United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
President’s Letter
Dear Delegates,
It is with great honor that I welcome you to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) committee at NOSMUN 2026. My name is Maya Moucattash, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to serve as your president for this committee. I truly look forward to beginning this journey of discussion, collaboration, and cooperation with each and every one of you.
In my first Model United Nations experience, I was a delegate much like many of you uncertain, confused and honestly curious about what this experience would turn into. I quickly realized that MUN was more than just about research and debate sessions. It was an environment that pushed me out of my comfort zone, changed the way I looked at the world, and taught me that I was more capable than I thought, especially when I stepped up and challenged myself. Those lessons really stayed with me and greatly contributed to shaping my personality today, and I truly hope this committee becomes a similar space for you somewhere you grow, take chances, and find your voice.
The UNCTAD intersects trade in a global setting, sustainable development, and economic equality. As delegates, you will have to engage with a set of complex problems that help determine the economic destiny of both developing countries as well as developed countries. The agenda awaiting you will need a combination of a clear comprehension of trade as a factor of development in a global scenario as well as a degree of diplomacy.
As you prepare for this conference, I encourage you to attend with your head held high. I encourage you to speak up and listen. And most of all, I encourage you to have fun, socialize and grow. Whether this is your first MUN or your tenth, what really matters isn’t how much you talk, but how thoughtfully you engage and contribute. I’m confident that through your energy and commitment, this committee will hopefully produce effective resolutions with lasting impacts.
I’m really looking forward to meeting all of you and seeing the passion, insight, and leadership you’ll bring to this year’s UNCTAD. Let’s make this conference something memorable built on teamwork, growth, and some genuinely great (and hopefully heated) debates.
Topic 1: Addressing the Global Economic and Security Challenges of Data Monopolization
Data monopolization occurs when a few powerful firms or countries control vast amounts of personal and commercial data and digital infrastructure. This concentration has become a major global economic and security concern, threatening fair competition and state sovereignty.
Economically, such concentration limits innovation and allows dominant actors to manipulate markets, set prices, and exclude smaller competitors. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), data monopolization and fragmented data governance can reduce global GDP by up to 4.5%.
On the security front, the overconcentration of data weakens national resilience by creating dependencies on foreign technology and exposing countries to cyber threats, surveillance, and digital coercion. This has also led to what experts call “data colonialism,” where powerful data holders extract value from developing nations without equitable returns.
Key players in this space include major U.S.-based technology companies such as Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple, Meta (Facebook and Instagram), and Microsoft, as well as Chinese firms like ByteDance (TikTok), which were officially designated as “gatekeepers” under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act in 2023. The leading countries shaping this data landscape are the United States, China, and members of the European Union, while developing countries remain largely dependent on these powers for digital infrastructure and governance.
To address this, nations must design policies that balance open data flows with strong privacy safeguards, fair competition, and digital sovereignty. Ensuring that data serves collective interests rather than monopolistic power is essential to maintaining global equity, economic stability, and national security.
Topic 2: Safeguarding Developing Countries from Abusive Investor–State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) Claims.
Investor–State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) is a mechanism that allows foreign investors to sue governments through international arbitration if they believe state actions have harmed their investments. ISDS claims refer to the lawsuits brought through this system, often demanding massive financial compensation. Initially, ISDS was created to encourage investment and protect investors from unfair treatment.
However, it has increasingly been used by corporations to pressure developing nations into abandoning policies. They exploit vague legislation in treaties to challenge regulations on health, environment, mining, and public welfare, forcing governments to either pay enormous settlements or back down. Major firms, such as Philip Morris, Chevron, and mining giants like OceanaGold, have all filed high-profile claims in developing states. Countries such as Ecuador, the Philippines, Pakistan, South Africa, and several Latin American and African nations have been hit with cases, directly affecting their budgets and domestic decision-making. For developing countries with limited political influence and minimal budgets, these cases drain national budgets, weaken policy autonomy, and create a scenario where governments avoid necessary reforms out of fear of being sued.
Huge legal costs, unequal bargaining power, and lack of transparency in the dispute process (mostly handled by ICSID and UNCITRAL) have made the system very unfair. Previous reform efforts, like UNCITRAL Working Group III talks, updating Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), and the EU’s Investment Court System, have struggled to create enforceable global rules. Without increased protection for developing countries, they will continue to remain exposed to abusive claims that threaten their sovereignty, economic stability, and long-term growth.
Study Guide
UNCTAD Guide 2026
Delegate’s Guide