Newsroom

13 December - UNDP and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) will be hosting in Dakar, Senegal a conference on trade and investment issues involved in the relationship between emerging partners and Africa.

With limited economic and political resources, African countries must bargain collectively to shape global trading and investment regimes that respond to their own needs. At the same time, regional integration can open up additional opportunities in trade and investment, boosting inclusive growth and human development.

The event will help African decision-makers to explore innovative approaches to trade and investment negotiations. Initiated in March, the UNDP-UNITAR partnership aims to bring African positions to the fore so that the interests of the region are represented in international forums and summits. In 2011, over 1,100 African officials were trained.

The topics covered include regional trade and integration, financing for development, climate change negotiation and peace and security. The ultimate goal is for decision-makers to represent the interests of their respective countries so as to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

On regional trade and integration for instance, UNDP and UNITAR have been helping countries to identify domestic, regional and international financial constraints to increased foreign direct investment.

In the area of financing for development, the initiative is helping low and middle income countries expand their provision of and access to financial and credit services, which are essential for development.

In addition, working toward the climate change negotiations in Durban, South Africa, senior delegates and African negotiators attended a series of climate diplomacy workshops throughout 2011.