LDC Portal - International Support Measures for Least Developed Countries - COVID-19

LDC Insight #1: COVID-19 recovery and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: Why LDCs can't just "build back better" - Taffere Tesfachew and Federica Irene Falomi

MTAVARES1 — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

Federica Irene Falomi, Taffere Tesfachew

Document Summary:

(...) However, if the SDGs are to be achieved globally by 2030 - in line with the principle of “leaving no one behind” - they must be achieved everywhere. To date, progress towards achieving the SDGs in the least developed countries has been uneven and is not on track to achieve the targets set in the 2030 Agenda. The pandemic abruptly interrupted a prolonged period of sustained growth for some least developed countries, which are collectively home to 14 per cent of the global population but comprise more than 50% of the world’s extremely poor and account for only 1.3 per cent of global GDP. Given the post-COVID-19 trend and the persistent challenges facing the LDCs, it is highly likely that they will end up being “the battleground on which the 2030 Agenda will be won or lost”. Indeed, the SDGs recognize that these countries require special attention as demonstrated by the fact that 12 of the 17 SDGs directly and specifically target the least developed countries[3]. (...)

Tags:

UN Technology Bank

Official Development Assistance - ODA

COVID-19

Fourth Industrial Revolution

Technology

SDG8

SDG1

SDG9

Publication Date:

Friday, 12 August 2022

Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries

Document Topic/Theme:

COVID-19

Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation

Development cooperation and multilateralism

Document Type:

Articles, policy briefs, working papers, op-eds, project reports, blogs

Archived:

Symbol year:

2022

South-South Cooperation in Advancing Sustainable Development and Achieving the Transformative Recovery of the Least Developed Countries

MTAVARES1 — Tue, 17 May 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

UN-OHRLLS

Document Summary:

This report reviews the role of South-South cooperation in the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020, a 10-year policy agenda to address the challenges faced by the least developed countries (LDCs), to mitigate risks and to leverage new opportunities. The report takes stock of best practices and addresses the scaling up of South-South cooperation with a view to renewing partnerships and enhancing cooperation with Southern partners in the next decade of action. The report focuses on the eight priority areas of action in the IPoA, concluding with a series of 11 concrete and actionable recommendations.

Tags:

UN-OHRLLS

COVID-19

Istanbul Programme of Action

South-South

Publication Date:

Tuesday, 17 May 2022

UN-OHRLLS

Document Topic/Theme:

COVID-19

Development cooperation and multilateralism

Document Type:

UN and WTO reports and publications

Archived:

Symbol year:

2022

A new programme of action for Commonwealth LDCs - Progress, challenges and priorities (document) - The Commonwealth

MTAVARES1 — Wed, 23 Feb 2022 14:00:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

Commonwealth Secretariat

Document Summary:

The Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA), which ran from 2011 to 2020, set out a vision and strategy for sustainable development in least developed countries (LDCs) by seeking to overcome some of their persistent development challenges. This report takes stock of the progress made and the challenges encountered by the Commonwealth’s 14 LDCs during implementation of the IPoA. At the dawn of a new programme of action in 2022, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the resurgence of new variants of the virus, the report also looks ahead to opportunities to address the special needs of Commonwealth LDCs and improve their trade and development prospects over the next decade.

Tags:

Commonwealth

Trade

Istanbul Programme of Action

Productive capacity

Structural transformation

Finance

Graduation

COVID-19

Risk

Resilience

Publication Date:

Wednesday, 23 February 2022

Commonwealth Secretariat

Document Topic/Theme:

Trade

Finance, debt, macroeconomics

COVID-19

Climate change and energy

Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation

Document Type:

Articles, policy briefs, working papers, op-eds, project reports, blogs

Archived:

Symbol year:

2022

Ethiopia: Sustainable investment in agroprocessing and light manufacturing

MTAVARES1 — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 14:00:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

ITC

Document Summary:

Cambodia's small and medium-sized enterprises play a central role in the country's economy and development, but face a number of challenges that have been further complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on data from the SME Competitiveness Survey, this report shows how competitiveness factors affect the resilience of companies in the face of crises. It illustrates how quality-focused and innovative firms were less affected by COVID-induced economic shocks and how companies that engaged with business support institutions were better informed about COVID-related support programmes. Lessons offered by the survey results are being used in developing policy recommendations for fostering more competitive and resilient SMEs with the potential to contribute to Cambodia's economic recovery.

Tags:

ITC

Cambodia

Competitiveness

Publication Date:

Monday, 07 February 2022

ITC

Document Topic/Theme:

Trade

COVID-19

Document Type:

UN and WTO reports and publications

Archived:

Symbol year:

2022

UNCTAD Least Developed Countries Report 2021 - The least developed countries in the post-COVID world: Learning from 50 years of experience

MTAVARES1 — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 15:25:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

UNCTAD

Document Summary:

Over the last 50 years most least developed countries (LDCs) have struggled to overcome the development challenges that led to the establishment of the category in 1971. Even their strong economic growth since the mid-1990s has generally been insufficient to redress their long-term income divergence with the rest of the world. The COVID-19 crisis and the emerging two-speed global recovery threaten to reverse many hard-won development gains, which is further aggravated by the creeping adverse effects of climate change. Mainstreaming productive capacities development in these countries is a necessary condition for boosting their capacity to respond to and recover from crises. While LDCs prioritize economic transformation and diversification in their policies, they have critically lacked the means necessary to progress towards the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The average annual investment requirements to end extreme poverty (SDG 1.1) in LDCs is estimated at $485 billion, whereas doubling the share of manufacturing in GDP (SDG 9.2) is estimated at $1,051 billion. The latter amounts to more than triple the current investment by LDCs, and therefore vastly exceeds LDCs’ available resources. The international community has therefore an essential role to play in supporting LDCs in their efforts to mobilize adequate resources for their sustainable development needs, including in financing and technology. A new generation of international support measures that are more closely aligned to the expressed needs of LDCs and 21st century realities will have to be rolled out to support their domestic efforts. Bolstering multilateralism and dealing decisively with external sources of instability affecting LDCs is necessary to create a conducive climate for the achievement of the next programme of action for the least developed countries for the decade 2022-2031.

Publication Date:

Monday, 27 September 2021

UNCTAD

Document Topic/Theme:

LDC Progress reports/Flagship reports

COVID-19

Document Image:

Document Type:

UN and WTO reports and publications

Archived:

Symbol year:

2021

COVID-19 Pandemic and the Asia-Pacific LDCs: Impacts, challenges, gaps and way forward

MTAVARES1 — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 15:25:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

ESCAP

Document Summary:

This paper provides an evaluation of the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on least developed countries (LDCs) in Asia and the Pacific. Drawing on analysis and estimates from various regional and national sources, this paper finds that these impacts are large relative to the number of COVID-19 cases for several reasons. First, the size of stimulus packages to cushion the economic impacts of the pandemic was significantly smaller than other developing countries. Second, their undiversified export baskets suffered from disruptions in regional and global supply chains and in tourism-related activities. Third, due to the presence of large informal sector and the lack of social protection, job losses have directly translated into income losses. All these factors are further compounded by bleak external conditions surrounding official development assistance (ODA), foreign direct investment (FDI) and remittances. Accordingly, the paper argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has dimmed prospects of Asia-Pacific LDCs to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. In addition, while the pandemic will not significantly delay their graduation from the LDC category, preparations for graduation must acquire a much more holistic focus on sustainability. Looking forward, the paper suggests Asia-Pacific LDCs reassess their development strategies to accelerate progress towards achieving SDGs and to ensure smooth graduation and transition through the following broad sets of actions: (a) scaling up mitigation and recovery programmes and relief measures; (b) building productive capacities and promoting economic diversification to fundamentally addressing multidimensional poverty in the long run; (c) investing in healthcare and social protection systems, including through the use of digital technologies; and (d) negotiating with their key trading partners and multilateral financial institutions to deepen and extend existing preferential provisions to facilitate graduation and smooth transition.

Publication Date:

Monday, 21 June 2021

ESCAP

Document Topic/Theme:

COVID-19

Document Type:

UN and WTO reports and publications

Archived:

Symbol year:

2021

Strengthening the resilience of LDCs in the wake of the Coronavirus disease pandemic: Asia-Pacific Countries with Special Needs Report (UNESCAP)

MTAVARES1 — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 15:25:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

UNESCAP

Document Summary:

The year 2020 marked the end of the Fourth United Nations Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011−2020 or informally called the Istanbul Programme of Action. During that year, the world encountered an unprecedented global pandemic which significantly affected the Asia-Pacific least developed countries (LDCs). The Asia-Pacific Countries with Special Needs Development Report provides a summary of the progress made and challenges encountered by the Asia-Pacific LDCs in implementing the Programme of Action. It also includes an evaluation of the socioeconomic impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on these countries and offers perspectives on how the pandemic is likely to affect their progress towards graduation from the LDC category and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The report presents policy areas that should be covered in the next programme of action for LDCs for the next decade to initiate sustained socioeconomic recovery in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic and to realize the Sustainable Development Goals. Also, in the report, the importance of regional and subregional cooperation going forward to improve the resilience of these countries in dealing with shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, is reinforced. For graduating countries, continued support from development partners, beyond graduation, is essential to ensure a smooth transition from the category.

Tags:

UNESCAP

COVID-19

Asia-Pacific

Regional cooperation

Publication Date:

Tuesday, 27 April 2021

UNESCAP

Document Topic/Theme:

LDC Progress reports/Flagship reports

COVID-19

Document Image:

Document Type:

UN and WTO reports and publications

Archived:

Symbol year:

2021

Committee for Development Policy report 2021

MTAVARES1 — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 21:24:00 +0000

Document Symbol/Reference:

E/2021/33

Document Type:

Link to UN Official Document (ODS)

Author:

Committee for Development Policy

Document Summary:

The present report contains the main findings and recommendations of the Committee for Development Policy at its twenty-third session. The Committee addressed the following items: the annual theme of the Economic and Social Council for 2021, “Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that promotes the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development”; the voluntary national reviews of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; the triennial review of the least developed countries; the monitoring of countries that are graduating or have graduated from the list of least developed countries; improved assistance for graduating and graduated least developed countries; the findings of its comprehensive study on the impact of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the least developed country category; and inputs to the preparations for the next programme of action for least developed countries.

Tags:

Committee for Development Policy (CDP)

Graduation

Bangladesh

Nepal

Myanmar

Timor-Leste

Lao PDR

Publication Date:

Thursday, 22 April 2021

Committee for Development Policy

Document Topic/Theme:

LDC graduation and smooth transition

COVID-19

Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation

Document Image:

Document Type:

Official UN report, resolution, declaration

Archived:

Symbol year:

2021

Comprehensive Study on the Impact of COVID-19 on the Least Developed Country Category

MTAVARES1 — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 15:25:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

Committee for Development Policy

Document Summary:

This study was prepared by the Committee for Development Policy in response to the request from the Economic and Social Council (E/RES/2020/10) to undertake a comprehensive study on the impact of COVID-19 on the least developed country category. The guidance, analysis and ideas that Debapriya Bhattacharya and Taffere Tesfachew contributed are gratefully acknowledged. Special gratitude is also extended to José Antonio Ocampo, Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, Kevin Gallagher and Meg Taylor for their notable inputs. The study benefitted from valuable comments by all members of the Committee’s Subgroup on LDC issues. Substantive support by the secretariat of the Committee was provided by Matthias Bruckner and Sergio Pires Vieira, under the guidance of Roland Mollerus, Secretary of the Committee. Contributions by Matthieu Boussichas and Vincent Nossek of the Fondation pour les Etudes et Recherches sur le Développement International, and Annette Becker, Leah Kennedy and Nancy Settecasi of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs are gratefully acknowledged. The study was edited by Laurent Gauthier.

Publication Date:

Tuesday, 13 April 2021

Committee for Development Policy

Document Topic/Theme:

COVID-19

Document Type:

UN and WTO reports and publications

Archived:

Symbol year:

2021

Structural Transformation, LDC Graduation and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: Policy Options for Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Myanmar, Anisuzzaman Chowdhury for UNESCAP

MTAVARES1 — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 15:25:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

Anisuzzaman Chowdhury

Document Summary:

This paper has four objectives. First, it assesses progress made by Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar (CML) towards graduating from their Least Developed Countries (LDC) status, and summarizes potential impacts from the loss of InternationalSupport Measures (ISMs) on the “smooth” and “sustainable” transition after graduating, especially in the context of new challenges arising from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and rising trade tensions. Second, it examines the extent of these economies diversification and identifies impediments to structural transformation. Third, it reflects on possible pathways to structural transformation and recommends strategies for building productive capacity and resilience to external shocks, highlighting the role of regional cooperation in this regard. Fourth, it identifies areas needing capacity building support from the international community, including the United Nations Sustainable Development System (UNSDS), in particular the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The paper takes the view that “smooth” and “sustainable” graduation critically depends on acquiring productive capacity for dynamic structural transformation of the economy.

Tags:

Cambodia

Lao PDR

Myanmar

Publication Date:

Monday, 12 April 2021

UNESCAP

Document Topic/Theme:

Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation

COVID-19

LDC graduation and smooth transition

Document Type:

Articles, policy briefs, working papers, op-eds, project reports, blogs

Archived:

Symbol year:

2021