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“We don't have to be naive, but we have to believe in change, because change has happened. And we can make it happen again.”

Despite monitoring multiple global crises, Rebeca Grynspan has never lost her faith in the power of change. As Secretary-General of the 51�Թ� Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), she is assessing the impact of the war in Ukraine on cash-strapped countries still reeling from the pandemic. A trio of crises – climate change, COVID-19, and the war in Ukraine – are setting global development by decades, with vulnerable countries worst affected by global food and energy shortages. In this episode, Rebeca Grynspan reflects on these setbacks, their disproportionate impact on women, and why the world can never give up on the promise of development.

Photo: ©UNCTAD/Violaine Martin

Nafasova Mukaddas is helping to create a sustainable future, literally, one stitch at a time. She has been involved in sewing clothes for the past five years, and her services are in great demand as the next-closest seamstress is 37 kilometres away. She and her husband were able to access small grants through the . The project operates with the understanding that to protect significant biodiversity across the country, work to support local communities is a necessity.

has appointed new “eTrade for Women advocates” to empower women in the digital economy and promote more inclusive e-commerce ecosystems - the third cohort in its . 

This 2 July, cooperatives all around the world will celebrate the 100th International Day of Cooperatives. A decade on from the UN International Year of Cooperatives, the 51�Թ� invites cooperatives around the world to celebrate how the human-centred business model is building a better world. Cooperatives represent at least 12% of people on earth who are members of any of the 3 million cooperatives worldwide. They play an important role in addressing the needs of their members and communities and in the process, they contribute towards the implementation of the SDGs. #CoopsDay

Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) account for 90% of businesses, 60 to 70% of employment and 50% of GDP worldwide. As the backbone of societies everywhere they contribute to local and national economies and to sustaining livelihoods, in particular among the working poor, women, youth, and groups in vulnerable situations. This year, the  marks the 5th anniversary of Micro-, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises Day (27 June), when small businesses are more than ever in need of support, as they navigate the impacts of the COVID pandemic, conflicts and the climate crisis.

’s port management programme helped Bolivia change its port regulations, paving the way for a private operator like Port Jennefer to earn international status.

Protecting our ocean and boosting its economic benefits demands a global trade, investment and innovation "Blue Deal" to create a sustainable and resilient ocean economy that benefits all.

Four 51�Թ� organizations have issued a  calling for continued global collaboration to address the crew change crisis that, at times during the COVID-19 pandemic, has left more than 400,000 seafarers stranded at sea.

The Africa Renewal Podcast is about people, who, through their stories and actions, are advancing hope in Africa. On it you will hear true stories directly from people from within and beyond Africa about the possibilities on the continent.

In the inaugural episode, Joy Kategekwa, a trade law expert who is one of the architects of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), talks about the historic agreement that set the stage for the creation of one single African market for goods and services.

Dr. Joy Kategekwa (Uganda) is the regional strategic advisor to the Assistant Administrator and Director for the  (UNDP). 

A new Asia-Pacific free trade agreement set to enter into force on 1 January 2022 will create the world’s largest trading bloc by economic size, according to an .

predicts that annual growth in maritime trade between 2022 and 2026 will slow to 2.4%, compared to 2.9% over the past two decades.

In 2021, the global economy will bounce back with growth of 5.3%, the fastest in nearly 50 years. The rebound is, however, highly uneven along regional, sectoral and income lines, according to ’s .

and Barbados call to photographers everywhere to document a strong narrative of trade and development issues and to share images that showcase trade’s positive impact.

To assist countries seeking to establish public health travel corridors during their COVID-19 recovery phases, has just released a new implementation package (iPack) on Establishing a Public Health Corridor (PHC). Composed of guidance material, support personnel, training, and other resources, the new travel corridor iPack is fully aligned with the latest recommendations. ICAO’s COVID-19 iPacks have served as key global pandemic resources during countries’ air transport recovery efforts in areas such as safety risk management, facilitation, aviation security, and airport re-openings.

A new government platform in Bhutan using 's online single window technology powers business registration in record time, supporting livelihoods during the COVID-19 crisis.