Today: Briefing for Member States & civil society on the Borrowers' Platform during the 2026 Financing for Development Week.
The newly launched initiative fills a gap in the global debt architecture, enabling peer learning & knowledge sharing.
More: https://ow.ly/77Mx50YNsBM
Coming up: First plenary meeting of the Beyond GDP Global Alliance.
Launched under the Sevilla Platform for Action, the Alliance convenes countries & partners to accelerate broader sustainable development metrics in policy & financing strategies.
More: https://ow.ly/tWb850YNonn
Financing for development calls for mobilizing private investment, strengthening productive capacity and improving SME access to finance.
How can better alignment across trade, investment and enterprise policies deliver?
Join the #Fin4Dev dialogue: https://ow.ly/Q3R950YNmMs
The 29th UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development is underway in Geneva.
Focus: maximizing AI’s impact on science, technology and innovation, while helping policymakers in developing countries harness benefits and mitigate risks.
Follow: https://ow.ly/47qx50YMPK6
Starting 10:00 CEST: 29th session of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development.
Theme: Science, Technology and Innovation in the age of artificial intelligence.
Opening plenary live on UN Web TV: https://ow.ly/PLc950YLaci
The Borrowers’ Platform moves from launch to implementation, with UNCTAD as secretariat.
For 45 years, UNCTAD has combined independent analysis and technical cooperation, supporting over 70 countries through its DMFAS debt management programme.
Explore: https://ow.ly/wP2750YLyvv
A breakthrough in global finance: the Borrowers’ Platform launches this week.
Addressing gaps in the international financial architecture, it fosters coordination, knowledge-sharing, and a stronger collective voice for borrowing countries.
Learn more: https://ow.ly/Ft3y50YLyyZ
This week marks the launch of the Borrowers’ Platform at the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings.
For the first time, borrowing countries have a dedicated space to share knowledge, coordinate, and speak with a collective voice on debt challenges.
Explainer: https://ow.ly/mrGl50YLfl3
From 7% in 2023 to 29% by 2033: AI is becoming the leading frontier tech segment.
What does this mean for innovation policy, ethics, governance and sustainable development?
Follow the 29th UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development: https://ow.ly/Sv2m50YLgLp
To compete in an AI-driven world, developing countries need national strategies – especially on infrastructure, data and skills.
By 2023, 30% had one, vs. 66% of developed economies and 12% of least developed countries.
UNCTAD analysis: https://ow.ly/hX1M50YLczT
From research to innovation, AI is reshaping the landscape.
For it to benefit all, openness, global capacity & ethical responsibility are key.
The 29th UN Commission on Science & Technology for Development brings renewed momentum to this effort.
Follow for more: https://ow.ly/zMfB50YKTtn
Mounting debt burdens in low-income countries: external debt service hit 24.2% of exports in 2024, up from 13.1% in 2023.
Payments surged 94% against just 5% export growth, squeezing investment in sustainable development.
UNCTAD analysis: https://ow.ly/bsA250YKFea
Debt service is outpacing revenue growth across most developing regions, tightening fiscal space.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, 18.7% of government revenue went to external debt service in 2024.
What does this mean for development trade-offs?
UNCTAD analysis: https://ow.ly/ZVQu50YKvGE
A new Borrowers’ Platform for developing countries.
Stronger tools. Better information. A collective voice on debt.
In a world where financial decisions shape development outcomes, this matters.
Join the initiative: https://ow.ly/i4cg50YKrUT
Rising debt burdens are constraining development.
To help address this challenge, the Borrowers’ Platform has been officially launched by an initial group of developing countries, withUNCTAD serving as its secretariat.
Here’s how it works in practice: https://ow.ly/QUEV50YKlFg
The Borrowers’ Platform launches with UNCTAD as secretariat.
It’s “a breakthrough in global financing,” says UN Secretary-General António Guterres – a platform where borrowing countries come together, learn from each other & speak with a collective voice.
More: https://ow.ly/bw2p50YK302
Debt is no longer just a financial issue—it is constraining development.
Launching today, the Borrowers’ Platform supports developing countries to collaborate on debt management and safeguard growth.
Follow online: https://ow.ly/SNTy50YJOrH
From commitment to action: The Borrowers’ Platform launches today.
Addressing a long-standing imbalance, it offers debtor countries a space for peer learning, capacity building, and a collective voice for a fairer global financial system.
Follow online: https://ow.ly/3b7k50YISxo
Rising debt pressures require coordinated action.
Launching 15 April, the Borrowers’ Platform will foster cooperation, dialogue & knowledge-sharing among developing countries.
The stakes are high amid tightening financial conditions & global uncertainty.
Learn more: https://ow.ly/mP2V50YIR2w
A new step toward fairer global finance: the Borrowers’ Platform launches 15 April.
Addressing a systemic gap, it strengthens the voice of developing countries in a system where creditor coordination has expanded.
Follow live: https://ow.ly/Q2Sj50YIMO5
Developing countries held $11.7 trillion in external debt in 2024.
While debt accumulation slowed, high servicing costs meant interest payments absorbed nearly 10% of government revenue – limiting resources for essential services & development.
UNCTAD analysis: https://ow.ly/T0lL50YI7bf
From commitment to action: the Borrowers’ Platform launches 15 April in Washington, D.C.
Its mission: to give debtor countries a permanent space for peer learning, capacity building & a collective voice for a fairer global financial system.
Explore the initiative: https://ow.ly/kOWF50YHNmL
Least developed countries (#LDCs) face mounting debt burdens as growth slows and revenues weaken amid global uncertainty.
In 2024, nearly 25% of government revenue went to creditors abroad – the highest share among developing countries.
UNCTAD analysis: https://ow.ly/TTRH50YHMi0
Developing countries held $11.7 trillion in external debt in 2024.
While borrowing slowed, high servicing costs meant interest payments absorbed nearly 10% of government revenue – limiting resources for essential services and development.
Read more: https://ow.ly/QUsv50YHuBa
Uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz is increasing financial pressure on developing countries, as investors shift away from riskier assets.
This has triggered sharper sell-offs, weakened local currencies, and made essential imports more expensive.
More: https://ow.ly/AXtZ50YHsg9
Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are squeezing developing economies: Weaker currencies, rising borrowing costs.
3.4 billion people live where debt service already exceeds health or education spending – limiting shock absorption and raising crisis risks.
UNCTAD analysis: https://ow.ly/gcaS50YHrqQ
As debt servicing costs climb, developing countries face hard choices: 3.4 billion people live where debt outweighs spending on health or education.
The Borrowers’ Platform, launching 15 April, creates a new space for cooperation on debt.
Explore the initiative: https://ow.ly/76wX50YH4st
In 99 developing countries (73%), rising borrowing costs are crowding out public spending on essential services like schools and hospitals.
Launching 15 April, the Borrowers’ Platform will help strengthen cooperation and debt sustainability.
Learn more: https://ow.ly/j5zg50YGVZ6
Rising borrowing costs are squeezing developing countries, as debt servicing eats into public spending.
The Borrowers’ Platform, launching 15 April, will strengthen cooperation and debt sustainability.
UNCTAD will serve as secretariat.
Learn more: https://ow.ly/O0Jk50YGENc
Global services exports topped $9.5 trillion in 2025, up around 8%, UNCTAD-WTO data show.
Growth was broad-based, but transport trailed at just 2% amid tariff changes and security concerns affecting key routes.
More insights: https://ow.ly/nafA50YGt1y
