Secretary-General, colleagues,
It is a great pleasure to meet all of you at this milestone Conference.
Let me put my offer on the table.
First, my Department will continue to generate the best available data, research and analysis in the areas of demographics, statistics and economics to support all of the UN system and the LDCs themselves. As an example, our report on population prospects scheduled for launch later this year will contain extensive coverage of the LDCs.
Second, we will continue to bring the independent voice of the Committee on Development Policy to bear on questions of LDC assessment, graduation, inclusion and policy making.
Third, we will scale up our support to LDCs along all of our workstreams directed at improving national and local capacities. These would cover, for example,
SDG financing,
Digital government,
Data and statistics,
Institutional strengthening.
Over the last years, we have been active in over three-quarters of the LDCs.
Fourth, like you, we will support the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action, with a special focus on the operationalization of iGrad, the Sustainable Graduation Support Facility.
This initiative, developed in collaboration with USG Fatima’s team, seeks to support graduating and recently graduated LDCs in continuing to make accelerated progress and avoid backsliding.
I am confident that its launch at the High Level Roundtable 8 – which we will take part in- will be an occasion for partners to also demonstrate their concrete commitments.
Fifth, my Department will finalize its LDC strategy over this year to strengthen internal and external synergies, and delivery coherence across all of its work areas including its collaboration with the Development Coordination Office.
I look forward to working with all of you in the run-up to the SDG Summit and beyond.
Thank you.