Geneva, 4 January 2022 (TDI): In order to create a strategic global agreement about free trade, fear of competition, and consumer protection, the UN Conference on Trade and Development Platform for Research Partnerships in Competition and Consumer Protection is one of the leading research initiatives under the UN.
This initiative involves partnerships between experts and academic researchers, as well as numerous government entities. To create synergies between extensive research and policy analysis on the one hand, and the development of appropriate policies and legislation in the areas of competition and consumer protection, on the other hand, UNCTAD established the Research Partnership Platform (RPP) in 2010.
Through the RPP, which provides a mobile platform for joint research and other activities, research findings can be disseminated to a broader range of stakeholders, including competition and consumer protection authorities.
The U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) hopes to benefit from the interaction with researchers within the RPP as part of its efforts to achieve inclusive and sustainable development in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
RPP Focuses on Several Broad Areas
The design and implementation of effective competition legislation and policies are crucial for developing countries and economies in transition. Through the implementation of consumer and competition protection laws and policies, economic and social development can be made more inclusive and sustainable.
Regionally and internationally, consumer protection and competition laws are enforced.
Based on this broad framework and current challenges, the organization intends to engage with RPP partners, particularly on topics such as competition and consumer protection policies in the digital era; competition policy and inclusive development; competition, consumer protection, and sustainability; and competition and consumer protection policies’ contributions to achieving sustainable development.
Partner organizations are invited to share their research results in the above-mentioned areas. In conjunction with the RPP, competition authorities, governments, researchers on the consumer and competition policy, businesses, and civil-society organizations will have access to some of the most effective tools for enforcing competition law and policy and understanding the role of competition policy in promoting growth and development.
In accordance with the RPP, partners will receive information about ongoing research, as well as opportunities to participate in meetings, conferences, and seminars on competition and consumer policy.
In addition to advancing state-of-the-art formulation and enforcement of competition and consumer protection laws and policies for better development, the Center provides a flexible, consultative environment for resolving the most challenging problems in competition and consumer protection laws and policies in developing countries and emerging economies.
RPP acts as a resource provider, working with partners to collect information and best practices regarding the formulation and implementation of competition and consumer protection policies so that they can be applied globally more effectively.
UNCTAD provides support to its member countries through three pillars: research and policy analysis, technical assistance for capacity building, and consensus-building.
Under the RPP, UNCTAD will deepen its extensive research and policy analysis and increase the value-added of its technical assistance activities, particularly in developing countries and economies in transition, to increase the impact of its first two pillars.
UNCTAD anticipates that the RPP will contribute to the development of an international forum for discussion and exchange of accurate information on economic competition and consumer protection.
UNCTAD & Partners Agreed to Cooperate
Joint publications (research papers, policy briefs, and analytical notes based on research) on competition law and policy, consumer protection, and pertinent issues like competitiveness.
Participants from governments, academia, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations will convene to discuss how to improve the formulation and effective implementation of competition and consumer protection laws and policies, as well as how to promote inclusive and sustainable development through competition while keeping the interfaces between competition and development in mind.
Several training courses and workshops are organized jointly with UNCTAD in developing countries. Involvement in the development of pedagogical materials and training modules related to consumer protection and competition.
Publications by UNCTAD
Based on available resources, UNCTAD will fund ongoing activities for the research partner or UNCTAD. The Research Partnership Program assists research partners in approaching donors for funding for modern activities that have yet to be funded.
Usually, UNCTAD’s capacity-building activities and technical assistance programs are funded from trust funds in response to requests from member states.
It’s very important to mention that UNCTAD’s first female Secretary-General, Grynspan, was nominated by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and approved by the General Assembly in June.
Grynspan said, “I am honoured to be joining UNCTAD at such a critical time for our world.” COVID-19 has exposed the inequalities and vulnerabilities of the world and its model of development. The pandemic provides an opportunity to rebalance the global economy, boost resilience, and ensure shared prosperity. “
Today’s world needs action to transform trade and reshape the global economy to overcome barriers to prosperity for all and to embark on a sustainable development path that will benefit everyone.
