A new Guide to UNCTAD Technical Cooperation provides a summary of UNCTAD´s assistance to developing countries in such fields as globalization and development; international trade in goods, services and commodities; investment, technology and enterprise development; services infrastructure; and trade efficiency.
The main objectives of UNCTAD technical cooperation programmes are to enhance the human and institutional capacities of developing countries; to improve their understanding of global economic issues and trends and to find country-specific solutions to the challenges posed by developments in the international economy; and to enable developing countries to participate effectively in international trade and investment negotiations.
As explained in the guide, UNCTAD technical assistance is provided in the form of policy advice; training and training of trainers; the provision of trade- and investment-related data; the development of computer-based technical cooperation packages; and through institution building. Government officials of developing countries are the main beneficiaries, but many projects and programmes also target businesses, academia, and relevant members of civil society.
Interregional projects currently account for more than half of total expenditures on technical cooperation. Such projects provide assistance to all developing countries. Subregional and regional projects make up about 10% of expenditures and are designed to assist a group of countries or an economic cooperation grouping. Country projects (34.2% of expenditures) are developed in response to requests for assistance from individual countries, particularly least-developed countries (LDCs) and countries with pressing needs.
The Guide also contains information on how UNCTAD´s technical cooperation is carried out in partnership with other agencies. The intent is to provide trade-related technical assistance in their areas of expertise, reduce duplication, and create synergies.
Voluntary contributions from developed countries currently fund about 65% of UNCTAD´s technical cooperation work, but the share of developing countries´ contributions -- now at around 20% -- has been increasing. Total voluntary contributions have grown significantly in recent years, from an average of $ 22.8 million in 2000-04 to $ 34.8 million in 2005.
