This report was prepared by Grace Gondwe, Economic Affairs Officer, Trade, Poverty and Inequalities Branch,  under the supervision of Patrick Osakwe, Chief, Trade, Poverty and Inequalities Branch, and the overall  guidance of Paul Akiwumi, Director, Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes,  UNCTAD. 

The report benefited from discussions and dialogues with colleagues in the Branch, as well as comments by  the Director of the Division.

Paulette Lacroix and Rostand Ngadjie Siani provided secretarial and administrative support in the preparation  of the report. Overall layout, graphics and desktop publishing were undertaken by the Division of Conference  Management of the United Nations Office at Geneva. Rostand Ngadjie Siani designed the cover.