Work Programme on Commodities: Biennium 2008-2011
Pursuant to paragraph 221 of the Accra Accord, the work plan for implementing the Accra Accord on commodities is detailed in document “Draft work plan for 2008–2011 for the implementation of the Accra Accord” [PDF]
Expected accomplishments
The Special Unit on Commodities, established pursuant to the Accra Accord (para. 183), implements the secretariat's work on commodities (within subprogramme 3: International Trade) and aims to improve the capacity of commodity-dependent developing countries to harness development gains from trade in commodities and to enhance international cooperation (within the mandate of UNCTAD) to address trade and development problems associated with the commodity economy, including the food crisis and poverty reduction (Accra Accord paras. 91, 92, and 93 (a) to (c)) Read more… [PDF]
Indicators of achievements
(1) the number of commodity-dependent countries adopting specific policy measures at all levels, and for all participants in the commodity sector to promote and improve transparency and accountability and to harness development gains from commodities production and trade, recognizing that many factors impact these measures;
(2) the number of commodity-dependent countries which UNCTAD has assisted in their efforts to integrate commodity strategies into their national development plans; and
(3) the number of number of studies, technical cooperation activities and consensus-building meetings undertaken by UNCTAD to promote international cooperation in addressing trade and development opportunities and challenges associated with the commodity economy.
Outputs
During the biennium 2010-2011, the following outputs will be delivered:
(a) Servicing of intergovernmental and expert bodies:
(i) General Assembly:
a. Parliamentary documentation: report of the Secretary-General on commodity trends and prospects (1);
(ii) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD):
a. Substantive servicing of meetings. Substantive servicing of preparatory meetings of the thirteenth session of the Conference (as required) (12); United Nations negotiating conferences on individual commodities (subject to requests from international commodity bodies) (4);
(iii) UNCTAD - Trade and Development Board:
a. Substantive servicing of meetings: annual sessions of the Board (4);
b. Parliamentary documentation: Reports on issues to be decided by the Board, as required (2);
(iv) UNCTAD - Working Party on Strategic Framework and the Programme Budget:
a. Substantive servicing of meetings: Working Party on Strategic Framework and the Programme Budget (4)
(v) UNCTAD - Commission on Trade and Development:
a. Substantive servicing of meetings. Annual sessions of the Commission on Trade and Development (4); annual sessions of the Multi-year expert meetings on commodities and development (12);
b. Parliamentary documentation. Background documentation for the Multi-year expert meetings, (as required) (4); report on the topics to be decided by the commission (2);
(b) Other substantive activities (regular budget):
(i) Recurrent publications: Handbook on World Mineral Statistics (2); Iron Ore Market (2); Iron Ore Statistics (2); World Commodity Survey (1);
(ii) Non-recurrent publications: Analytical studies on commodity development and trade - Agriculture (4); Analytical studies on commodity development and trade - Minerals and metals and oil and gas (4);
(iii) Technical material: INFOCOMM (updating during biennium) (2); Sustainability Claims Portal (creation, launching and updating website during biennium) (1);
(iv) Contribution to joint outputs: Contributions to World Economic Situation and Prospects, World Economic and Social Survey (as required) (2);
(c) Technical cooperation (RB/XB)
(i) Advisory services: Advisory missions to assist commodity-dependent developing countries, upon request, particularly small commodity producers, in their efforts to: Develop national commodity strategies and policies, including mainstream commodity policies into their national and regional development strategies; Build supply-side capacity and attain competitiveness; Move up value chains and diversify commodity sectors; Comply with public and private trade standards at all levels; Access marketing information systems and databases; Take advantage of export opportunities for commodities in emerging markets; Build human and institutional capacities, where appropriate; Promote and improve transparency and accountability in extractive industries; Establish effective marketing systems and support frameworks for small commodity producers, including economically viable safety net programmes; Develop commodity financing and risk management schemes (including commodity exchanges) (10);
(ii) Training courses, seminars and workshops: Annual African Oil and Finance Conference (2); modules on commodities issues for regular training courses organized pursuant to paragraph 166 of the Bangkok Plan of Action and paragraph 162 of the Accra Accord, as requested (5); national and regional workshops for capacity-building in commodity-dependent developing countries to formulate policies and strategies and harness the development gains from trade in commodities, as well as respond to the development challenges and opportunities of commodity markets (6);
(iii) Field projects: Country and inter-country projects to assist commodity-dependent countries establish institutional frameworks for diversification, value addition and more effective participation in global commodity supply chains, particularly with respect food safety standards and quality requirements, market information systems and databases, supply-chain finance, commodity exchanges, enhancing transparency and accountability in public and private sectors in extractive industries, as well as for capacity-building on agricultural commodities among African, Caribbean and Pacific States.