UN Economic and social development One of the UN's central mandates is the promotion of higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development. As much as 70 per cent of the work of the UN system is devoted to accomplishing this mandate. Guiding the work is the belief that eradicating poverty and improving the well-being of people everywhere are necessary steps in creating conditions for lasting world peace

International Trade Center is the technical cooperation agency of UNCTAD and WTO for operational, enterprise-oriented aspects of trade. ITC supports developing and transition economies, and particularly their business sector, in their efforts to realize their full potential for developing exports and improving import operations.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNCTAD promotes the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy. UNCTAD has progressively evolved into an authoritative knowledge-based institution whose work aims to help shape current policy debates and thinking on development, with a particular focus on ensuring that domestic policies and international action are mutually supportive in bringing about sustainable development

World Trade Organization The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business

Council of Europe Development Bank (CED) The CEB is a multilateral development bank placed under the supreme authority of the Council of Europe. It nevertheless has its own full legal status and financial autonomy. By granting loans, the Bank participates in the financing of social projects, responds to emergency situations and thus contributes to improving living conditions and social cohesion in the less advantaged regions of Europe. The CEB grants loans in Europe, in the member states.

European Bank For Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development was established in 1991 when communism was crumbling in central and eastern Europe and ex-soviet countries needed support to nurture a new private sector in a democratic environment. Today the EBRD uses the tools of investment to help build market economies and democracies in 27 countries from central Europe to central Asia.

DG Enterprise and Industry This website aims to disseminate information on all EU policies, actions and initiatives promoting growth and development, with a view to strengthening the competitiveness of EU enterprises

Sectorial Development Policy of the EU (EUROPA) Among the numebrous different sectors of the EU’s Development Policy presented on the gateway for the EU (EUROPA), the following ones relate directly to Economic Development: 

   Assisting developing countries to benefit from trade (EUROPA)

   Fair Trade (EUROPA)

   EU support for business sector development in third countries (EUROPA)

   Sustainable Development of tourism (EUROPA)

African Development Bank Group The African Development Bank is the premier financial development institution of Africa, dedicated to combating poverty and improving the lives of people of the continent and engaged in the task of mobilizing resources towards the economic and social progress of its Regional Member Countries. The Bank’s s mission is to promote economic and social development through loans, equity investments, and technical assistance.

Asian Development Bank The work of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is aimed at improving the welfare of the people in Asia and the Pacific, particularly the 1.9 billion who live on less than $2 a day 

Competitiveness Competitiveness is specialized in helping governments and institutions design and implement cluster-based innovation and competitiveness policies. You can find comprehensive explanations about clusters on its website.

Making Sense of Clusters by The Brooking Institution The Brookings Institution is a private nonprofit organization devoted to independent research and innovative policy solutions. This part of its website is dedicated to make sense of clusters.

Clusters and Cluster Development (Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness) Based at the Harvard Business School, the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness is dedicated to the study of competition and its implications for company strategy; the competitiveness of nations, regions, and cities; and the relationship between competition and society. The Institute seeks to develop new theory, assemble bodies of data to test and apply the theory, and disseminate its ideas widely to scholars and practitioners in business, government, and non-governmental organizations such as universities, economic development organizations, and foundations.

Center for Community Economic Development The Center for Community Economic Development, University of Wisconsin Extension, creates, applies and transfers multidisciplinary knowledge to help people understand community change and identify opportunities.

Trade and Regionalism (World Bank) the rapid spread of regionalism is surely one of the most important recent developments in the global trade system.  Nearly every developing country is in, or is discussing, a regional integration arrangement. The purpose of this site is to make available to the user the basic information and lessons of experience on regional preferential trade arrangements.

Enlargement and Enterprise Policy (DG Enterprise and Industry) this page of the website of the EU Commission Directorate General for Entreprise and Industry presents the policies of EU in the new member States and the acceding countries regarding entreprize development.