United Nations Environment Programme
Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics
Economics and Trade Branch

Joint UNEP-UNCTAD side event on Capacity Building in Trade and Sustainable Development, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development

3 September 2002, Johannesburg, South Africa

A joint UNCTAD-UNEP side event took place at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa on 3 September 2002.

The Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities, Mr. Rolf Boehnke, together with ministers from a number of countries participated in the side event.

The aim of this event was threefold. Firstly, to demonstrate the steadily growing collaboration between our two organizations, in setting up and making operational the UNEP-UNCTAD Capacity Building Task Force on Trade, Environment and Development (CBTF). Following the 4th WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, and the explicit recognition of the need for more capacity building on this policy interface, the CBTF has sought close complementarity between its activities and the Doha Development Agenda and the related technical assistance programme administered by the WTO.

Secondly, to showcase specific programmes and projects set in the context of the needs and priorities of developing countries. After two years, the CBTF has gained significant experience on the ground. Projects specifically designed for the Least Developed Countries are in the pipeline. With the beneficiary and donor countries being increasingly supportive of the CBTF, it seems poised for new and larger initiatives, particularly at the regional level. This regional emphasis accords with the expected outcomes of WSSD with regard to implementation of its work programme. The joint initiative between UNCTAD and the Common Fund for Commodities was aimed at promoting the development of the commodity sector, so that more sustainable and environmentally sound commodity production contributes to poverty reduction, and sustainable development.

Thirdly, the WSSD presented an opportunity to move towards more effective capacity building programmes on trade, environment and development to assist developing countries and countries with economies in transition in strengthening their capacities to articulate national and regional policies and participate in the Doha Development Agenda. In this side event, the organizers intended to bring together ministers and senior officials representing the donor community and beneficiary countries, to explore how this can be achieved. The experience gained with the CBTF indicated that meeting the demand from developing countries for technical assistance and capacity building services required additional resources and a collective effort on the part of our institutions and memberships. The side event explored options for sharing costs and delivering a more integrated and comprehensive set of capacity building activities.

Representatives of governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations were invited to join the side event to contribute their perspectives on these issues and activities, as well as to gain new insights on how to maximize the net sustainable development gains from trade and the ongoing WTO negotiations.