Free UN Course on Trade and Sustainable Development Goals

 Free UN Course on Trade and Sustainable Development Goals — Here's How"

The ESCAP Facilitated Online Course on Trade and Sustainable Development Goals 2026, themed "Export-oriented industrialisation revisited: What still works for emerging economies?", runs online from 17 September to 1 November 2026.

What Is This Course About?

The course is organised by the Trade Policy and Facilitation Section of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in partnership with the Institute of Developing Economies (IDE-JETRO), Japan.

It's designed to help participants understand the relationship between trade and the SDGs — both the opportunities trade creates for sustainable development, and the risks that come with trade openness.

This year's edition takes a close look at export-oriented industrialisation, the strategy that has powered rapid growth across the developing world for over 50 years through manufacturing for global markets. With rising protectionism, shifting global value chains, and the growing role of automation and AI, the course asks a timely question: does the pathway to middle-income status still run through manufacturing exports — and if not, what alternatives exist for emerging economies?

The course combines:

•15 pre-recorded video modules (about 15 minutes each)

•Readings and online quizzes

•Three live sessions (60–90 minutes each) with the course facilitator, Professor Ian Coxhead of IDE-JETRO, and guest experts

•Live sessions are scheduled for 18 September, 25 September, and 28 September 2026.

Who Is It For?

The course is open to policymakers, practitioners, researchers, students, and the general public interested in trade and sustainable development. There is no restriction limiting it to participants from Asia-Pacific countries — ESCAP describes it as open to "anyone interested in trade and sustainable development issues."

So yes, Nigerians and other Africans are eligible to register, as long as you're comfortable engaging with the material in English (the course language) and can join the live sessions, which run at 14:00–15:30 hrs Bangkok time (UTC+7) — worth checking against your own time zone before signing up.

What Do You Get?

Free participation — no fees involved

A free e-certificate from UN-ESCAP and IDE-JETRO, provided you attend all three live sessions, submit the feedback survey, and pass all module quizzes with at least 75% before 1 November 2026

Certificates are issued by email within 30 days after the quiz deadline (by 1 December 2026)

Deadline for Registration

Registration closes on 17 September 2026, with late registration possibly accepted until 27 September 2026.

How to Register

Interested applicants can register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=2zWeD09UYE-9zF6kFubccAoQG1A9oDRChtwqCWGQgPlUQkdIVzVGTlA5VEZNWVFPSEJXSTBNM1hXRi4u&route=shorturl 

For more details or to access the self-paced learning materials separately, visit the https://community.unescap.org/spaces/7028451/content

Note: This course is run by the UN's regional commission for Asia and the Pacific, but registration is open to a global audience with no stated country restriction. If you have specific eligibility questions, you can reach the organisers directly at escap-tiid@un.org.