UNEP-UNCTAD Capacity Building Task Force on Trade, Environment and Development

 

By enhancing synergies between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Capacity Building Task Force on Trade, Environment and Development (CBTF) aims to strengthen the capacities of countries, particularly developing countries and countries with economies in transition, to effectively address trade-environment-development issues.

Due to the extra-budgetary nature of the CBTF, its activities are launched in phases according to the timing and availability of financial resources contributed by donors. Thanks to the financial contributions provided by the European Union, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States of America (USA), the CBTF has been able to complete projects initiated during Phase I (2000 - 2003) and launch a number of new activities under Phase II (2004-2006).

  

 
Latest Meetings
  
 

Biotrade and Green Economy Week in Nepal
31 May - 4 June 2011,
Kathmandu, Nepal
As part of the Capacity Building for Biotrade project (CBBT), a Biotrade and Green Economy week is being organized in Kathmandu. The events are part of a bigger bigger project that is being implemented in Namibia, Nepal and Peru. The series of events during the Biotrade week will bring together representatives from the public, private and development sectors to discuss the potential benefits of promoting and investing in sustainable trade in biodiversity based products and transitioning to a greener economy in Nepal. more...

 
 
Latest Publication
 
  Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa, Sept 2008. UNCTAD/DITC/TED/2007/15
Food security is an issue of great concern in many countries, particularly in Africa.
The evidence presented in this study supports the argument that organic agriculture can be good for food security in Africa — equal or better than most conventional systems and more likely to be sustainable in the longer-term.
The 15 case studies examined in-depth have shown increases in per hectare productivity for food crops, increased farmer incomes, environmental benefits, strengthened communities and enhanced human capital.		  
  Best Practices for Organic Policy. What developing country Governments can do to promote the organic agriculture sector, February 2008. UNCTAD/DITC/TED/2007/3
The ambition of this report is to give guidance to the development of appropriate policies for the organic sector. Its focus is mainly developing countries, but much of it is also applicable for developed countries. The report gives some general background about organic agriculture and the reasons to support the development of organic agriculture. These are among others:
protection of natural resources (e.g. water) and biodiversity;
improved quality of soils and thereby a long-term high productivity;
improved market access;
improved profitability in farming; and,
improved health, or reduced health risks for farmers, farm-workers and consumers.		  
     

page last updated on 13 December, 2010 16:06