Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States - Istanbul Programme of Action

United Nations Support to the Least Developed Countries

HSASS — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 17:14:00 +0000

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Expansion of the infrastructure in Zambia

Marcel Crozet / ILO

This report was prepared by UN-OHRLLS per its mandate to serve as a focal point for the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) and to mobilize and coordinate the active involvement of the UN system (as requested in UN General Assembly 73/242).

The report discusses how UN system entities and other related organizations support the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and provides an overview of how they have supported the LDCs in the context of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA). The report builds on best practices undertaken by the UN system to support the efforts made by the LDCs in implementing the IPoA and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It also highlights challenges faced by the UN system on the ground, and action needed to strengthen its support in LDCs, benefiting also from
perspectives shared by UN Resident Coordinators on how the UN system could best support the LDCs to advance the SDGs.

Furthermore, the report provides recommendations on how to strengthen the effectiveness of the UN system in promoting sustainable development in the LDCs through examples that have had a positive and transformative impact on the ground.

Full Report

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Lessons Learned - Implementing the Istanbul Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020 / Preliminary Report

HSASS — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 21:23:22 +0000

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Nebiba Mohammed, 28, works at the Shints textile factory, one of several textile manufacturing plants in Ethiopia's recently opened Bole Lemi industrial park, some 45 minutes from the Addis Ababa city center.

Stephan Gladieu / World Bank (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

As the decade of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) draws to a close and in preparation for the Fifth United Nations Conference of the LDCs, the Office of the High Representative of the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS), called upon all LDC member states to submit national reports on the progress of implementation of the IPoA. A total of 28 national reports were received by OHRLLS.

In line with the aim of the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), this report aims to undertake a full assessment of the implementation of the program of action by LDCs and their development partners. The report shares best practices and lessons learned, whilst highlighting the challenges that hindered the LDCs from meeting the objectives set out in the IPoA, as well as necessary actions and initiatives to overcome them.

The report draws upon the extensive National Reports and several relevant supporting publications to capture the overall progress of the LDCs in the implementation of the IPoA. Given the level of detail in each national report, this report synthesises the reoccurring themes across the 3 regions (Asian and Pacific, Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean), highlighting key country experiences to illustrate the lessons learned to achieve the IPoA objectives during the decade of implementation.

Full Report

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The Road to the 5th UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5)

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 17:21:00 +0000

Wednesday, 21 October 2020 - 9:00am to Friday, 23 October 2020 - 10:30pm

As preparations get underway for the 5th UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), OHRLLS is co-organising a high-level event to explore the impacts of COVID-19 on development in the LDCs.

The event was co-organised with the OECD Development Centre and the Foundation for studies and Research on International Development (FERDI). The summary of the event can be found here.

Aimed at tackling vulnerabilities and leveraging scarce resources to help LDCs in their recovery from COVID-19, the event was split into two sessions on October 21 and 23.

Speakers included:

Ángel GURRÍA, Secretary-General, Organisation for economic co-operation and development (OECD)
Right Honorable Patricia SCOTLAND, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth
Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘UTOIKAMANU, UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States
Ambassador Perks LIGOYA, Permanent Representative of Malawi to the UN in NY and Chair of the LDC group

The agenda is here.

First session: 21 October 2020, 09:00 – 10:30 (EST)

What does COVID-19 mean for LDC’s vulnerabilities and support measures?

The COVID-19 crisis is rolling back years of development progress. It urges us to rethink the economic vulnerability of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and of developing countries more generally. Vulnerability, one of the main criteria for including countries into the LDC list, has been measured by the economic and environmental vulnerability index (EVI), which captures the country’ structural vulnerability to economic and environmental shocks. However, growing concerns on exposure to international shocks, and the compounding of several risks, make it necessary to rethink how we measure vulnerabilities and how we help the LDCs address them. The first panel will take stock of this debate to inform the preparations of the Fifth UN Conference on the LDCs (LDC5), to be held in Doha, Qatar in January 2022.

To register for this session click here.

Second session: 23 October 2020, 09:00 – 10:30 (EST)

Financing the recovery in LDCs: what role for international co-operation?

In his latest report on the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA), which came out at the very outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN Secretary-General had already stressed the uneven progress of LDCs, and the need to better support them beyond graduation point. Declining foreign direct investment, persistently low shares in world exports, slow gains in structural transformation and productive capacity, continued dependence on commodities and a worsening of undernourishment in the LDCs were all matters of concern on the eve of the major 2020 global economic crisis. This second panel will discuss options for improving the mobilisation of global finance, its alignment with, and its impact on the recovery and sustainable development of LDCs.

To register for this session click here.

NEWS

Tackling Vulnerability on the Road to LDC5

The event was co-organised by UNOHRLLS, FERDI and OECD Development Centre will take place in the framework of the LDC IV Monitor, a consortium which also includes the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), and the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD, Bangladesh), in collaboration with the Southern Voice network of think tanks, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) and the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER).

tags:

Least Developed Countries

OECD Development Centre

FERDI

Istanbul Programme of Action

Vulnerability

Economic Aftershocks

Structural Economic Transformation

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Events

LDCs

Briefing on the Secretary-General's Report on Development Progress in Landlocked and Least Developing Countries

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 20:52:00 +0000

Statement by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

8 October 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my privilege to introduce two reports to you.

They are the Secretary-General’s 2020 Reports on:

the Implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries and
the report on the Implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries.

I will start with the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries.

This report had been prepared in the run-up to the Fifth UN Conference on the LDCs.

The report, together with the online Statistical Annex, documents progress towards implementation of the IPoA.

It draws lessons learned from the experience of the LDCs, the experience of development partners, and draws on inputs from across the UN system.

The report highlights successes for the LDCs in areas such as access to electricity, ICT, and safe water and sanitation. The report provides several key indicators on poverty, health and gender equality.

What stands out is an unprecedented progress towards graduation, with 12 LDCs at various stages in the process.

On the other hand, the objectives of achieving structural transformation and building productive capacity, and of combating poverty through high rates of economic growth and decent jobs powered by export growth, have not been realized.

Declining commodity prices, especially since 2013, have diminished the value of exports and foreign currency earnings.

This has contributed to exacerbating debt burdens. Natural hazards, especially climate-related phenomena such as hurricanes, cyclones, flooding, drought and landslides, have caused devastating loss and damage to lives, livelihoods and infrastructure.

Many countries remain excluded from the increasing digitally driven economy, given limited universal and sustained access to both electricity and high-speed internet.

Since the report was published, the COVID-19 pandemic literally rages.

The LDCs have been disproportionally affected. Their decline in global demand and prices is dramatic and notably for key LDC exports.

Tourism has taken beyond a severe hit.

Closures continues to trigger rising unemployment, especially in the informal sector. Remittances have severely dropped off.

The loss of livelihoods is projected to drive millions back into extreme poverty.

Food and nutrition insecurity are on the rise, and at-risk groups are increasingly vulnerable.

The debt situation is becoming increasingly dire for many.

The impacts of the pandemic will be far-reaching and felt for years to come.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted inequalities and how they keep growing within countries, between countries, regions and at the global level.

The LDCs’ structural vulnerabilities are visible to all of us and there is absolute urgency to build resilience and redouble efforts towards achieving the SDGs. It is not tomorrow’s, it is now.

This brings me to the need for the new Programme of Action for the LDCs.

Such a programme will be adopted by Member States in Doha.

The programme must provide an overarching framework for addressing recovery efforts, building back better, building back inclusively and driving efforts towards the Decade for Action in the LDCs.

We are relaunching the LDC5 preparatory process with renewed resolve and determination.

The General Assembly has agreed on the new dates and schedule for the preparatory meetings and conference.

The conference is set for 23-27 January 2022, in Doha, Qatar, with the two Preparatory Committee meetings slotted for May and July of 2021 in New York.

I would like to thank the host country Qatar for its generous support to the Conference. I thank also the other contributors to the process, including Turkey and Finland, and invite others to join these efforts.

The UN system is also stepping up.

Last year’s UNIDO LDC Ministerial provided valuable inputs.

Just a few days ago, the Human Rights Council considered this year’s Report on the Right to Development which is dedicated to the LDC5 process.

The upcoming WTO Ministerial and UNCTAD XV Conferences will include important inputs to LDC5.

The ILO is preparing a special report. There are many other initiatives too numerous to list.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

In closing, I would like to assure you of OHRLLS’ and my own full and unwavering support to the LDCs through this crisis and beyond.

We must not leave the peoples of the LDCs and we must craft a robust and ambitious new Programme of Action.

I invite all Member States and stakeholders to join and work together this critical endeavour.

I now turn to the Secretary-General’s Report on the LLDCs.

Mr. Chairman,

I now turn to document A/75/285, the Report of the Secretary General on the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the decade 2014-2024.

The report reviews progress in the implementation of the priorities of the programme.

The report provides a preliminary assessment of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on LLDCs and suggests recommendations for accelerating progress.

The LLDCs continued to exhibit mixed progress in their socioeconomic development.

The LLDCs and transit countries have continued to make efforts to implement regional, and sub regional initiatives to support transit.

All the 26 LLDCs that are WTO Members have ratified the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation.

Regarding the key goal of transport corridors, some transport corridors such as CAREC corridors in Asia, parts of Northern Corridor in Africa, and Santa Cruz-Tambo Quemado-Arica in Latin America have achieved the VPoA goal of reducing travel time along corridors to 300-400 kilometers every 24 hours.

The COVID-19 pandemic however threatens this progress.

We see continued border restrictions aimed at combatting the spread of the virus. The pandemic has far reaching impacts on the movement of people and goods in transit and on vital access to seaports. It cuts essential lifelines for LLDCs.

LLDCs continue in their efforts to expand road and rail networks, construct and/or modernize their airports.

A key challenge are missing links, operational limitations and limited funding.

On energy, the average proportion of population with access to electricity in LLDCs increased from 56.3% in 2017 to 58.7% in 2018. LLDCs continue to lag behind the world average of 89.6%.

The percentage of individuals using internet in LLDCs was estimated to be 25.3% in 2018, while the world average of 51.4%.

The often-prohibitive cost for broadband continues to be a challenge for LLDCs. We all have seen and actually lived how digital connectivity has become crucial during this time as it enables the delivery of essential services while complying to social distancing protocols

LLDCs continue to be marginalized from global trade.

Their share of global merchandise exports was estimated to be about 1% in 2019. Exports remain highly concentrated in primary commodities. LLDCs’ participation in global exports of commercial services also remains negligible. It is estimated at 0.7% in 2018.

Addressing high trade cost faced by LLDCs remains crucial.

Sadly, the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement continues to lag.

The LLDCs’ rate of implementation of the Agreement is estimated to be approximately 35%. The introduction of border measures aimed to curb the spread of COVID-19 threatens this very limited progress.

The interest in regional integration and cooperation among LLDCs and their neighbors is growing. On average, an LLDC is party to four regional trade agreements.

Very little progress has been made on structural economic transformation envisaged by the programme.

The share of manufacturing value added in GDP remained between 10.2% and 10.4% between 2016 and 2019.

ODA to LLDCs decreased from $29.2 billion in 2017 to $28 billion, in 2018 constant prices.

FDI flows to LLDCs also declined between 2018 and 2019.

I must add that these averages hide that both ODA and FDI continue to be concentrated in a few LLDCs. Furthermore, FDI is mainly directed to the extractive industry.

As we know, the ongoing COVID pandemic has caused a dramatic decline in global demand.

There is drastic decline in commodity prices.

It has greatly impacted LLDCs’ foreign currency earnings.

Their debt vulnerability has grown by multiples.

So, what is being done by OHRLLS and the UN system.

Several activities were undertaken by OHRLLS and other UN agencies to facilitate the implementation of the VPoA.

OHRLLS through its Inter-Agency Consultative Group for LLDCs, and in consultation with the relevant UN system and other international and regional organizations, developed a Roadmap for the Accelerated Implementation of the VPoA.

The roadmap provides a detailed mapping of concrete activities and deliverables. The roadmap was adopted by LLDCs’ Foreign Affairs Ministers last month.

Mr. Chairman,

I believe none of us had any idea on how 2020 would unfold.

As we note in the report, the pandemic now poses the risk of serious reversals in development gains that LLDCs have made over the years.

It also notes that climate change crisis, desertification and other disasters continue to be a threat to the LLDCs’ development endeavors.

In closing, and in line with the report findings, I must stress that the LLDCs require continued and enhanced investment and technical assistance to further accelerate the implementation of all the priorities of the VPoA.

There must be greater cooperation between the LLDCs and transit countries and deepened regional integration.

The report calls on multilateral and regional development banks to support LLDCs to make investments and catalyze private finance for addressing the gaps in LLDCs in areas such as transport infrastructure, renewable energy, ICT and climate action.

The report encourages the creditors to take bolder actions to support LLDCs with debt relief in order to free up liquidity and invest more in their health systems and economic recovery.

The report emphasizes that the implementation of the VPoA needs to be anchored in strong efforts to address the impact of COVID-19 and transformative recovery aimed at reducing risk to future crises.

In sum, what is at stake is the right to development of the peoples of the LLDCs and our responsibility of not leaving them behind.

I thank you.

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Secretary-General's Reports on Development Progress in Least Developed and Landlocked Developing Countries

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 14:43:00 +0000

Thursday, 08 October 2020 - 3:00pm to 6:00pm

On 8 October, the Second Committee took up Item 23: Groups of countries in special situations:

Follow-up to the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries and;
Follow-up to the second United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries.

USG 'Utoikamanu introduced the Secretary-General's reports on both these items in her statement.

Istanbul Programme of Action

On the Istanbul Programme of Action, notable progress has been made on access to electricity, ICT, and safe water and sanitation, as well as several key indicators on poverty, health and gender equality. However, the IPoA ambitions of achieving structural transformation and building productive capacity, and of combating poverty through high rates of economic growth and decent jobs powered by export growth, have not been realized. The impact of COVID-19 has also had a severe impact on LDCs, the extent of which has yet to be assessed. Meanwhile, the preparatory process for LDC5, which had been on standby due to the pandemic, is being relaunched with renewed momentum, on the road to new dates for LDC5 in January 2022, in Qatar. The report is available here.

Vienna Programme of Action

On the Vienna Programme of Action (VPoA), until the end of 2019, landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) had exhibited mixed progress towards their socioeconomic development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Progress has been realized on some indicators including poverty and selected health and gender equality indicators. Food insecurity and employment exhibited a declining trend. Progress achieved in the implementation of VPoA priorities still falls short of achieving the targets set. LLDCs still fall below the world averages on trade, ICT, energy, transport infrastructure development and structural economic transformation. ODA and FDI flows to LLDCs continue to decline. The emergence and spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has an unprecedented impact on LLDCs and the implementation of the priority areas of the VPoA. The relevant UN system entities and other international and regional organizations developed a Roadmap for the Accelerated Implementation of the VPoA in the remaining five years. The Roadmap provides a detailed mapping of concrete activities and deliverables. The report is available here.

Photo: Customers practising social-distancing outside a shop in Kampala, Uganda. The coronavirus pandemic threatens to reverse development progress around the world. Jacqueline Banya / ILO-Kampala

tags:

Least Developed Countries

Landlocked Developing Countries

Istanbul Programme of Action

Vienna Programme of Action

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Remarks at the HLPF Session: Mobilizing International Solidarity, Accelerating Action and Embarking on New Pathways to Realize the 2030 Agenda and Respond to COVID-19

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 18:16:00 +0000

Remarks by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

9 July 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a fact that the LDCs, LLDCs and African countries are especially hard hit by COVID-19 and the world-wide recession this pandemic triggers.

It is the poorest, and among those especially women and girls and people with disabilities, suffering the most.

How de we move from acknowledging over and over this sad reality to doing something about it? The question is not if we must go forward, the question is HOW to go forward knowing none of this can be business as usual.

The Groups of LDCs and LLDCs have prepared statements on COVID-19. They outline their special challenges and how to build back better.

I encourage you to consider the requests for support.

The Political Declaration adopted at the Midterm Review of the Vienna Programme of Action for LLDCs last December flags the need to accelerate implementation.

That means improved transit, transport connectivity, trade facilitation, ICTs and digital connectivity, – to name just a few.

OHRLLS, in close consultation with the UN system and other organizations has prepared a Roadmap in this respect.

The preparations of the Fifth United Nations Conference on the LDCs, which will be held in Doha at the Heads of States and Government level, are obviously impacted by COVID-19.

We had two preparatory regional review meetings scheduled during March and April - for African LDCs in Malawi and for Asia-Pacific LDCs in Bangladesh. They had to be postponed.

As far as the conference is concerned, Qatar, the host country, proposes to postpone the conference to January 2022. This will allow for a comprehensive preparatory process and for the Conference to provide an opportunity for in-person interaction.

The intergovernmental preparatory process will have to be adjusted accordingly and a General Assembly resolution confirming the new dates is expected to be adopted soon.

The new 10-year programme of action for the LDCs will coincide with the last 10 years of implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Yes, there are obstacles but the preparations are ongoing.

All stakeholders, including parliamentarians, civil society, youth and the private sector as well as academia and of course the entire UN System will be included in the Conference and its preparatory process.

The recent report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action for LDCs is clear. Progress has been rather modest in LDCs highlighting the need for accelerated action. It is also clear that building of resilience to withstand future crisis needs to be enhanced.

Let me close with an encouraging note.

In our interactions with various LDCs we learned about domestically driven innovations and initiatives like the development of a $1 COVID testing kit in Senegal.

Time has come and must showcase much more such strong and compelling stories at the Fifth Conference for LDCs.

This is the time for action.

This is the time to mobilize global support for the peoples of the LDCs.

This is the time for inclusion, to show solidarity.

This is the time to invest in building back better and faster to response to COVID-19 and to accelerate progress towards meeting the SDGs.

I thank you.

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Closing Remarks at the Twentieth Inter-Agency Consultative Group Meeting of the United Nations System and International Organizations for LDCs

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 17:21:00 +0000

Closing Remarks by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

16 June 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

We are now closing our meeting.

We have a challenging road ahead.

But this is a challenge we must live up to. The challenge is to work as one and for us to put into action once more, on this 75th anniversary of the United Nations, the values and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Déclaration of Human Rights.

In the short term, we have signs that the COVID19 outbreak is being brought under control in some parts of the world.

This seems far from being the case in the LDCs. Availability and reliability of data remain an issue but the outbreak is spiraling upwards in some cases.

The social, economic and governance impacts continue to unfold on a daily basis.

The task ahead is utterly complex. The task does not come in neat little, segregated boxes of individual sectors. The task is all encompassing.

So, thank you all for your unprecedented level of participation today. Please do convey my sincere appreciation also to your principals.

This gives me hope that we share the same determination to all work together as ONE because we stand for the inclusion of all in a sustainable and equitable development path.

We all share the determination to continue to give the best of support we can to the LDCs travelling once more through yet another crisis.

The advocacy and support of the UN system are even more important under the present circumstances.

As we move forward in adjusting plans and working methods, OHRLLS will keep you in a timely manner fully informed on any revised dates and organizations arrangements for LDC5 and its preparatory process.

TOGETHER, let us build stronger and even more effective partnerships.

To do so, we will shortly circulate draft terms of reference for the IACG. We seek and welcome your comments and additional suggestions on ways in which we improve the effectiveness of the IACG’s work.

My Office will remain in contact with all of you in the intersessional period and we will convene our next formal meeting in the fall as usual.

I remind participants that the next meeting of the IACG on LLDCs takes place in a week’s time, on 23 June 2020.

So, let our motto be “time is now for action.”

I thank you all and this meeting is adjourned.

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Opening Remarks at the Twentieth Inter-Agency Consultative Group Meeting of the United Nations System and International Organizations for LDCs

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 15:42:00 +0000

Opening Remarks by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

16 June 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I warmly welcome all of you to our twentieth Session of the Inter-Agency Consultative Group on the Istanbul Programme of Action for the LDCs.

First, allow me to acknowledge the participation of our recently appointed members new to the IACG.

I warmly welcome Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, the new Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities,

Ms. Angélica Jácome Daza, the Director of the new Office for SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs at FAO,

and Mr. Chi Dung Duong, the recently appointed Director of the Division for LDCs of WIPO.

At this juncture where more than ever before, it is so necessary for all of us to work together as ONE, it is very encouraging to see this great level of participation. Thank you all and thank you each entity for joining in.

We are in the final year of the IPoA.

I think none of us had foreseen what series of cascading crises would occur this year! The year where we also look at 75 years of the United Nations.

We find ourselves at a moment that goes way beyond the obvious immediate challenges of a pandemic. The pandemic has on the one hand revealed deep inequalities and the fragilities of all our systems. But it also has driven home how 75 years after the founding of the United Nations the principles and values contained in the Charter and the declaration of human rights are as relevant as ever.

Of course, in a pandemic immediate needs and threats have to be managed. But, it is beyond clear by now that we face a situation that threatens not just to undermine but almost wipe out years of progress made by the LDCs.

And this includes those who had so far been making major strides towards graduation.

The IPoA was designed to help LDCs overcome structural constraints and engage in an inclusive and sustainable development.

Today’s situation is that countries whose economies have remained fragile, countries lacking the required fiscal space and still reeling from structural constraints will be hit severely and disproportionately by the ever more emerging global disruptions.

The COVID-19 pandemic hit us in the midst of our preparatory process for LDC5.

The result is the obvious postponement of events for us all in a participatory process we envisaged to have a productive and inclusive LDC 5.

But this is not a time to be idle. Quite the opposite is necessary and it is NOW that we must craft an ambitious and bold new Programme of Action for the LDCs for the next decade.

At a time where we see so many divisions, a questioning of multi- lateral action, we MUST invest in, give all our energy to an adequate, robust and in-depth preparatory process as envisaged in the General Assembly resolution on the matter.

What have we at OHRLLS done?

We held consultations with the LDCs, Friends of the LDCs, DGACM, and other UN secretariat entities on the possible re-scheduling of the preparatory process and LDC5 itself.

Any such rescheduling would require a resolution of the General Assembly.

We have already put some information on our website.

But, in addition , I would like to share with you some possible dates that have been mentioned during discussions.

Of course, I say this without prejudice to any resolution of the GA.

The period of December 2021/January 2022 has been mentioned as a possible timeframe for the Fifth United Nations Conference on the LDCs.

The months of May 2021 and July 2021 have been mentioned as possible dates for the PrepCom1 and Prep Com 2 respectively.

We also had envisaged a so called academic conference on “Achieving Sustainable Development in the Least Developed Countries: Towards LDC-V” for October 2020 in Helsinki. We are now looking at May 2021.

Our work on other areas is also ongoing.

A key mandate of OHRLLS lies in advocacy and we certainly have intensified our advocacy work. We all together must mobilize global attention on the most vulnerable countries and their peoples.

We provide regular updates on the situation of the LDCs our website.

I have personally convened several Ambassadorial-level meetings with the LDC Bureau and the full LDC Group to assess situations and identify key challenges.

Just last week, we organized a virtual meeting of the national focal points of the African LDCs also attended by resident coordinators and representatives of the regional entities and missions in New York.

The meeting highlighted the deep and complex challenges that countries face in coping with COVID-19.

Last month, we facilitated a briefing of the Deputy-Secretary-General with the LDC Group. This brought the challenges of LDCs to the attention of the senior management of the UN.

Also last month, we convened a meeting of the Friends of LDCs. They all expressed their support to LDCs and even more so now with the devastating impacts of COVID-19. Several important initiatives in support of the LDCs were announced.

Let me now turn to reports and publications.

The report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the IPoA, which covers the past ten years, was recently issued.

I thank you all for your important contributions to this report.

The sad reality is that the progress documented in the report now is under threat given the manifold impacts of the pandemic. And we may just only have seen the tip of the iceberg!

We recently issued the 2020 Policy brief on Advancing SDG7 in LDCs.

To me this is an important dimension - we here have been able to benefit from technology for our meeting, tele- education or tele- medicine. If you have no or only haphazard access to energy, then forget that!

So, our analysis finds that lack of access to sustainable energy remains a major bottleneck for LDCs and their growth.

Only 52 per cent of the population had access to electricity in 2018. It is clear that without urgent and enhanced action, LDCs will not be able to reach the SDG7 targets by 2030.

Today, you will also look at work on “UN System Best Practices on Supporting the Least Developed Countries (LDCs): Overview and Analysis of Contributions from the Inter-agency Consultative Group on LDCs (IACG)”.

Thank you for your contributions to this report and I really look forward to our more detail discussion on this today.

In this rich landscape of reports, a further report on “Lessons Learned from Implementing the Istanbul Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011 – 2020” is under preparation.

This report is primarily based on the national reports submitted by 27 LDCs.

In my capacity as a member of the Secretary- General’s Broadband Commission, I continued to engage in advocacy in support of the LDCs for example on the Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation.

In my capacity as UNFCCC National Adaptation Plan Champion, at the June Momentum meetings on climate change, I issued an urgent call to maintain the pace of delivery of adaptation finance and build back in a more resilient and sustainable ways.

I know that all of you and your organizations have and continue to firmly engaged in assisting countries face this crisis.

OHRLLS has brought and continues to bring your critical work to the attention of the New York representatives from the three groups of most vulnerable countries.

More than ever we all need to work together. I was very inspired by the recent joint briefing with FAO and WFP on COVID19 and Impacts on Food Security in LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS.

Here we are, 75 years into the visionary creation of a United Nations putting the human being and its universal and indivisible rights at the center. And here we are with the challenge to us to support countries, people to turn a vicious moment into a hopeful future.
We can only do this TOGETHER.

I truly hope that today’s meeting is a platform for us to share information, look at our respective efforts for the LDCs in addressing COVID19, and to come up with concrete proposals to further our joint work and strengthen our cooperation.

Thank you.

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Statement at the Virtual Meeting of the Ambassadors of LDCs

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 17:25:00 +0000

Statement by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

12 June 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

We remain in the midst of an unprecedented situation since the start of this year. No country or individual is spared from the truly global impacts of COVID-19.

Millions are directly and indirectly affected by the pandemic, their lives and livelihoods disrupted and too often destroyed. The citizens of countries with already fragile economies and limited fiscal spaces are being the hardest hit.

So, it should not surprise us that the LDCs, with their inherent structural constraints, are disproportionately impacted.

This concerns OHRLLS greatly.

So, we try to adapt to these new circumstances.

Alerting, advocacy and facilitating partnering are top priorities. We have intensified our advocacy work and try to provide regular updates on the situation of our constituent countries on our website.

The briefing of the DSG to the Group last month was successful in bringing the challenges of LDCs to the attention of the senior management of the UN. The letter of the DSG to LDCs is testimony to the full commitment of the UN to address the special needs of LDCs.

A joint briefing with FAO and WPF on the Impacts of Covid19 on Food Security for the LDCs, LLDCs & SIDs was also organized on the 7th May.

A joint meeting with the Secretary General of ISA with the Chairs of LDCs, LLDCs & SIDs was held on the 3rd June. As a follow-up, we will be organizing a joint briefing by the SG of ISA for the three groups of countries on the 25th June.

A briefing organized with Kazakhstan on “Sovereign Debt” with the three groups of countries will be held on the 18th June.

I will not hide from you that virtual work bears it’s own challenges but substantive work of OHRLLS has remained fully operational.

The report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the IPoA, which covers the past ten years, has been issued.

I have introduced the report in ECOSOC.

The report notes some progress made in the areas of poverty, health, gender equality, women and girls, access to safe water and sanitation, as well as renewable energy.

But the report also alerts to stagnation in key areas like hunger, education, research and development, and ecosystems and protected areas.

Regrettably, global partnerships for development also demonstrated stagnation or often deceleration.

Presently, OHRLLS is working on a study with the admittedly long title of “UN System Best Practices on Supporting the Least Developed Countries (LDCs): Overview and Analysis of Contributions from the Inter-agency Consultative Group on LDCs (IACG).”

The report will highlight how UN system entities organized themselves internally to support the LDCs, in the context of the IPoA.

A further report on “Lessons Learned from Implementing the Istanbul Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011 – 2020” is also under preparation.

The report draws primarily from the national reports submitted by 27 LDCs.

I seize this opportunity to urge you all to mobilize other LDCs who have not done so to submit their individual national reports!

Your reports will allow us to highlight your unique challenges and constraints and make them heard by the international community.

We have also prepared a 2020 Policy brief on Advancing SDG7 in LDCs.

Our analysis finds that lack of access to sustainable energy remains a major bottleneck for LDCs’ growth.

Only 52 per cent of people had access to electricity in 2018.

So it is clear that without urgent and enhanced action, LDCs will not be able to reach the SDG7 targets by 2030.

Last month, the meeting of the friends of LDC took place. It was good to see all the participation and the strong expressions of support for the LDCs, especially in light of the devastating impacts of COVID-19.

Just yesterday, we organized a virtual meeting of the national focal points of the African LDCs.

The meeting brought together national focal points, resident coordinators, representatives of the regional entities and missions in New York.

The meeting again brought to the forefront that LDCs are faced with extraordinary challenges in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is important to alert to is that we now already have a series of setbacks the pandemic already triggered in the implementation of the IPoA and SDGs.

The meeting shared effective initiatives, policies and measures and made recommendations for recovery from the crisis.

We all here can participate in virtual work thanks to technology we have access to and sufficient bandwidths.

As a member of the Secretary-General’s broadband commission, I am advocating for vertical and horizontal expansion of internet and digital connectivity in LDCs. The pandemic has shown how this is truly vital.

I participated as a panelist at meeting yesterday on the presentation of the Secretary-General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation. The Secretary General’s roadmap identifies that in 2019 only 19 per cent of the population in LDCs could use internet. I called for continued focus on LDCs during the implementation phase of the roadmap.

It is my hope that the reports we have worked on, as well as those we are currently working on and the meetings we organized constitute an important background and value- added for LDC5 and its preparatory process.

Allow me to now say a few words on the organizational aspects of LDC5.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we obviously had to postpone all preparatory meetings scheduled for the first half of the year.

This includes the regional review meetings for Africa & Haiti in Malawi and the Asia/Pacific & Yemen meeting in Bangladesh, as well as the joint ECOSOC-PGA meeting and the consultative Ambassadorial retreat with Friends of LDCs.

COVID-19 continues to unfold. So, uncertainty does remain and it is very important to reschedule the dates of the Conference and its preparatory meetings sooner rather than later.

Once the situation comes to the “new” normal, there will be a lot of competing Meetings and Conferences. It is therefore important to lock the alternative date for the Conference as well as the PrepCom meetings.

OHRLLS is the substantive secretariat of the LDC5. We work with the Chair of LDCs, host country and the DGACM. We have found some alternative dates. The draft resolution with the alternative dates is being distributed.

Excellencies,

Let there be no doubt, LDC5 will take place in a changed global development landscape.

It will be very important to critically examine the impacts of COVID-19, draw on lessons and best practices.

This cannot be business as usual and we must work out a new global deal aiming at building back inclusively and better. The focus ought to be on sustainable a society capable of not only fostering economic growth in LDCs, but also pursuing a trajectory of cleaner and greener growth.

It is now that we need the analytical work, the evidence based studies and substantive inputs from the ground to turn the words into action.

I believe the new suggested timeframe will give us sufficient time and opportunity to redesign our work plan to prepare for and contribute to LDC-V and its preparatory process.

As a part of this process, we intend to focus our next flagship report “state of LDCs 2020” on COVID-19 and how to build back better. We will also organize various thematic meetings and workshops to get substantive inputs for the Conference.

In closing, allow me to draw your attention to the formation of the PrepCom Bureau.

To date, we have received confirmation from Asia, Europe, Latin America and partially from the Eastern Europe. The designated members are Bangladesh, Nepal, Canada, Turkey, Haiti, Paraguay and Czech Republic.

We are yet to receive official confirmation from the African group.

We do follow up on this with the regional group chairs, but allow me to request your intervention to expedite the process of electing the Bureau as soon as possible.

I thank you all and I look forward to listening to your views and suggestions.

Front Page Article:

2019 Meeting of the National Focal Points of the Least Developed Countries on the Implementation of the IPoA

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 16:17:00 +0000

Wednesday, 13 November 2019 - 9:15am to Thursday, 14 November 2019 - 5:30pm

BACKGROUND

The Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020 (IPoA) is coming to an end. The UN General Assembly has decided to convene Fifth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5) in Doha, Qatar in January 2022. The Conference will undertake a comprehensive appraisal of the implementation of the IPoA by the LDCs and their development partners, share best practices and lessons learned and identify obstacles and constraints encountered as well as actions and initiatives needed to overcome them. The Conference will also mobilize global support and enhance partnerships in support of LDCs. A new 10-year programme of action for the LDCs will be adopted at the Conference which coincides with the remaining 10 years of implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

The 2019 annual meeting of the LDC National Focal Points was a crucial component of the preparatory process for the LDC5 Conference. The meeting focused on comprehensive country-level reviews of the implementation of the IPoA. National Focal Points presented the main findings of their country reports, focussing on key aspects of the IPoA and sharing best practices and lessons learned. The meeting participants put forward recommendations on new priority areas of action and initiatives to accelerate implementation of the SDGs in LDCs over the next 10 years and address emerging challenges. The meeting provided substantive input to the outcome document of the LDC5 which will shape a new development agenda for the LDCs for the next decade.

DOCUMENTS

Background Materials

Summary Report
Final Programme
Draft Programme (English) (French)
Background Note
List of Participants
Launch of Out of the Trap: Supporting the Least Developed Countries organized by the Foundation for Studies and Research on International Development (FERDI)

Presentations

Opening:

Ms. Fekitamoeloa Utoikamanu
H.E. Mr. Perks Ligoya
H.E. Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani
H.E. Mr. Martin Bille Hermann

Introduction on Preparations for the Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries:

Ms. Susanna Wolf

Eradicating Poverty, Enhancing Agriculture, Food Security and Rural Development:

The Gambia
- Presentation
- Executive Summary
Lao PDR
Togo (FR)

Enhancing Productive Capacity and Achieving Sustained Economic Growth:

Promoting Sustainable Energy:

Trade, Commodities and Investment:

Reducing Vulnerabilities and Strengthening Resilience: Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability:

Human and Social development: Improving Health and Education, Access to Water and Sanitation, Shelter, Youth Development and Enhancing Gender Equality:

Mobilising Financial Resources for Development and Capacity Building:

Good Governance at All Levels:

Addressing Emerging Challenges"

Mr. Hamid Rashid

Closing

Ms. Fekitamoeloa Utoikaman

tags:

Istanbul Programme of Action

LDCs

National Focal Points

Categories:

LDCs

Events

Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States - Istanbul Programme of Action

United Nations Support to the Least Developed Countries

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Lessons Learned - Implementing the Istanbul Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020 / Preliminary Report

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The Road to the 5th UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5)

First session: 21 October 2020, 09:00 – 10:30 (EST)

Second session: 23 October 2020, 09:00 – 10:30 (EST)

NEWS

Briefing on the Secretary-General's Report on Development Progress in Landlocked and Least Developing Countries

Statement by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

8 October 2020 New York, USA

Secretary-General's Reports on Development Progress in Least Developed and Landlocked Developing Countries

Istanbul Programme of Action

Vienna Programme of Action

Remarks at the HLPF Session: Mobilizing International Solidarity, Accelerating Action and Embarking on New Pathways to Realize the 2030 Agenda and Respond to COVID-19

Remarks by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

9 July 2020 New York, USA

Closing Remarks at the Twentieth Inter-Agency Consultative Group Meeting of the United Nations System and International Organizations for LDCs

Closing Remarks by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

16 June 2020 New York, USA

Opening Remarks at the Twentieth Inter-Agency Consultative Group Meeting of the United Nations System and International Organizations for LDCs

Opening Remarks by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

16 June 2020 New York, USA

Statement at the Virtual Meeting of the Ambassadors of LDCs

Statement by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

12 June 2020 New York, USA

2019 Meeting of the National Focal Points of the Least Developed Countries on the Implementation of the IPoA

BACKGROUND

DOCUMENTS

8 October 2020
New York, USA

9 July 2020
New York, USA

16 June 2020
New York, USA

16 June 2020
New York, USA

12 June 2020
New York, USA