Rebecca Grynspan: 1st woman to head UNCTAD

UN General Assembly (UNGA) has approved nomination of Rebecca Grynspan to head United Nations Conference on Trade and development (UNCTAD). She is an economist from Costa Rica.

Key Points

• She will be the first woman and Central American to lead Geneva-based organisation, UNCTAD.
• She was nominated as secretary-general of UNCTAD by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Background

Rebecca Grynspan has been secretary-general of Ibero-American General Secretariat since 2014. This secretariate supports preparations for Ibero-American summits. She has also worked as deputy administrator of United Nations Development Program (UNDP) from 2010 to 2014. She also served as UNDP’s regional director for Latin America and Caribbean.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

UNCTAD was established as permanent intergovernmental body in 1964. It is a part of United Nations Secretariat that deals in trade, investment, and developmental issues. It seeks to maximize trade, investment and development opportunities in developing countries and assist them in integrating into world economy on equitable basis. It was established by United Nations General Assembly and it reports to UN General Assembly and United Nations Economic & Social Council.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2021