Co-Organiser
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XV)
Jan 2020 - October 2022
ABOUT UNCTAD XV
The 15th Quadrennial Conference of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) was held in October 2021 in Barbados and co-hosted with the UAE, bringing together Heads of State and industry from 195 Member States.
Held once every four years to set policy for the next four, this UNCTAD is seen as a major global event of the UN’s “decade for action” to deliver on the SDGs. It mobilised governments, civil society organisations, businesses and the youth to address the massive unmet trade, finance, investment and technology needs of developing countries struggling to tackle the coronavirus crisis.
MY ROLE
One of eight core team members responsible for the Creative Industries and Trade Digitisation (CITD) Forum. Involved in every area of conference production: concept development, budgets, strategy, sponsorship, partnerships, team management, project management, marketing, filming, social media, and PR.
Key achievements:
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Financial planning & secured budget for activities. Presented to Prime Minister and United Nations team
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Sourced over 20 industry leaders as partners and speakers. Backgrounds including 21st Century Skills, AI, Entrepreneurship, Mindfulness, Game Design, 3D-modeling, and VR/Immersive Tech
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Liaising with Geneva HQ on hosting software, marketing, communications, and logistics
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Workshops for Barbadians with official Snapchat Lens Creator - VR, AR, & 3D-Modeling curricula
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Laid foundation with philanthropists & stakeholders in development for global SIDS campaign
Our speakers included:
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António Guterres - Secretary-General of the United Nations
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Mia Amor Mottley - Prime Minister of Barbados
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Rebecca Grynspan - Secretary-General of UNCTAD
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Uhuru Kenyatta - President of the Republic of Kenya
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Amina J. Mohammed - Deputy Secretary-General of United Nations
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Carlos Alvarado - President of Costa Rica
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Felix Tshisekedi - President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Mohamed Irfaan Ali - President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana
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Abdulla Shahid - Present of the UN General Assembly
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Inger Andersen - Executive Director of UNEP
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Vera Songwe - Executive Secretary - United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
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Tedros Ghebreyesus - Director General of WHO
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Winnie Byanyima - Executive Director of UNAIDS
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Michelle Bachelet - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala - Director-General of the WTO
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Gabriela Bucher - Executive Director of Oxfam International
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Carla Barnett - Secretary-General of CARICOM
About UNCTAD
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Globalisation, including a phenomenal expansion of trade, has helped lift millions out of poverty. But not nearly enough people have benefited. And tremendous challenges remain.
We support developing countries to access the benefits of a globalised economy more fairly and effectively. And we help equip them to deal with the potential drawbacks of greater economic integration. To do this, we provide analysis, facilitate consensus-building, and offer technical assistance. This helps them to use trade, investment, finance, and technology as vehicles for inclusive and sustainable development.
Working at the national, regional, and global level, our efforts help countries to:
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Comprehend options to address macro-level development challenges
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Achieve beneficial integration into the international trading system
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Diversify economies to make them less dependent on commodities
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Limit their exposure to financial volatility and debt
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Attract investment and make it more development friendly
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Increase access to digital technologies Promote entrepreneurship and innovation Help local firms move up value chains Speed up the flow of goods across borders
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Protect consumers from abuse Curb regulations that stifle competition
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Adapt to climate change and use natural resources more effectively
Together with other UN departments and agencies, we measure progress by the Sustainable Development Goals, as set out in Agenda 2030.
We also support implementation of Financing for Development, as mandated by the global community in the 2015 Addis Ababa Agenda, together with four other major institutional stakeholders: the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organisation, and the United Nations Development Programme.
While we work mainly with governments, to effectively deal with the magnitude and complexity of meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, we believe that partnerships and closer cooperation with the private sector and civil society are essential.
Ultimately, we are serving the citizens of the 195 countries that make up our organisation. Our goal is prosperity for all.
