UNCTAD Voluntary Peer Reviews on Competition Law and Policy are undertaken by competition policy experts and serve as a basis for peer review examination during the annual session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE).

The peer review process provides a unique opportunity to examine and draw lessons from experiences of, and challenges faced by, countries in the implementation of competition policies. The reports produced during the process regarding the state of competition law and enforcement in reviewed countries are impartial and rigorous, and are undertaken by competition policy experts from both developed and developing countries who have practical experience in implementing competition law.

The peer review process is interactive and combines the exchange of experiences with recommendations for possible improvements either in the formulation of the competition law or in its enforcement. Further, it provides interested developing countries with technical assistance in case they are willing to implement the peer review recommendations.

The peer review process is conducted in several stages:

1. A session is held in which the country subject to peer review responds to questions and provides clarifications and comments on the peer review report of the UNCTAD secretariat.

2. A session is held in which the country being reviewed questions the other peers on specific issues raised in the report and seeks clarification from competition authorities, who might be able to shed light on the issues at hand.

3. A session is held to look into the needs of the peer reviewed competition agency in terms of capacity-building and the ways in which UNCTAD can provide assistance to meet these needs.

UNCTAD´s experience working with competition authorities in developing countries and its unique development perspective guarantee that the UNCTAD Voluntary Peer Reviews are focused on the development dimension of competition policies.