My first year in UNCTAD’s New York Office

When I started a year ago, either in a plenary chamber or at a side-event, the words emerge as if on cue. “UNCTAD has an office in New York? What do they do?” In many ways, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) New York Office was perceived as stealthy, because it was without a chief for a long time.

The United Nations (UN) is comprised of a panoply of agencies, funds and programs. UNCTAD is one of the key bodies of the UN’s development pillar. UNCTAD is the United Nations body responsible for dealing with trade and development issues; and the related issues of investment, entrepreneurship, science and technology for development and finance. Reflection on development is at the heart of UNCTAD’s work. It produces innovative analyses that form the basis for recommendations to economic and finance policymakers at the country, as well as regional and global level. The aim is to help them make informed decisions and promote the macroeconomic policies best suited to end global economic inequalities, and to generate people-centred sustainable development.

Where does UNCTAD New York fit in?

The New York Office ensures that the leading edge research and technical assistance developed by UNCTAD informs the New York based intergovernmental processes. It raises awareness about the work of UNCTAD by organizing briefings, side events and bilateral meetings with Member States of the UN and stakeholders in New York.

We also reach out to the UN community, media, academia and civil society organizations by announcing publications of reports, hosting of events, and disseminating written and oral information on UNCTAD's role, mandate and programmes in the context of the UN Development Agenda, the outcomes of major conferences, and General Assembly resolutions.

As a focal point between UNCTAD Geneva and UN Headquarters, the New York Office also ensures coordination and synergies with other UN bodies, organs and Specialized Agencies with a view to ensure efficiency and avoid duplication. We support the negotiations of the Post 2015 Development Agenda with its 17 goals and 169 targets, focusing on Means of implementation and the Global Partnership for Development. As a major Stakeholder institution within the Financing for Development Conferences, we also significantly contributed to the preparation process of the Conference in Addis Ababa. As the focal point within the UN system on finance issues, including sovereign debt, we also served as Secretariat to the Ad Hoc Committee on Sovereign Debt Restructuring Negotiations that resulted in 9 principles to guide sovereign debt restructuring processes.

During 2015, UNCTAD is representing the Non-resident agencies (NRAs) in the UN Development Group Advisory Group meetings. To ensure the UN is fit to support Member States in this transformative Post-2015 development agenda. The UNCTAD New York Office represents UNCTAD in the UN system “Fit-for-Purpose” reflections on supporting implementation, review, and monitoring progress at the national level, and those of the long term positioning of the UN.

Moreover, we are embarking on an effort to improve transparency to ensure the participation of various stakeholders. The New York Office has a twitter account @UNCTADNewYork where we tweet about our daily activities, whether that is covering the Post-2015 negotiations, or enjoying a (brief) break to enjoy chocolates from Geneva. This blog post is a further example of our outreach efforts.

2015 is a promising year for the United Nations and for UNCTAD’s New York Office. We will continue to ensure we bring the know-how and skills of our more than 400 economists to bear on the ongoing New York processes. In March 2016, at the UNCTAD XIV Conference in Lima, we will be one of the first UN agencies to perfect the global compact in the implementation phase of the Sustainable Development Goals. The week-long Conference will feature ministerial debates, high-level round tables, thematic events, a World Investment Forum, and a Civil Society Forum, among other events.

So next time someone asks about UNCTAD New York over finger food at a side-event, tell them we are here and we are ready.

Chantal Line Carpentier is Head of UNCTAD’s New York Office. She tweets @chantalline.