’s implementation. But that was not the case. Read more…

In 2016, the UN is searching for a successor to Ban Ki-Moon as the next Secretary General. Over the years, several initiatives have urged reforms regarding the UN Secretary General election process. In this spirit, the President of the General Assembly together with Al-Jazeera organized a town hall debate with the candidates on 12 July. Read more…

Civil Society Reflection Group launches Spotlight Report during the fourteenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD 14), to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 17 to 22 July 2016. Read more…

HLPF-SideEvent_Invitation_Spotlight-Launch INVITATION 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development A Good or Bad Start? Civil Society Reflection Group Report Launch: Spotlight on Sustainable Development 2016 Date: July 11, 2016, 6:15-7:30 pm Venue: Conference Room D in...