This landmark gathering brought together policymakers, regulators, and consumer advocates to explore how global trade and competition frameworks can better protect and empower people in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.

The conference featured the World Trade Organization High-Level Dialogue with the Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala GCON, where consumer needs were placed squarely at the heart of international trade discussions. Key issues ranged from digital inclusion and tariff impacts to supply chain disruptions and the vulnerabilities of underserved communities. Also featured was a high-level dialogue with the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Strengthening food safety, nutrition, and front-of-pack labeling.

These conversations affirmed our mission at Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF), to ensure that consumers, especially those in low- and middle-income countries, are not passive recipients of policies but active shapers of the systems that govern them.

As global stakeholders explored how international frameworks can better reflect local realities, CADEF stood firm in advocating for fairness, equity, and consumer protection. We believe progress does not happen in isolation. It requires partnership, accountability, and a deep understanding of people’s everyday realities. We remain committed to amplifying grassroots concerns on global stages and working hand-in-hand with partners to create systems that listen, protect, and empower.

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