Since its inception, UNCTAD has recognized that civil society has an increasingly important role to play in efforts to achieve sustainable human development and alleviate poverty.

UNCTAD also believes that enhanced cooperation between the private and the public sector is essential to the effective integration of developing countries into the global economy.

UNCTAD therefore seeks ways to involve non-governmental organizations, academia, trade unions, parliamentarians and business associations in its work.

Recent ministerial conferences have particularly benefited from active civil society participation and have called for further collaboration with non-governmental actors to enhance the work of UNCTAD and its member States.

Civil society organizations made valuable contributions to UNCTAD 10 (Bangkok, 2000), UNCTAD 11 (São Paulo, 2004), UNCTAD 12 (Accra, 2008) and UNCTAD 13 (Doha, 2012).

At UNCTAD 14 (Nairobi, 2016), the UNCTAD secretariat and its member States will continue to seek and promote the active involvement of civil society stakeholders to improve the outcome of the Conference and raise awareness of its agenda among the general public.