The United Nations Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD) brings together the tourism-specific experiences and expertise of each of its members with a view to creating synergies for a more coordinated, effective and efficient delivery of technical assistance to developing countries, thus complementing their efforts to build up a competitive national tourism sector.In 2010, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) launched an initiative for a more cohesive approach to tourism development at the international level.Since then, nine key international organizations have joined forces and formed the United Nations Steering Committee on Tourism for Development with the objective to strengthen the developmental impact of international tourism.International Labor Organization (ILO)International Trade Center (ITC)United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)United Nations Industrial Organization (UNIDO)United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) World Trade Organization (WTO) United Nations SCTD: Delivering-as-One UN The United Nations is committed to 'Delivering as One' to ensure a more effective development assistance and to accelerate progress towards the MDGs. Against this background, on the initiative of UNWTO, nine UN agencies and programmes – ILO, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UNIDO, WTO – have come together to coordinate their tourism-related work under the UN Steering Committee on Tourism for Development (SCTD).

Assisting LDCs and developing countriesThe SCTD provides specialized tourism assistance aimed to maximize tourism´s capacity to support countries in reaching development goals, while preserving their cultural and environmental assets.The Portfolio of Service on Tourism for Development features a consolidation of the services available to LDCs and developing countries, consisting of over 50 types of services organized around four pillars: (i) building good governance and sustainability in all its dimensions - social development, economic growth, cultural and environmental protection; (ii) promoting investment in the tourism economy; (iii) fostering the poverty reduction impact of tourism; and (iv) encouraging human resources development in tourism.Supporting LDCs access to funding mechanismTo facilitate the implementation of the tourism for development services, the SCTD has identified the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) – an Aid-for-Trade mechanism for LDCs – as a key source of funding.The EIF is a multilateral trade capacity development initiative that supports LDCs to become more active in the global trading system. The EIF is currently implemented in 46 LDCs and supported by a multi-donor trust fund with contributions from 22 donors. SCTD will work closely with national focal points to help identify the sustainable tourism development priorities and formulate joint proposals and activities according to EIF principles and procedures.To support the delivery of an integrated service for tourism, the SCTD will build on the strength of each agency and programme to identify and mobilise financial resources necessary to respond to developing countries' needs. As an innovative institutional framework for Delivering as One for Tourism, the SCTD will also explore the possibility of creating a Multi-Donors Trust Fund for sustainable tourism development in the future.

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The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), together with the International Labor Organization (ILO); the International Trade Center (ITC); the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); the United Nations Industrial Organization (UNIDO); and World Trade Organization (WTO).