Shaping the Future: Report of Secretary General UNCTAD to Sixteenth Session Conference

Amid economic shocks from Covid-19 to the Ukraine war, the report articulates a transformative vision for global trade and development. It champions diversified, resilient, and inclusive economies supported by stable development finance and stronger multilateral cooperation to address stalled SDGs and entrenched inequality. The report outlines the vision of UNCTAD's Secretary-General with respect to the world and how the organization must change to support Member States it their pursuit for shared prosperity. The report assess the state of trade and development in the last four years, which have been characterized by a set of economic shocks, from the Covid-19 Pandemic to the war in Ukraine. The report acknowledges that progress has been slow. The SDGs are off track, inequality remains high, and ongoing crises continue to undermine development. The report outlines four transformations that most be undertaken to propel achievement of the SDGs: 1) More diversified economies. 2) more resilient and inclusive economies, 3) More abundant and stable finance for development and 4) More multilateralism in a multipolar world. The reports concludes by outlining a series of priorities for the UNCTAD to better respond to the challenges of today and to better serve its member States.