Vi membership is open to both institutions (universities and research centres) and individuals interested in international economic and legal issues ("trade and development" issues). 

1. Institutional membership

Institutional members get access to original teaching materials and research (both in electronic version on the website and through shipments to member libraries), as well as services offered exclusively to Vi members (see the section Services on this website) e-mail alerts of the Vi digital library, and the opportunity to contribute to the Thinking Development blog. Through their participation in the Vi, they can also benefit from the experiences of other members, find partners for academic cooperation and promote their institution and its training and research activities.

 (a) University membership

This is open to universities that are involved in post-graduate teaching and research on trade and development, with a particular focus on policy. 

The first university in the country that becomes a Vi member is called a core university member; subsequent universities become affiliate university members. The core university endorses participation of additional members in the country.

In order to become a university member, you will need to fill in an application form providing UNCTAD with details about your institution, its teaching and research, and outlining what your institution can contribute to the Vi network. Applications will be reviewed by an UNCTAD selection committee. If their decision is positive, you will be asked to sign the Terms and Conditions of the Virtual Institute network. When this process is complete, we will send you user names and passwords for using this website.

• Prerequisites for university membership and application process summary 
• Download an application form [en] [fr] [sp]
• Download terms and conditions of membership [en]

(b) Think tank membership (Global Network of Development Think Tanks)

This is open to research centres that provide advisory services on trade and development policies and strategies to their governments.

Think tank members are nominated to the Vi by their respective governments, through the Permanent missions of their countries to the United Nations in Geneva. 

• Contact details of Permanent Missions

After receiving your nomination from the Permanent Mission, we will ask you to fill out the think tank profile form. We will review it and then send you user names and passwords for using this website. 

• Download the think tank profile form [en] [fr] [sp]

2. Individual (associate) membership

Associate members can access all public documents on the Vi site, benefit from the e-mail alert service of the Vi digital library, and contribute comments to the Thinking Development blog. They also receive the quarterly Vi newsletter and information about professional development opportunities and events in Vi's area of work.

This category of membership is open to any individual who is interested in trade and development issues. You will need to register on this website. Once and if your application is approved, you will be sent username and password details via email.