Leveraging Commodities for Sustainable Development and Resource Mobilization
CAF- development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean and the United Nation´s Department of Economic and Social Affairs invite you to the "Leveraging Commodities for Sustainable Development and Resource Mobilization" event that will explore the policy, financial, and institutional frameworks needed to transform commodity wealth into sustainable and inclusive economic growth. As many developing countries continue to rely heavily on extractive and agricultural sectors, this discussion will address the structural challenges of commodity dependence and identify strategies to strengthen domestic resource mobilization and economic diversification.
Event date:
April 30, 2025
In person
A significant number of developing countries, particularly in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, remain heavily dependent on commodities as a primary source of economic revenue. While the extractive and agricultural sectors provide crucial foreign exchange earnings, their structural reliance on raw material exports perpetuates economic volatility, limits value addition, and restricts domestic resource mobilization for sustainable development.
The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) presents a crucial opportunity to address these challenges by fostering discussions on innovative financing solutions, upgrading value chains, and ensuring that commodity wealth translates into long-term economic transformation. Building on the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and recent UN resolutions, this side event will explore policy and institutional frameworks necessary to leverage commodities for economic diversification and sustainable development financing.
This high-level side event aims to:
- Examine the structural barriers that keep commodity-dependent developing countries in a cycle of economic vulnerability.
- Explore policy and financial instruments that enhance domestic resource mobilization, such as commodity stabilization funds, value chain upgrades, and public-private partnerships.
- Identify best practices and strategies from resource-rich countries that have successfully diversified their economies.
- Facilitate collaboration between international financial institutions, UN agencies, and national governments to strengthen financing mechanisms for sustainable economic transformation.
Date: April 30th, 2024. Fourth Preparatory Committee for FFD4, 2025, New York
Time: 13:15 – 14:30 (EST)
Location: Conference Room 7. United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
Registration and accreditation are mandatory
Speakers
Shari Spiegel
Director, Financing for Sustainable Development Office, UN-DESA
Mariangela Parra-Lancourt
Chief, Strategic Engagement and Policy Integration Branch at United Nations, UN DESA FSDO
Gianpiero Leoncini
Executive Vice-President, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
Amb. Paula Narváez
Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Chile to the United Nations
Kaushal Kishor Ray
Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations
Juan José Martinez Badillo
Chief, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) New York Office.
Shari Spiegel
Director, Financing for Sustainable Development Office, UN-DESA
Mariangela Parra-Lancourt
Chief, Strategic Engagement and Policy Integration Branch at United Nations, UN DESA FSDO
Gianpiero Leoncini
Executive Vice-President, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
Amb. Paula Narváez
Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Chile to the United Nations
Kaushal Kishor Ray
Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations
Juan José Martinez Badillo
Chief, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) New York Office.
Program
Opening Remarks
- Mariangela Parra-Lancourt, Chief, Strategic Engagement and Policy Integration Branch at United Nations, UN DESA FSDO
- Gianpiero Leoncini, Executive Vice-President, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
Panel Discussion: Overcoming Commodity Dependence for Sustainable Growth
Moderator: Mariangela Parra-Lancourt, Chief, Strategic Engagement and Policy Integration Branch at United Nations, UN DESA FSDO
- Under-Secretary-General Amb. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC)
- Gianpiero Leoncini, Executive Vice-President, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
- H.E. Carla Serazzi Director General for Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile
- H.E. Dr. Chola Milambo, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations
- H.E. Kaushal Kishor Ray, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations
- Juan José Martinez Badillo, Chief, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) New York Office.
- José Gilberto Scandiucci, Minister-Counselor, Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations
Interactive Q&A Session
