Debt and development finance

We support effective debt management in countries as an intrinsic part of sound public financial management and overall good governance.

Debt and Debt Sustainability

Responsible Sovereign Lending and Borrowing

Sovereign Debt Restructuring

Debt Management and Financial Analysis System

News

UNCTAD calls for a bold international economic agenda to avert another lost decade for developing countries

Developing countries are facing a projected foregone income of $800 billion and battling unprecedented levels of debt distress.

12 Apr 2023

Global debt and climate crises are intertwined: Here’s how to tackle both

Climate change is compounding the debt crisis in developing countries. UNCTAD spells out the actions necessary to safeguard the world’s sustainable development ambitions.

1 Mar 2023

The world lacks an effective global system to deal with debt

By UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan

2 Feb 2023

Multiple crises unleash one of the lowest global economic outputs in recent decades, says UN report

Stronger fiscal measures are needed to resuscitate the global economy and support the development agenda.

25 Jan 2023

More news

Featured Podcast

Banking on it: How safe is our financial system and should we fear another crisis?

This episode of The Weekly Tradecast looks at our banks and how safe they are with Anastasia Nesvetailova, head of UNCTAD’s macroeconomic and development policies branch.

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External debt sustainability and development

Every year, UNCTAD prepares the United Nations Secretary-General´s report to the General Assembly on external debt, which reviews the most recent developments and analyses key issues related to the external debt of developing countries.

Some additional topics raised in the General Assembly report include the role of credit rating agencies, the need to develop an international sovereign debt workout mechanism, the risks posed by the shift towards greater accumulation of domestic debt, the need for improved data reporting, progress in debt relief initiatives, delivery of ODA.

Featured publication

External shocks and financial stress post the global financial crisis - UNCTAD financial conditions indicators and financial vulnerabilities in emerging markets

The objective of this paper is to measure and track financial stress in these six fragile emerging economies in the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2008, using UNCTAD financial conditions indicators.

The paper argues that there is a need for better tools to measure financial stress in the context of growing instabilities and complexities in international and domestic financial markets.

PSI-UNCTAD Briefs on Workers and Debt

This five-part series on sovereign and public debt examines what happens when public spending leads to indebtedness, why indebtedness of the state is perceived to be a problem, what debt means for the sovereignty of the state, and how all this impacts workers.