20 September: The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) held the 59th session of the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board, which included a session on the sustainable structural transformation in Africa, highlighting challenges for African countries in making structural changes to their economies, as well as opportunities offered by greening economic growth.

The discussion focused on the “UNCTAD Economic Development in Africa Report 2012,” which highlights the challenges and opportunities of sustainable structural transformation. Speakers discussed, among other issues: the challenge of achieving economic transformations without endangering natural resources and the environment under the threat of climate change; reducing dependence on commodity exports; developing value added sectors; creating jobs in fields such as sustainable agriculture, clean energy generation, energy efficiency, forest management, and sustainable transport; and financial resources needed for sustainable structural transformation.

The 59th Session of the UNCTAD Trade and Development Board is being held from 17-27 September 2012, in Geneva, Switzerland. [UNCTAD Press Release] [Publication: Economic Development in Africa 2012 Report]