Group of 77

Group of 77
Name	Group of 77
Formation	15 June 1964
Type	Intergovernmental organization
Headquarters	New York City, United States
Membership	134 member states
Key people	Cuba (Chair for 2024)
Website	https://www.g77.org/

Group of 77. The Group of 77 is the largest intergovernmental coalition of developing countries within the United Nations system, established to articulate and promote its members' collective economic interests. Founded in 1964 by 77 nations, it has since expanded to include 134 member states, representing over two-thirds of the UN General Assembly membership. The coalition operates as a key negotiating bloc on issues of international trade, development finance, and sustainable development, with its secretariat headquartered in New York City.

History and formation

The coalition emerged from the first session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Geneva in 1964. The "Joint Declaration of the Seventy-Seven Developing Countries" was issued on June 15, 1964, signaling a unified stance on global economic issues. Key founding figures included representatives from nations like Algeria, Argentina, and India, who sought to counterbalance the influence of industrialized blocs like the G7. The inaugural ministerial meeting was held in Algiers in 1967, which produced the Charter of Algiers, a foundational document outlining the group's early economic agenda. This period coincided with broader movements for a New International Economic Order and increased South-South cooperation.

Objectives and principles

The primary objective is to promote collective economic interests and enhance the joint negotiating capacity of its members within the United Nations system. Core principles include advocating for equitable terms in international trade, increased development assistance, and the transfer of technology from developed to developing nations. The group champions the right to development, sovereignty over natural resources, and the reform of global financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. It consistently emphasizes solidarity among members of the Global South and the principle of unity in diversity.

Organizational structure and membership

The organization functions through a chairmanship that rotates annually among its member states from Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean; Cuba holds the chair for 2024. Decision-making is based on consensus, coordinated through chapters located in key UN centers: New York City (UN headquarters), Geneva (UNCTAD and others), Vienna (UNIDO and IAEA), Paris (UNESCO), Rome (FAO and IFAD), and Nairobi (UNEP). Membership has grown from the original 77 to 134 states, including major economies like China (though it operates in a distinct capacity), Brazil, South Africa, and Indonesia, as well as numerous smaller states from the Pacific Islands and the Caribbean Community.

Activities and key initiatives

Its activities center on formulating common positions for major UN conferences and negotiations. Landmark initiatives include advocacy for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, climate justice within the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, and the establishment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The group regularly issues joint declarations, such as at the Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, and has promoted mechanisms like the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries. It plays a pivotal role in negotiations at the World Trade Organization and during the UN Climate Change Conference.

Relationship with the United Nations

It operates as an essential caucus group within the UN General Assembly and its various funds and programmes, including the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme. The coalition is a permanent fixture in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, where it was born. It maintains a strong institutional partnership with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation. The group's annual ministerial meeting is traditionally held at the start of the regular session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Challenges and criticisms

Challenges include maintaining cohesion among a diverse membership with varying economic interests, such as Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States, and emerging economies like the Gulf Cooperation Council states. Criticisms often cite difficulties in achieving consensus on complex issues like World Trade Organization reforms or unified stances during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some analysts argue that the sheer size of the coalition can lead to diluted positions, while others note tensions between regional groups like the African Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on specific agendas.

Category:International organizations Category:Developing countries Category:United Nations General Assembly observers