Introduction
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) embodies Article 55 of the Charter of
the United Nations (1945), which outlines the organisation's responsibility to promote "higher
standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and
development," as prerequisites to peace. 1) Originally, development activities of the United
Nations (UN) consisted largely of providing technical advice through the UN Expanded
Programme of Technical Assistance (EPTA) and support for pre-investment projects through
the UN Special Fund, created in 1949 and 1958 respectively, for the benefit of less developed
countries. 2) To streamline these assistance programs, General Assembly resolution 2029
(XX) of 22 November 1965 consolidated the EPTA and the UN Special Fund to establish
UNDP as of 1 January 1966. 3) Today, as the leader of the UN's "global development
network," UNDP assists countries with achieving the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) and implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2015).
Governance, Structure, and Membership
UNDP leadership comprises an Administrator and an Executive Board. The Administrator is
appointed by the Secretary-General and confirmed by the General Assembly for a four-year
term. The Administrator leads a large team in Regional Bureaus and provides support to other
Bureaus, such as the Bureau for External Relations and Advocacy and the Crisis Bureau, to
carry out UNDP's programs.
On the other hand, the Executive Board oversees all of UNDP's projects, approves budgets
and ensures that projects adapt to changing situations and the unique needs of each country
while following policy dance provided by the General Assembly and the Economic and
Social Council (ECosOC) & It consists of 36 rotating Member States from five geographic
groups: eight from the group of African states, seven from the group of Asian and Pacific
states, four from the group of Eastern European states, five from the group of Latin America
and the Caribbean states, and twelve from the group of Western European and Other States
instead decides on its rotation internally. Members typically serve three-year terms and are
elected by ECOSOC, although the group of Western and Other States instead decides on it’s
rotation internally.
The Executive Board holds three sessions each year: one annual session and two regular
sessions, typically held in New York City. The Executive Board is under the authority of
ECOSOC and reports annually on its program of work and recommendations for field-level
improvement. The rules of procedure for the Executive Board aim for decision-making by
consensus, but where a vote is needed, the rules of procedure for ECOSOC are used. The
Executive Board also serves as the governing body of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and
the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
The Bureau of the Executive Board is responsible for the organization and preparation of
meetings, and it supports transparency and dialogue in the decision-making of the Executive
Board by organizing and coordinating meetings and selecting teams for field visits. The
Bureau is composed of one President and four Vice-Presidents, who are elected annually at
the first regular session according to geographic regions to ensure equality. The Presidency
for 2020 is held by H.E. Mr. Walton Webson, permanent representative of Antigua and
Barbuda to the United Nations. The Vice-Presidents for 2020 are from Bulgaria, Sweden,
Rwanda and Kuwait.
UNDP obtains funding from Member States, multilateral organizations, the private sector,
and other sources, contributing approximately USD 5 billion annually, with the Executive
Board deciding on budgets and financial plans. Additional funding for individual projects and
activities may be provided directly by organizations and governments, although UNDP
remains the primary source of funding. With projects in over 170 countries, UNDP tracks
allocation of its budget according to themes such as inclusive and sustainable growth, basic
services, recovery, and risk reduction among others.
Mandate, Functions, and Powers
Pursuant to General Assembly resolution 2029 (XX) of 22 November 1965, UNDP retained
the "principles, procedures and provisions" of the EPTA and the UN Special Fund following
their consolidation. Having broadened in scope, UNDP's present mandate is "to empower
lives and build resilient nations" for sustainable human development. As an assistance
program, UNDP is "designed to support and supplement the national efforts of developing
countries in solving the most important problems of their economic development, including
industrial development." General Assembly resolution 59/250 (2005) emphasizes that
national governments still retain primary responsibility for development within their
countries.
UNDP does not adopt resolutions, instead its work is carried out by its offices in different
countries, which are focused on helping countries develop policies, institutional abilities,
leadership skills, and resilience to achieve poverty eradication and the reduction of
inequalities. To assist in these efforts, UNDP also administers and utilizes the UN Volunteers
program and the UN Capital Development Fund. Partnerships are crucial to the work of
UNDP as they enable UNDP to finance its various activities and implement projects.
As the leading UN development agency, a core function of UNDP's role is assisting Member
States in achieving the SDGs. Through its Strategic Plan 2018-2021, UNDP contextualizes its
work towards achieving the SDGs around three broad settings: eradicating poverty in all its
forms, accelerating structural transformations, and building resilience to crises and shocks. It
then directs its work towards its "Signature Solutions": eradicating poverty, governance for
peaceful, just and inclusive cities, increased resilience, nature-based solutions for the
environment, clean affordable energy and gender quality.
UNDP's assistance to Member States is also guided by the United Nations Sustainable
Development Group's (UNSDG) common approach to implementing the SDGs, called
MAPS: Mainstreaming, Acceleration, and Policy Support. The UNSDG is the highest-level
inter-agency forum for the UN development system and comprises all UN entities whose
work relates to the 2030 Agenda at the country level. It provides strategic direction and
oversight to ensure the UN development system delivers coherent, effective, and efficient
support to countries seeking to achieve sustainable development." The goal of the MAPS
approach is to encourage Member States to translate the SDGs into action. MAPS has
already achieved results, chief among them enabling countries to effectively use data for
SDG implementation and monitoring, and ensuring SDG ownership across different
stakeholders.
Apart from playing an important role within the UNSDG, UNDP also manages the Resident
Coordinator system, which provides guidance and support for operational activities for
development carried out by UN entities at the country level. As of November 2016, there
were 129 Resident Coordinators leading 131 UN country teams.
Introduction to the Agenda
Agenda Disaster and Global Trade
I. Introduction to the Agenda
Global trade has long served as a central engine of economic development, enabling the
movement of essential goods, generating employment, and fostering international
cooperation. Yet, with the increasing frequency and intensity of disasters — many driven by
climate change — the world’s interconnected trade networks are facing unprecedented
vulnerability. Disasters such as earthquakes, pandemics, hurricanes, wildfires, and floods
inflict severe damage on infrastructure, disrupt supply chains, trigger financial instability, and
weaken national production capacities. These disruptions reverberate globally, affecting
consumers, industries, and governments alike.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) views this challenge through a
human development lens, emphasizing that disaster-related trade disruptions do not merely
represent logistical problems — they threaten livelihoods, exacerbate poverty, and undermine
long-term development. Many developing economies rely heavily on trade as a lifeline for
essential imports like food and medicine, and as a key source of income through exports. For
such nations, every disaster-related shock risks reversing years of growth and pushing
vulnerable populations deeper into insecurity.
As the world strives to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it becomes
increasingly evident that progress on goals related to poverty eradication (SDG 1),
sustainable cities (SDG 11), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), resilient
infrastructure (SDG 9), and climate action (SDG 13) depends on resilient, inclusive global
trade systems. UNDP therefore advocates that disaster governance and trade governance
must be aligned — a dual approach that protects human welfare while maintaining steady
economic development. Ensuring that global trade can withstand future shocks is not only
essential for maintaining economic flows — it is fundamental to sustaining human dignity
and equitable development across nations.
II. Understanding Disaster Impacts on Global Trade
Disasters disrupt trade through multiple and interconnected pathways. One significant
mechanism involves infrastructural disruption. Critical infrastructure — ports, airports,
highways, power grids, warehouses, and telecommunications systems — forms the backbone
of international trade. When disasters strike and damage these networks, the movement of
goods becomes delayed, rerouted, or halted entirely, leading to rising transportation costs and
losses in perishable or sensitive cargo. Tropical Cyclone Idai, which severely damaged Beira
Port in Mozambique, provides a clear example of how a single event can bring regional trade
to a standstill.
Another major impact lies in supply chain vulnerability. Modern trading systems operate on
globalized production models reliant on interdependent value chains and “just-in-time”
delivery strategies. A localized disaster can trigger extensive ripple effects worldwide. The
2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami forced shutdowns in microchip and automotive
production, impacting industries in North America, Europe, and Asia. The COVID-19
pandemic magnified this fragility, as simultaneous lockdowns and labor shortages upended
manufacturing and exposed the lack of resilience in essential supply networks.
Beyond logistics, disasters influence financial markets and investment environments. When
risk perception spikes after disasters, currency volatility rises, investor confidence declines,
and production costs increase — weakening nations’ export competitiveness. Governments
may also impose emergency trade policies such as export bans on essential goods or
increased import restrictions. While enacted to protect national supplies, such policies often
worsen global shortages and harm trade-dependent populations in the Global South.
Labor market disruption represents another critical trade challenge. Displacement, injuries,
fatalities, and job losses can halt production in key industries. Tourism-dependent economies
such as Nepal experienced devastating losses after the 2015 earthquake, illustrating how
quickly disaster impacts can bleed into national trade revenue and employment.
III. Differential Impact on Developing Economies
While disasters are global phenomena, their impacts are deeply unequal. Developing
countries frequently lack resilient infrastructure, diversified economies, financial buffers, and
robust governance systems. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are among the most
vulnerable: their trade relies almost entirely on functioning seaports, but they face relentless
storms and rising sea levels that threaten both immediate access and long-term viability.
Meanwhile, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) often depend heavily on a single export
commodity, making their markets extremely sensitive to production interruptions.
Women and informal workers — who are highly represented in agriculture, small
manufacturing, and local services — are disproportionately affected by trade shocks. When
trade collapses, their economic empowerment erodes, reinforcing gender inequality.
Consequently, disasters do not merely disrupt trade; they accelerate existing patterns of
marginalization.
UNDP stresses that any policy approach must recognise that the resilience gap is ultimately a
development gap. Strengthening trade systems becomes an integral component of
strengthening human development outcomes.
IV. Climate Change as a Threat Multiplier
Climate change intensifies nearly every disaster-related challenge in global trade. Rising
temperatures, shifting weather patterns, and increasing sea levels mean that climate-related
disasters are not only more frequent — they are becoming predictably systemic. Key trade
sectors such as agriculture and fisheries are under existential stress due to droughts, ocean
acidification, and habitat loss. The loss of arable land and marine ecosystems reduces export
capacity while heightening food import dependence.
Climate-driven catastrophes interrupt mining and energy production, fostering volatile
commodity prices that damage fiscal stability in countries reliant on resource exports. When
climate events erode trade capacities, governments lose critical revenue for climate
adaptation itself — creating a dangerous cycle of rising vulnerability.
Thus, climate change directly transforms disasters into enduring structural constraints on
global trade and economic sovereignty.
V. Case Studies: Trade Disruptions and Development Impacts
A number of recent crises highlight the scale of trade vulnerability.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed weaknesses in global logistics, from medical supply
chains to consumer goods. Small island tourism economies experienced record GDP declines
— some by as much as 70%. UNDP’s emergency role included supporting income protection
schemes, digital trade transitions, and green economic recovery plans.
Similarly, the 2011 Thailand floods shut down over 14,000 factories in major industrial
zones, causing worldwide shortages in electronics and automotive parts. UNDP supported the
country in developing risk-informed industrial planning and investing in flood-defence
infrastructure.
In the Caribbean, recurring hurricanes regularly devastate airports, ports, and tourism
facilities, creating humanitarian emergencies and steep trade losses. UNDP helped implement
the “Build Forward Better” approach — promoting climate-resilient construction and digital
reform of logistics systems.
Each case demonstrates that vulnerability to disaster is largely a function of underlying
economic structure — and that UNDP’s post-disaster strategy must ensure long-term
resilience rather than restoration of outdated vulnerabilities.
VI. UNDP’s Mandate and Frameworks Addressing
Disaster–Trade Interlinkages
UNDP aligns its work with international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for
Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement, and the UNDP Strategic Plan 2022–2025.
The organization works to build resilience within both physical infrastructure and
socio-economic systems.
UNDP’s approach rests on five integrated pillars:
1. Disaster Risk Reduction and Preparedness: Including early-warning systems,
climate risk insurance, and community-based resilience.
2. Resilient Trade Infrastructure: Enhancing the durability of ports, storage, and
supply corridors through engineering and nature-based solutions.
3. Economic Diversification: Supporting MSMEs and encouraging participation in
global value chains to reduce trade dependency.
4. Digitalization of Trade: Promoting e-commerce, paperless customs, and digital
traceability to sustain market access during crises.
5. Inclusive Recovery: Ensuring women, informal workers, and marginalized
communities benefit equally from trade revival.
UNDP emphasizes that resilience must be built before disasters strike — through proactive,
climate-aware development planning.
VII. Role of International Trade Cooperation
Global cooperation is essential for trade continuity during crises. UNDP advocates reforms
enhancing flexibility in international trade rules, particularly for import-dependent
developing economies. Greater access to trade finance, preferential terms, technology
transfer, and regional supply chain collaboration can prevent vulnerable nations from being
economically stranded after disasters.
Strengthened South–South and triangular cooperation can leverage shared knowledge,
enabling countries with similar climate realities to jointly build robust regional trade
ecosystems.
VIII. Capacity-Building for Governments
Governments must possess the institutional capacity to plan for and respond to supply chain
vulnerabilities. UNDP offers expertise in:
● National trade risk assessments
● Climate-resilient infrastructure planning
● Governance reforms for disaster readiness
● Data modernization and digital trade ecosystems
Ultimately, building local capability ensures that resilience is not externally imposed but
internally sustained.
IX. Private Sector Engagement
The private sector manages much of global trade infrastructure and logistics; therefore, its
role in resilience-building is indispensable. UNDP works with businesses to embed disaster
planning into investment choices, logistics design, and workforce security. Partnerships
focused on sustainability standards and circular economy models support both profit and
societal resilience.
Companies also have the ability to shift supply chains toward local sourcing, strengthening
domestic production capacity and distributive trade benefits.
X. Policy Recommendations for the Committee
To support disaster-resilient trade systems, the committee could advance the following
priorities:
● Risk-sensitive trade policies requiring climate and disaster analysis in national and
corporate decision-making.
● Regional trade corridors for emergency response, especially in Africa, the Pacific,
and the Caribbean.
● Investment in climate-smart infrastructure such as storm-resistant ports and
renewable-powered logistics hubs.
● Innovative financing like blue bonds and catastrophe-contingent credit to aid
vulnerable economies.
● Support for MSMEs to digitalize, upgrade skills, and access global markets.
● Humanitarian-sensitive trade rules, ensuring access to essentials during crises.
Each recommendation reinforces the principle that trade must serve development resilience,
not deepen fragility.
XI. Guiding Questions for Delegates
1. How can developing nations protect trade routes and supply chains from increasing
climate risks?
2. What mechanisms can strengthen resilient infrastructure investment in trade hubs?
3. How can digital transformation ensure trade continuity during crises?
4. In what ways should trade governance evolve to incorporate humanitarian concerns?
5. What role can regional cooperation play in disaster-responsive trade systems?
Conclusion
Disasters are not merely temporary disruptions — they are expanding structural threats to
global trade and sustainable development, especially for vulnerable economies. UNDP
underscores that achieving resilience demands forward-looking governance that integrates
trade policy, climate adaptation, social equity, and infrastructure modernization. Ultimately,
safeguarding trade is about safeguarding people’s lives, livelihoods, and future opportunities.
The world must act collectively. Through inclusive, risk-informed development and
strengthened global cooperation, we can transform trade systems into powerful catalysts of
resilience, enabling all nations to thrive even in the face of growing global uncertainty.