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Short Courses for Geneva-based Diplomats - 2026 series
The UNCTAD secretariat is pleased to announce another series of short courses in 2026 on key international economic issues for delegates from permanent missions to the United Nations Office at Geneva and the World Trade Organization.
The aim of the courses is to give delegates from permanent missions an opportunity to become better acquainted with topical issues and developments in the international economic agenda as they are reflected in the work of UNCTAD. More detailed information on the content of individual courses may be found below.
In the first semester, four courses will be provided at Palais des Nations - on 20 February, 26 March, 14 April, and 15 May 2026. respectively.
The first semester in 2026 includes:
- Friday 20 February 2026, 10 a.m. (Room XII) - Trade and Gender from the lens of UNCTAD
- Thursday 26 March 2026, 10 a.m. (Room XII) - Understanding Poverty in Developing Countries
- Tuesday 14 April 2026, 10 a.m. (Room XII) - UNCTAD Trade and Development Foresights 2026
- Friday 15 May 2026, 10 a.m. (Room XII) - Trade Preferences Outlook 2025: Navigating in Times of Uncertainty
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This short course introduces delegates to the key links between trade, gender, and development, with a focus on international trade and gender-responsive trade policies that support the 2030 Agenda-particularly SDGs 5, 8, 9, 10, and 17-and enhance societal resilience in times of crisis. Drawing on UNCTAD’s analytical work, empirical evidence, and policy examples, the course demonstrates how trade can both reduce and reinforce gender inequalities, and how policy tools can deliver more inclusive outcomes.
At the end of this course, delegates will have gained knowledge on:
- Why the economy is inherently gendered and why gender considerations are essential for sustainable development.
- The links between trade, gender, and development, and why there is no such thing as a gender-neutral economic policy.
- Identifying key gender gaps in trade—across employment, entrepreneurship, digital access, value chains, and access to productive resources—and their implications for growth and sustainable development.
- The overview of the roles of major international organizations and NGOs on trade and gender and understanding of UNCTAD’s distinct analytical and policy approach.
- Through their capacity to engage in negotiations and intergovernmental processes through a gender lens.
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Poverty remains one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Ending poverty in all its forms, everywhere, is the first Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 1), reflecting the central role of poverty eradication in achieving the broader 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Progress on poverty reduction is foundational to advancing other SDGs and to ensuring dignity, rights, and shared prosperity for all.
Given the continued importance of this issue for Member States, and the urgency of accelerating poverty eradication as the world approaches 2030, there is a critical need to deepen understanding of the underlying causes of poverty, as well as the policies and tools required to address it effectively.
Delegates will gain a clear, policy-oriented understanding of how poverty is defined, measured, and experienced across developing regions, as well as the key economic, social, and institutional drivers shaping poverty outcomes. The course will equip delegates with practical insights into how policies can effectively contribute to poverty reduction in diverse contexts.
At the end of this course, delegates will have gained knowledge of:
- Concepts and measurement of poverty.
- Regional trends in poverty.
- Socioeconomic characteristics of people living in poverty.
- Key drivers and structural determinants of poverty.
- Linkages between poverty, inequality, and economic growth.
- Policies and tools for poverty reduction, illustrated through selected case studies.
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This session will give the opportunity to discuss about some of the recent changes in the global economic landscape and to present an update assessment regarding UNCTAD expectations about the evolution of the world economy in 2026 and after, taking into account the specific challenges faced by developing economies in this period of high uncertainties of all kinds.
As the global economy entered 2026 under the cloud of subdued growth expectations and heightened policy uncertainty in major markets, many developing countries seem increasingly vulnerable to the risks of a deteriorating external environment, onerous debt burdens and weakened domestic growth prospects. Ongoing shifts also include a more conservative spending structure (reduced official development assistance, lower social spending, higher defense spending) in the public finances of major economies. This is likely to further affect especially the most vulnerable groups of people and populations. This will also be an opportunity to discuss current policy challenges and further strengthen the dialogue between delegates and UNCTAD.
By the end of the course, delegates will have deepened their knowledge on:
- The current global macroeconomic landscape.
- Strategies to address trade-finance nexus, debt sustainability and fiscal challenges.
- Opportunities and challenges presented by the current economic landscape.
- Innovative financing mechanisms and how debt can be managed and addressed.
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Trade Preferences Outlook is a biannual publication of the UN Trade and Development which provides analysis on the state of the non-reciprocal trade preferences (NRTPs) offered to developing countries. NRTPs, such as the Generalized System of Preferences. By offering duty-free or duty-light access to advanced markets, these schemes have contributed to developing countries’ export expansion and integrating into global value chains. Recently, the stability and predictability of NRTPs have come under threat as preferential schemes expire, and economic fragmentation and protectionism undermine trade predictability.
This course will discuss the effects of global uncertainty and the increasing use of unilateral tariffs on NRTP beneficiary countries, especially for LDCs and other vulnerable economies. It will also discuss concrete policy options for shaping the future of NRTPs so that preference-receiving developing countries and LDCs can foster sustained and inclusive growth and economic diversification. The course is relevant to SDG 17 on strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development.
At the end of this course, participants will have gained knowledge of:
- Historical evolution and current state of non-reciprocal trade preferences.
- The trade impacts of changes and uncertainty in preferential market access to preference-receiving developing countries, particularly LDCs.
- The factors that influence the impact of trade preferences on beneficiary countries.
- The ways to improve the existing non-reciprocal preferential market access.
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The Technology and Innovation Report 2025 highlights the pressing need for developing countries to prepare for the opportunities and challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence. The report examines how Artificial Intelligence can drive progress toward sustainable development while emphasizing the importance of minimizing risks, such as exacerbating inequalities among countries. The short course will focus on three aspects covered by the report: infrastructure, data, and skills. It will also zoom in on the analysis of the policies and requirements necessary to foster inclusive technological progress. Additionally, the importance of policies as related to ethical oversight, transparency, and international cooperation to co-create a global framework for Artificial Intelligence that promotes equity and prosperity will be addressed. What are the short falls and where we are lagging behind, will be addressed, from the prism of developing countries.
At the end of this course, delegates will have gained knowledge of:
- Insights into national-level policies to support Artificial Intelligence, adoption, and adaptation, as related to SDG 9.
- Understanding of global governance strategies and partnerships for inclusive AI, as related to SDG 17.
- Practical recommendations to harness Artificial Intelligence for sustainable development while mitigating risks.
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Since the 1970s, non-reciprocal trade preferences, such as the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), have supported developing countries’ export growth. Yet, the rapidly changing global trade landscape poses new challenges. UNCTAD's Trade Preferences Outlook 2024 found the diminishing impact of preferential tariffs as MFN tariffs fall, free trade agreements proliferate, and non-tariff measures become more prevalent. Moreover, the rise of global value chains and the increasing technological intensity of production have shifted the sources of comparative advantages, necessitating a rethinking of the trade preferences. This course examines the current state of trade preferences for developing economies, particularly LDCs. It will discuss possible ways forward towards enhancing their development impact, including broadening market access cooperation to areas beyond tariffs, such as non-tariff measures, services trade, foreign direct investment and technology. The course is relevant to SDG 17 on strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development.
At the end of this course, delegates will have gained knowledge of:
- Historical evolution of non-reciprocal trade preferences.
- The empirical evidence on the role of trade preferences in promoting export diversification in developing countries.
- Current trends in preferential trade under the evolving trade landscape.
- Possible ways for enhancing the design and implementation of trade preferences and their development impact, including through new market access cooperation beyond tariff concessions.
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This short course will cover the global economic landscape, with a particular focus on its impact on developing economies. It will examine pressing challenges such as rising debt service costs and deteriorating debt sustainability, fiscal pressures, and the uneven effects of technological and geopolitical changes. Delegates will also hear about opportunities and challenges emerging from climate change, particularly for developing countries, and how these can be navigated to foster sustainable development. Through expert insights and discussions, participants will be better equipped to navigate complex economic environments and contribute to the formulation of policies that promote resilience, the green transition and equitable growth, while paying attention to fiscal and policy space.
At the end of this course, delegates will have gained knowledge of:
- The current global macroeconomic landscape.
- Strategies to address debt sustainability and fiscal challenges.
- Opportunities and challenges presented by climate change.
- Innovative financing mechanisms and how debt can be managed and addressed.
