Turkmenistan Elected by Acclamation to the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development

On 8 April 2026, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, during elections to the subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, Turkmenistan was elected by acclamation to the Commission on Science and Technology for Development for the term 2027–2030. Turkmenistan will assume its functions as a member of the Commission from 1 January 2027 until 31 December 2030.

Election to this specialized United Nations Commission constitutes recognition of Turkmenistan’s national achievements and its contribution to international and regional efforts aimed at strengthening scientific and technological cooperation. It also opens additional opportunities for the country to actively participate in the global dialogue on science, innovation, digitalization, and sustainable development as a whole.

Below is background information on the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development.

United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development

(Background Information)

The Commission on Science and Technology for Development is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council, established in 1992 as part of the United Nations system’s efforts to strengthen the role of science and technology in addressing sustainable development challenges.

The Commission’s secretariat is located at the headquarters of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Geneva, which reflects its close link to issues of trade, development, and technological transformation.

The Commission serves as the United Nations’ central intergovernmental platform for policy dialogue on science, technology, and innovation (STI), as well as for assessing their impact on socio-economic development. Through its recommendations, it provides advisory support to ECOSOC and, more broadly, contributes to shaping the global agenda in this field.

The Commission comprises 43 Member States elected by the Council for four-year terms, taking into account equitable geographical distribution. Its work is coordinated by a Bureau (Chair and Vice-Chairs), formed on a regional basis.

In addition to Member States, observers, representatives of international organizations, the scientific community, and the private sector actively participate in the Commission’s work, giving it a multi-stakeholder character.

The Commission’s mandate covers a wide range of tasks related to integrating science and technology into development.

In particular, the Commission:

• provides advice to ECOSOC on science, technology, and innovation;
• analyzes global technological trends;
• promotes the use of innovation to achieve sustainable development goals;
• supports capacity-building in developing countries in these areas;
• facilitates the exchange of knowledge and best practices;
• fosters international scientific and technological cooperation.

The thematic focus of the Commission’s work is updated annually in line with global challenges and priorities. In practice, key areas of focus include:

• digital transformation and bridging the digital divide;
• emerging and frontier technologies (including artificial intelligence, big data, and related issues);
• science and innovation in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals;
• gender aspects in science and technology;
• technologies for sustainable development and climate change mitigation.

The main working format is the annual session (held in Geneva), during which Member States discuss priority themes and adopt agreed conclusions and recommendations for ECOSOC. Between sessions, expert and analytical work is carried out, including the preparation of thematic studies and contributions to reports of the United Nations Secretary-General.

The Commission’s activities are directly linked to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with particular emphasis on the role of technology as a key driver for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, the Commission plays a notable role in discussions on global digital governance, including processes related to the Internet Governance Forum.

The practical significance of participation in the Commission includes:

• access to international analytical resources and emerging technologies;
• opportunities to contribute to shaping the global science and technology agenda;
• promotion of national initiatives;
• expansion of scientific and technological cooperation;
• engagement with the international expert and business community.

In the context of Turkmenistan’s interests, the Commission may be viewed as an important platform for advancing initiatives in digitalization, sustainable transport, and innovative development, as well as for exchanging experience and strengthening cooperation with international partners.