Research and Policy Advice

UNIDO's Research and Policy Advice Group conducts applied economic research on the patterns of structural change and disseminates its findings both within UNIDO and to the development practitioners’ community. On this basis, it advocates the relevance of accelerated industrial development and improved industrial competitiveness as instruments to reduce poverty and increase sustainability. The Group supports Member States in the design and implementation of policies to expand and diversify their productive capacity, and it advocates for sustainable industrialization strategies at the global and regional level.

The main functions of the Group are: 

• Provide evidence-based analysis of the process of economic growth and industrial structural change in the context of the global economy.
• Convene national, regional and international forums to acquire and disseminate knowledge and expertise, and raise awareness on the role of sustainable industrial diversification and competitiveness policies in economic development.
• Lead the implementation of the UNIDO research agenda in collaboration with units from other Divisions, field offices and external partners.
• Provide strategic advisory services to Member States and regional bodies on industrial policy design and implementation in the field of diversification and competitiveness.
• Support the establishment of mechanisms of benchmarking and self-assessment in industrial development at the regional and country levels.
• Contribute to the production of the Industrial Development Report.
• Support the Division in the advocacy of industrial development in achieving the MDGs and other internationally agreed development goals.