The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development is the primary forum for analysis, discussion and consensus -building on policies designed to achieve sustainable development in all regions and to accelerate growth in weaker economies. With a membership of 189 countries, UNCTAD deals with virtually all components of the economy - trade, finance, services, technology - from a development perspective. The highest authoritative body is the quadrennial Conference. UNCTAD’s work programme is set every four years at a plenary session of the conference. The UNCTAD secretariat has a staff of about 480.