The United Nations as an International Economic Organization

Core Principles

• Save future generations from war.
• Reaffirm human rights.
• Establish equal rights for all nations.

Aims

• Maintain international peace and security.
• Promote friendship and equality between nations.
• Promote international cooperation to solve economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems.
• Harmonize the efforts of nations to achieve these aims.
• Protect human rights.

Characteristics

• An intergovernmental organization of universal profile composed of sovereign states.
• Collaboration primarily through the provision of quotas to technical assistance programs.
• Creation of mechanisms for international economic and social cooperation.

Functions of UNCTAD

• Forum for intergovernmental deliberations: Supported by discussions with experts and exchanges of experience aimed at consensus.
• Research and Analysis: Undertaking research, policy analysis, and data collection.
• Technical Assistance: Providing assistance tailored to the specific requirements of developing countries, with special attention to the needs of the least developed countries.

UNCTAD Plans of Action

1. Integrated Programme for Commodities (1976)

The aim is to develop global strategies to solve problems related to commodities by establishing international regulations and plans to promote stability:

• Be remunerative and just to producers and equitable to consumers.
• Take account of world inflation and changes in the global economic and monetary situation.
• Promote equilibrium between supply and demand within expanding world commodity trade.

2. Common Fund for Commodities (1989)

The aim is to create common funds to finance commodity exports of developing countries.

• It is an intergovernmental financial institution that supports the Integrated Programme for Commodities.
• This fund contributes to the stability of commodity prices through coordinated reserves.
• It finances actions to improve structural market conditions, competitiveness, and consumption.