Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States - COVID-19

Facing Multiple Crises, Africa’s Most Vulnerable Nations Call on International Community for Greater Support

HSASS — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:07:00 +0000

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COVID-19 testing, Madagascar

World Bank / Henitsoa Rafalia

26 February 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, trade barriers and debt distress are some of the major challenges debated at a high-level meeting of ministers from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) of Africa and Haiti this week.

Over the past five days, leaders of African nations and Haiti, development partners, civil society, private sector and representatives of the United Nations deliberated over progress by Africa’s least developed countries (LDCs) in achieving sustainable development, and what new policies and support measures are required to build a resilient future.

“The LDC members’ GDP shrank by 1.3 per cent in 2020, thereby increasing the number of poor households and worsening inequality between and within countries, with disproportionate effects on women,” said Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera, opening the meeting. "The Pandemic has exposed our limitations in the fields of science, technology and innovations, which has laid bare the digital and technological divide between nations.”

Across the LDCs, the pandemic is projected to force an additional 32 million people into poverty. For Africa’s LDCs, the pandemic has jeopardized hard-won development gains. In the three years prior to the pandemic, African LDCs achieved steady real average GDP growth of 3.9 per cent – slightly above the global average of 3.4 per cent. However, as a result of the pandemic, projections indicate real GDP growth of African LDCs to contract by 1.5 per cent in 2020.

Besides impacts on economies, previous gains made in gender equality, poverty reduction and reducing inequalities are at risk, putting additional pressure on already vulnerable nations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

A declaration agreed at the conclusion of the week, recognised that “a successful, renewed and strengthened global partnership that effectively addresses the special needs of African LDCs will contribute to the cause of peace, prosperity and sustainable development for all.” Furthermore, the declaration affirmed the commitment by African LDCs to strengthen healthcare systems, bolster research and development, empower women and provide a rapidly growing youth population with greater prospects for a decent life. They also called for the immediate establishment of a global stimulus package to address the impacts of COVID-19 and on development partners to support them in achieving global development goals.

“My take-away from the past five days is there is a tremendous sense of hope expressed by leaders from Africa and Haiti, and the inspiring youth representatives, of the sheer determination to forge ahead towards a more resilient and prosperous future,” said the UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing Sates Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu.
The conclusion of the Africa Regional Review meeting, hosted by the Government of Malawi, kicks off a series of meetings and events leading to the the landmark Fifth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) taking place in Doha, Qatar in early 2022.
The conference will set the development agenda for the LDCs for the coming decade and occur as they redouble their efforts to achieve the Global Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

“We are very confident this conference will enormously contribute to meeting the needs of these countries and supporting their journey towards achieving their development goals over the next ten years,” said Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Qatar and host of the LDC5 Conference.

The coming months will see a similar regional review meeting for LDCs in the Asia and Pacific region and the commencement of inter-governmental negotiations on the next programme of action for the LDCs which is expected to be adopted in Doha next year.

Front Page Article:

Statement on Asia-Pacific LDCs' Graduation, Trade and Pandemic

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 19:51:00 +0000

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

27 January 2021
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

First, I would like to thank ESCAP for organizing this webinar meeting.

Graduation and the issues and challenges surrounding it have long been at the core of the work of the United Nations system and of the work we do at OHRLLS.

Graduation from the LDC category is more than a symbolic step in a country’s development journey.

The label, if I may say so, sends a strong signal about strength and stability in socio-economic progress, encourages investors, and encourages the business community.

In turn, that means greatly enhanced potential for trading, investment and commercial activities.

I stress that we talk potential because , let us be clear, the overall set of development challenges that a country faces as an LDC do not disappear overnight with graduation.

Take, for example, a shared threat cutting across all graduating LDCs. That is the threat of their extreme vulnerability to climate change and related hazards.

Let us also not forget that graduation means the end of access to LDC-specific international support measures. It also implies loss of flexibility in the implementation of various international agreements, including TRIPS.

Ever since the advent of the global COVID pandemic, we can see that graduation faces additional challenges given the intertwined health, economic and financial consequences of COVID-19.

The pandemic spreads at a rapid pace through weak and vulnerable health system. The new and emerging variants and mutations pose additional and not yet really known threats.

The protracted economic recession triggered by the pandemic will result in massive economic downturns and, let us not overlook this, societal disruptions all threatening hard won gains and stability.

The impact is likely to be the hardest on micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), on the informal sector and the labour markets of graduating LDCs. Yet, this often is the engine room for growth in LDCs!

The pandemic’s impacts on exports of goods and services coupled with growing costs of imports are likely to result in growing trade deficits of LDCs exceeding those of the pre-COVID levels.

Export items graduating LDCs rely on- like RMGs, fuels and tourism services - will be hit hard.

The small island LDCs are projected to be hardest hit by the severe downturn in world tourism. Yet, tourism is their GDP driver !

What is already clear is that this puts into question the achievement of SDG target 17.11- which is “doubling the LDCs’ share of exports by 2020 compared to 2011”.

Add to this that remittances, another major source of income for some graduating countries, are also under stress. This will further worsen the current account balance of countries.

More than ever timely, adequate and appropriate external support must kick in if we do not want to lose the hard won gains countries achieved in the past on their trajectory to a sustainable and inclusive development for their peoples.

However, we are concerned that all categories of external flows of funding are either waning or at best stagnant.

In short, the multifaceted challenges graduated and graduating LDCs are confronted with , demand NOW and not tomorrow bold and decisive action.

What is at stake is to ensure that the encouraging development trends of graduating countries remain sustained and can reach a higher trajectory.

I believe there is a mix of measures we could consider taking.

First : policies and measures must be taken to recover from the massive impacts of COVID-19. Reinforcing the public health infrastructure ecosystem is needed more than ever. The Secretary-General has already appealed to make vaccination as a global public good.

Graduating countries and other LDCs need immediate access to appropriate and affordable vaccines and therapeutic medicines as well as equipment.

A virus does not know borders and we know that it is only if we globally can achieve immunity, and not just in some parts of the globe, can we overcome the dramatic challenges this pandemic poses to all.

Secondly: We need to work on and invest in comprehensive transition strategies, developed through consultative processes, to ensure what I call smooth transitions.

This requires ex-ante impact assessments and vulnerability analysis. Appropriate policies and measures can then be put in place for sectors that are highly sensitive to preference erosion.

Thirdly: Graduating countries need to engage with their key development partners to negotiate extension of select LDC-preferential treatments for a period of time consistent with development needs and priorities.

In this regard, OHRLLS leads an Inter-Agency Task Force on LDC Graduation. The aim is to strengthen and better coordinate UN system-wide support to graduating countries.

Fourth: trade is and will continue to remain a key driver of development for graduating and graduated countries.

The Group of LDCs have already placed their proposals for the extension of LDC-specific special and preferential treatments. This includes a provision for a transition period under TRIPS Article 66.1 for a certain number of years after graduation.

This proposal warrants a review and favorable consideration by the international community, especially in the current context of the impacts of COVID-19.

Fifth: COVID-19 once again exposes the digital divide in LDCs. It is with urgency that we must build the infrastructure for a digital economy and e-commerce but also distance learning, health services and so much more.

Sixth: the pandemic has taught us once more the deep lesson of the history of our shared humanity that there is no certainty or predictability about future shocks and hazards.

Yet, the pandemic has also brought home once more that the LDCs are highly exposed to shocks and hazards while suffering from poor resilience systems.

Investing in building sustainable and comprehensive resilience systems in LDCs is not a luxury but a must.

Finally, allow me to alert you to a shared opportunity we have to put this into action.

We have embarked on the preparation of the Fifth UN Conference on LDCs to be held in Doha, Qatar from 23-27 January 2022.

Graduation will be a key priority in the deliberations and negotiations of the outcome of the LDC5.

In preparation of the LDC5, OHRLLS, jointly with Bangladesh and ESCAP, is holding the Asia-Pacific Regional Review meeting in Dhaka tentatively from 22-26 April 2021. The primary focus is on how to make graduation sustainable.

The outcome of Dhaka meeting, which is a Ministerial Declaration, will be an important building block for the next Programme of Action for LDCs.

So, I invite you all to actively participate in this meeting and contribute to its outcome.

Thank you.

Front Page Article:

Statement on the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 21:30:00 +0000

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

21 December 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

First, I would like to join others in congratulating you on your assumption of the chairmanship of the Board of Governors. I also thank the Chair for giving me the opportunity to join this meeting as an observer and to update the Board on the activities undertaken by OHRLLS in support of the LLDCs.

I also thank the International Think Tank for the continued close and growing collaboration with OHRLLS.

It may be useful to share with all of you a brief summary on UN-OHRLLS.

OHRLLS , through the High Representative, reports directly to The UN Secretary General.

What do we do ?

A key task is to assist the Secretary-General in ensuring the full mobilization and coordination of all parts of the United Nations system for the LLDCs, LDCs and SIDS benefit.

We are there to facilitate what we call the coordinated implementation of and coherence in the follow-up and monitoring of the programmes of Action for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS.

This we are to undertake at the country, regional and global levels.

A key role of OHRLLS is to advocate for, to be a voice for the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS and assist in mobilizing international support.

In short, we are your dedicated focal point.

Excellencies,

The last Board meeting of the Think Tank that I attended took place in June 2018.

Since, the UN General Assembly convened the Midterm review of the Vienna Programme of Action in December 2019.

The midterm review showed that LLDCs continue to make efforts to address their development challenges. Yet, the LLDCs remain behind in achieving the SDGs and the goals of the VPoA.

The progress we could see is encouraging.

But what is of concern is that the LLDCs continue to lag behind the averages of all the developing countries and certainly global averages on many socioeconomic development indicators.

The review showed that economic growth actually declined since the adoption of the VPoA in 2014.

One third of the LLDCs population still live in extreme poverty.

Very little progress has been achieved in structural economic transformation.

The LLDCs’ share of manufacturing value added in GDP remained at about 10 percent in 2019.

The share of merchandise exports remained below 1 per cent.

LLDCs continue to face major constraints that include infrastructural gaps and the relatively high cost of ICT services, and generally high trade costs.

These structural challenges, including LLDCs’ dependency on their transit neighbors for trade, their high dependency on export of commodities, the weak public health services, and limited financial resources are considerable hurdles.

Of course given this picture, COVID-19 has now had significant impact on the LLDCs’ development including their ability to fight COVID-19.

Just take the closing of borders and the imposition of border restrictions by neighboring transit countries in their efforts to curtail the spread of the virus and you have extremely concerning negative impacts on LLDCs’ trade.

The transport and logistics industries which play such crucial role for the economies of many of the LLDCs and are the backbone of trade are greatly impacted.

LLDCs also face quite major losses of foreign exchange earnings due to the decline in commodity prices.

So, while the situation was already complex prior to the pandemic, we now see risks of serious reversals in development gains that LLDCs have made over the years.

It is NOW that we must pay special attention to LLDCs and support them in their fight against COVID-19 and in their efforts to build back better.

More than ever, OHRLLS continues to advocate for enhanced support to LLDCs.

Excellencies,

The International Think Tank for LLDCs is there to be a center of excellence for LLDCs.

It is to use top-quality research that translates into policy formulation and ultimately into action. The Think Tank’s role is therefore critical in the implementation of the VPoA and Agenda 2030.

It is there to advocate for the LLDCs, to find solutions and provide policy recommendation to help the LLDCs build back better post COVID-19.

OHRLLS and the Think Tank thus have a shared objective of assisting LLDCs in remedying to their specific development constraints and challenges.

Ever since 2014, we have collaborated on numerous activities and events.

We collaborated in organizing specific events to raise awareness of the work of the Think Tank and to advocate for accession to the Multilateral Agreement on Establishment of the Think Tank.

But much more remains to be done to increase the visibility of the Think Tank.

The Think Tank and OHRLLS signed a Memorandum of Understanding in October 2020.(as earlier mentioned by the Amb. Odbayar)

It is my sincere hope that this will further strengthen our collaboration and enhance the visibility of the Think Tank.

We now have a framework to facilitate joint research and analytical work to better inform the formulation and monitoring of policies aimed at accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the VPoA.

We have a framework to organize joint events and capacity building support and to promote the exchange of best practices on thematic areas relevant to the VPoA.

Indeed, we must enhance cooperation at a time when there is an urgent need to build back better given the impacts of COVID-19 in LLDCs.

I am happy to report that since the signing of the Memorandum, we have jointly worked on a report on the Impact of COVID-19 and Responses in LLDCs.

We want to scale-up joint initiatives and explore new opportunities to collaborate for the effective realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and the VPoA objectives by LLDCs.

So as to enhance collaborative efforts and to also assist in increasing the visibility of the Think Tank, OHRLLS invited the Think Tank to be part of the Inter-Agency Consultative Group on LLDCs.

This Group has a wide membership of over 50 Agencies, including key UN Agencies, regional organization, development banks, as well as other key international organizations including the World Trade Organizations and the World Bank Group.

I hope for a very active participation of the International Think Tank in the Inter-Agency Consultative Group. It is an opportunity to broaden its network and collaboration with other organizations working on LLDCs issues.

Excellencies,

The pandemic has brought most economies to their knees.

As the saying goes, any threat also harbors opportunities. The opportunities are ours to seize.

I see the opportunity to rebuild better in a post-pandemic future.

Yes we can and yes we must.

We can build socio-economic resilience through increasing the trade potential of LLDCs; enhance investment in transport infrastructure and increased connectivity; increase digital technology and enhanced regional integration, we must work for better cooperation between LLDCs and transit countries; we must enhance food security; build climate resilience; and importantly, we must increase efforts to address COVID-19.

So, we look forward to working with the Think Tank on some of these areas.

At the beginning of this year which, I am sure, we all are happy to leave behind!

The Group of LLDCs requested the United Nations to develop a visionary Roadmap to accelerate the implementation of the VPoA.

Guided by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, OHRLLS led the coordination and development of the Roadmap.

More than 40 UN system entities and other international and regional organizations, and first and foremost the Member States of the Group of the LLDCs provided their inputs to the Roadmap.

The Roadmap provides a framework for accelerated action in key areas that require dedicated and urgent focus including COVID-19.

The LLDCs Foreign Affairs Ministers adopted the Roadmap during their Annual meeting held in the margins of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly.

We now must make every effort to ensure that the Roadmap is fully implemented !

OHRLLS will lead the regular reviews of the Roadmap and its implementation as well as the reporting. I thank the Think Tank for providing inputs to the Roadmap.

Beyond that, OHRLLS recently launched the #MostVulnerable91 campaign.

We argue that the scale of COVID-19 related funding spent so far by international partners to support the 91 most vulnerable countries, including the LLDCs is considerable but remains comparatively when looking at overall global spending.

More support is needed and OHRLLS has stepped up its efforts to advocate for enhanced support.

Excellencies,

Allow me to now brief you on some of our key activities planned for 2021.

OHRLLs in collaboration with the Government of Kazakhstan plans to hold a Ministerial Meeting on Trade for LLDCs in the margins of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in June 2021.

OHRLLs is working with the Government of Turkmenistan to organize a Ministerial Transport Conference for LLDCs at a date still to be determined.

We also work with ESCAP, ECE, ECA, ECLAC and UN-DESA to organize a training for LLDC policy makers on how to promote transport infrastructure connectivity and development/maintenance of climate resilient transport infrastructure.

On the advocacy front, we plan to organize side events during such major international meetings as the second UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference, High-level Political Forum, the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development follow-up, WTO Aid-for-Trade Stocktaking event 23-25 March 2021 and the UNCTAD-15 Conference.

Excellencies,

in closing, I assure you that you have OHRLLS continued support for the work of the Think Tank.

I very much look forward to our strengthened collaboration so together we can enhance our support to the LLDCs.

OHRLLS will also continue our joint efforts with the Think Tank to advocate for the full ratification of the Multilateral Agreement on the Establishment of the Think Tank and the much needed enhanced support to the Think Tank.

I thank you.

Front Page Article:

Climate Change and Security - The Challenge of Internal Displacement in Small Island Developing States

HSASS — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 22:14:00 +0000

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Riibeta Abeta, from Kiribati's Ministry of Environment contemplates the future. He more than most knows the importance of educating people about the impacts of climate change.

Lorrie Graham for DFAT

NEW YORK 11 November/SUVA 12 November 2020 – Climate-induced displacement of island communities creates major socio-economic and human security implications for the world’s small island developing States (SIDS).

In a virtual briefing hosted by the Pacific Islands Forum, UN Department of Political and ��AVbuilding Affairs (DPPA) and UN Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS), stakeholders agreed that unless properly managed and adequately funded, internal displacement can exacerbate poverty, cause social tensions and hinder sustainable development in SIDS.

In opening remarks by the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa Utoikamanu, stressed that mitigation, especially by major greenhouse gas emitters, remains the primary response to the climate crisis. She also emphasized that internal displacement, whether forceful or voluntary, can pose economic, social and cultural challenges which will further compound existing challenges including debt crises and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presenters from the University of the South Pacific, IOM, Fiji and Sao Tome and Principe highlighted the need to work with communities at risk of displacement from either slow onset or rapid onset climate events. They also highlighted the importance of building on the long history of migration among Pacific island countries to understand how populations were able to thrive and create new opportunities despite the loss of their traditional homelands.

While participants acknowledged the major challenges SIDS are facing, they also noted that internal displacement could bring about benefits such as employment , cultural exchange, human capital development, technological progress and provide the local stimulus for economic growth.

Representatives from SIDS governments shared the unique challenges their countries are facing and the solutions they are exploring to address climate induced internal displacement resulting from climate hazards like coastal degradation, flash floods, sea level rise and tropical storms.

They noted that effective action will require increased academic research as well as dialogue with all affected parties on climate change impacts on internal displacement in local, national, regional and global fora. An integrated whole of government and whole of society approach is needed, whereby all stakeholders including the communities directly affected by climate change and internal displacement, are involved in the policy-making process.

For SIDS to effectively address climate induced displacement, it was recognised that there is a need for additional support, including financing, from the international community. Several projects and initiatives already being undertaken by governments and development partners to tackle climate change and internal displacement were also elaborated. These included: (i) Pacific Climate Change Migration and Human Security programme implemented by IOM, in partnership with ESCAP, OHCHR, and ILO; (ii) the Climate Security Project in the Pacific covering Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands supported by the UN Secretary-General’s ��AVbuilding Fund; (iii) the West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project by the World Bank; (iv) Fiji’s Planned Relocation Guidelines developed by the Fijian Government with the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ); (v) and Fiji’s Climate Relocation and Displaced People Trust Fund.

Welcoming the efforts underway in this area, in his closing remarks, Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari (DPPA) mentioned that Member State interest in the linkages between climate change, prevention and sustaining peace continues to rise, including in the Security Council and that DPPA has steadily increased its efforts in this area in partnership with Small Island Developing States, OHRLLS, in partnership with DPPA and the Pacific Islands Forum will continue this discusssion series with further sessions on aspects of the climate change and security challenges in Small Islands Developing States in 2021.

Front Page Article:

Leaving no one behind and building back better from COVID-19: The Future of Work in LDCs

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 15:57:00 +0000

Thursday, 19 November 2020 - 9:00am to 11:00am

REGISTER

https://bit.ly/3ljepGd

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing labour market ravages in all regions, some of those trends are accelerating, thereby generating new challenges and opportunities for job creation. While advanced economies are responding promptly and stand ready to invest to take benefit from the spread of remote working arrangements, increasing automation and the reshuffling of global value chains, LDCs struggle to overcome deep rooted and pre-existing decent work deficits.

As we enter the last ten years of the 2030 Agenda and begin preparations for the Fifth United Nations Conference on the LDCs (LDC5), where the new Programme of Action for LDCs will be agreed, this event will reflect on the actions required at national and international levels to achieve a promising future of work in LDCs. The event will look at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on labour markets in LDCs and explore the policy frameworks that can foster recovery and build future resilience.

SPEAKERS

H.E. Mr. Perks Master Clemency Ligoya, Permanent Representative of Malawi to the United Nations

H.E. Ms. Rabab Fatima, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations

H.E. Ms. Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations

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

Mr. Moussa Oumarou, Deputy Director-General for Field Operations and Partnerships, ILO

Mr. Aurelio Parisotto, Head, Employment and Economic Analyses Unit, Employment Policy Department, ILO

Mr. Boštjan Skalar, CEO, World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies

Ms. Chema Triki, Advisor, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Embedded at the Jobs Creation Commission in Ethiopia

Ms. Khamati Mugalla, Executive Secretary of East African Trade Union Confederation

Ms. Grace Suh, Vice President, Education and Skills, IBM Corporate Social Responsibility

KEY QUESTIONS

What are the implications of the COVID-19 crisis for labour markets in the LDCs, and what lessons can be learnt from the LDC policy responses to the crisis? How can those lessons be used to promote job recovery and future resilience?
As progress in automation, digitization, connected systems continue to advance, and economies are de-globalizing, how will this impact LDCs?
Recognizing the limited fiscal space in LDCs, what types of frameworks for employment creation and investment are required to boost job creation and productivity, while also ensuring adequate income security?
What forms of international support would be most helpful?

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this special event is to stimulate an open, in-depth and interactive discussion of best practices while highlighting both opportunities and challenges. The side event brings together governments, policy-makers, researchers and social partners to provide guidance and recommendations on key questions concerning the future of work in LDCs. It will provide the latest employment data in LDCs and present a snapshot of policy options to explore further as member States embark on the road to LDC5. It will provide an opportunity to take stock of progress made and share best practices or lessons learned to ensure a productive future of work where no LDC is left behind.

DOCUMENTS

Background Materials

Flyer
Concept Note [EN] [FR]
Video: The Future of Work in Least Developed Countries [EN]

Other

tags:

Least Developed Countries

COVID-19

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Fifth UN Conference on LDCs

Categories:

Tackling Vulnerability on the Road to LDC5

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 18:42:00 +0000

uganda_ilo_asin_nsubuga_ilo_rudmec.jpg

Buyers and sellers practice social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Ugandan marketplace.

Yasin Nsubuga ILO / RUDMEC

NEW YORK 27 October 2020 – COVID-19 is impacting the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in unprecedented, profound and disproportionate ways. This is why these countries, often unable to afford comprehensive response plans, need more international support.

So what does COVID-19 mean for the most vulnerable countries and the support they need from the international community?

That was the over-riding question at a two-part high-level forum organised by OHRLLS, the OECD Development Centre and FERDI on October 21 and 23.

At the meeting, representatives from governments, multilateral institutions and civil society urged the international community to rethink the economic vulnerability of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and of developing countries more generally.

Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, issued a stark warning to those present at the meeting and the international community at large: “The very credibility of the multilateral system is at stake.”

She explained: “LDCs are the most vulnerable with least access to resources. 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.”

Vulnerability is one of the main criteria for including in the LDC category in the first instance. It is measured by the economic and environmental vulnerability index (EVI), which captures a country’s 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 think of national and individual vulnerability and how we help the LDCs address it.

Prof. Patrick Guillamont, President of FERDI, highlighted that the vulnerability of LDCs is largely due to structural handicaps beyond their control. It is due to these vulnerabilities, he said, that LDCs have been especially severely affected by COVID-19 in all sectors of their economies. He stressed that reducing vulnerability is the key to managing all shocks, from economic to climate-related.

Speaking about the importance of “people-centric” approaches to tackling vulnerability, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development, HE Khalifa Jassim Al-Kuwari told the meeting that “The local community has the knowledge, understands the challenges faced and knows which of them are the most pressing.”

Any global recovery will depend on how the weakest economies and health systems can cope with the pandemic. While developed countries have taken large-scale action to deliver broad stimulus packages and protective measures, many of the most vulnerable countries do not have the means, or are too deep in debt, to do the same.

HE Abila Musleh, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Women Affairs in Afghanistan talked about the financial challenges that her country has faced since the pandemic broke out.

“Beyond the very serious human cost and economic downturn, COVID has created a large fiscal hole,” she said, adding that while “donors have responded with some $1.5bn in quick response aid, but only a small portion represents new money.”

HE Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), said that the international community must “reinvigorate and reform international co-operation" to better respond to the emerging challenges.

Calling a more robust approach to the measurement and assessment of vulnerability in development responses, he called for the international community to focus on placing multidimensional vulnerabilities, resilience and the provision of global public goods at the core of the system.”

Front Page Article:

Small Island Developing States Call for Enhanced Support for a Resilient Post COVID-19 Recovery

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 18:21:00 +0000

haiti_karen_kasmauski_mcsp_and_jhpiego.jpg

Haitian patients arrive for regular check-ups and vaccinations. Due to COVID-19 they now might face disruptions to health services.

Karen Kasmauski, MCSP and Jhpiego

NEW YORK 20 and 21 October 2020 – Island leaders expressed concern about the widespread impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on small island developing States (SIDS) in a joint roundtable organized by Belize, Fiji and the United Kingdom.

At the virtual meeting, island representatives called upon development partners to look beyond “one size fits all” solutions and to provide more tailor-made financial support to SIDS. They also reaffirmed the need for a collaborative effort between public, private creditors, International Financial Institutions as well SIDS in addressing the challenges posed by COVID-19 and climate change.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, H.E. Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, emphasised the “importance of debt relief for vulnerable countries and the need to develop new flexible development finance instruments which will support responsible, resilient and inclusive growth.”

The meeting heard that SIDS are currently facing severe health, social, economic as well as environmental challenges, all exacerbated by COVID-19.

In her keynote address, UN Deputy Secretary-General and Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group, Amina J. Mohammed said “It is time for the international community to help SIDS in meeting their challenges as they deserve the future that they want as we look for the future that we want.”

H.E. Baroness Sugg, UK Minister for Foreign Affairs and Development, reaffirmed that "an ongoing collaborative effort is needed which must be sustained even after COVID-19."

Increased access to finance for SIDS was a key theme of the meeting and solutions put forward included additional grants, concessional loans with longer maturities, debt swaps, use of blended finance through increased public-private partnerships and the development of green and blue bond markets for SIDS.

Complex mechanisms and bureaucratic processes were identified as challenges for SIDS to access development finance from donors like the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Adaptation Fund.

As one solution to this problem, a proposed Vulnerability Index was discussed, which would help codify the real-world vulnerabilities of SIDS and be used by bilateral and multilateral donors to assess SIDS’ eligibility for development finance.

SIDS noted the recent extension by the G-20 of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative and the Sovereign Debt Restructuring Trust Fund by the IMF as potentially helpful in pandemic recovery and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. However, most SIDS are not actually eligible for the initiative.

United Nations High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa Utoikamanu, said that

“This unprecedented perfect storm should be met with unprecedented cooperation and development funds. However, despite available evidence of the need for support for vulnerable states, the necessary commitments by development partners are insufficient, in particular for SIDS.”

She concluded, “We need to focus our common efforts on practical and impactful solutions to not only keep SIDS afloat but also for the successful implementation of the SAMOA pathway, the Paris agreement and the flourishment of SIDS and their citizens.”

Front Page Article:

Statement at the Towards UN LDC5 - Recovery from COVID-19 Tackling Vulnerabilities and Leveraging Scarce Resources Event

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 05:21:00 +0000

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

21 & 23 October 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I join H.E. Ambassador Escudero, Permanent Representative of Spain to the OECD and Chair of the Governing Board of the Development Centre, in warmly welcoming you all to this virtual event.

More than nine months have passed since the world over COVID took too many lives, disrupted countless lives, decimated and continues to shake livelihoods.

More than ever, and in solidarity, we must focus on Recovery from COVID-19, we must find ways to tackle vulnerabilities and leverage scarce resources.

And this is precisely the theme of our meeting.

This virtual event is also held in the context of preparations for the Fifth UN Conference on LDCs, in short LDC5.

I wish to thank our main co-organisers, FERDI and the OECD Development Centre. Prof. Guillaumont, the President of Ferdi, and Mario Pezzini, the Director of the Development Centre and Special Advisor to the Secretary-General of the OECD.

You both are good friends of not only OHRLLS but also the LDCs.

I also thank all other partners for contributing to this endeavor.

Just as you all, I am grateful to see the LDC IV Monitor, which is a consortium including the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), and the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD, Bangladesh), with us.

You already contributed to the Fourth UN Conference in Istanbul and its mid-term review and I am very happy to see you engaged in the preparations for LDC5.

Last but certainly not least, I must acknowledge the 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). 

It is encouraging to see such a broad group representing many stakeholders not only from governments, the UN and think tanks but also civil society. Indeed, it is all together that we must engage in discussions about the needs of LDCs and what can be done to enhance their resilience.

As I said a moment ago, our virtual meeting takes place in the context of the preparations of LDC5.

The General Assembly has agreed to hold the conference from 23 to 27 January 2022, in Doha, Qatar, at the highest level.

Three key goals will drive the leaders from all UN Member States:

Undertake a comprehensive appraisal of the IPOA implementation by the LDCs and their development partners;

Mobilize additional international support measures and action in favour of the LDCs and,
Agree on a renewed partnership between the LDCs and their development partners, including the private sector, civil society and governments at all levels.

It is with even stronger resolve and determination that we relaunch the LDC5 preparatory process.

From now to January 2022, an intensive preparatory process takes place. This includes regional review meetings for Africa and Haiti and Asia-Pacific LDCs.

A range of formal and informal meetings will happen and involve many stakeholders, including parliaments, the private sector, youth, foundations and civil society.

You can find all the details on our website.

Additionally, and in a novel effort, we organize what we call an Academic Conference.

We do so next year jointly with UNU-WIDER, SDSN, and the Government of Finland, in Helsinki.

The goal is to provide an analytical underpinning to the discussions leading up to the LDC5.

So why is this LDC5 conference so important?

The IPoA set as its key goal to overcome the structural challenges of LDCs as the means to eradicate poverty, achieve internationally agreed development goals and enable graduation from the LDC category.

The most recent report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the IPoA highlights that there has been some progress and most notably with respect to graduation.

But as always there is a but.

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. And this we could already see even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

It is the very well documented vulnerabilities of these countries causing this limited progress.

Just let me mention a few.

There is their narrow range of export products which makes them vulnerable to any fluctuations in commodity prices. Prices have declined since 2013 and thus have diminished the value of exports and foreign currency earnings.

We have climate vulnerability due to climate change induced or accelerated phenomena such as hurricanes, cyclones, flooding, drought and landslides. They have caused devastating loss and damage to lives, livelihoods and infrastructure.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the forefront inequalities and poverty and so starkly teaches us lessons about the interlinked nature of the various vulnerabilities LDCs face and the devastation this causes.

Yes, we have the direct health impacts of the pandemic but at the same time we have the direct impacts on the very livelihoods of people. Tourism, trade and remittances have plummeted in these nations. The consequences are many from job losses, to increasing poverty and a decline in government revenues, worsening an already acute debt situation.

The lockdown and closures have had major negative social impacts, including on gender, decent work, health, education, and food security. The vast majority of workers in LDCs are in the informal economy and do not benefit from social protection.

For example, in the Sahel region, nationwide school closures due to COVID-19 came at a time when a very large number of schools had already been closed for several months because of severe insecurity, strikes, or climatic hazards.

For girls that cannot attend school for months because of school closures it became more likely that they will not ever return to school with all the negative long-term consequences this might have.

COVID-19 has also shown us how urgent it is that we close yet another divide, the digital divide. Countries that are left furthest behind need support from all relevant actors to enable remote schooling, telemedicine and make use of digital finance.

Indeed, like a mirror we have to look into, the COVID-19 pandemic all too clearly gives us the reflection of stark inequalities and how they keep growing within countries, between countries, regions and at the global level.

So, I just shared with you some examples of the vulnerabilities of LDCs that we together must address and they will be discussed in the first panel today.

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

This brings me to a key topic : development finance.

Prior to the global crisis we now all face, development financing had already fallen short of the financing requirements to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

Prior to the global crisis, fiscal space of the LDCs was already limited due to rising public debt levels and servicing costs.

Not only does this lacking access to finance make it much harder for LDCs to respond to the crisis but it also means that no single source of financing will be enough to close the COVID-19-induced financing gap.

The collapse of domestic revenues we now see severely limits LDCs’ ability to put together sufficient health and stimulus packages.

The decline of remittances will leave too many families in destitution and increase poverty.

The steep decline in FDI to LDCs will hamper urgently needed investment in building productive capacity so that the much needed jobs are created and building back better happens.

For LDCs, it remains difficult to attract private finance due to their high vulnerabilities, smallness and their risk perception.

Yet, they have large needs for example for investments in infrastructure, from transport to sustainable energy.

My Office through the ‘COVID-19 - The Most Vulnerable 91’ campaign, put a spotlight on the very limited scale of funding that has been made available to the LDCs during the pandemic.

LDCs have all made national efforts to respond to the pandemic, their spending power is vastly outmatched by what advanced economies are able to mobilize.

LDCs remain among the poorest nations in the world and their financial resources are limited and their spending power to tackle major crises is very low.

Our research shows that less than seven dollars per head has been shared with LDCs by the international community to help them combat the pandemic.

We are now at a juncture.

More than ever, commitments with respect to ODA and beyond must be met. Increased climate finance must be provided and real debt relief must be seriously considered.

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

LDCs are the most vulnerable with least access to resources. 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.

The credibility of and trust in multi- lateral cooperation are at stake.

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

This brings me to the need for the new Programme of Action for the LDCs, which will be adopted by Member States in Doha.

This programme must be ambitious and aim towards addressing recovery efforts, building back better, building back inclusively and driving efforts towards the Decade for Action in the LDCs.

It is my sincere hope that our virtual event will generate ideas and political momentum for an effective and coordinated response from international actors to provide adequate financing and technical assistance to build back better for a more equitable, sustainable and resilient world.

I look forward to hearing fresh ideas we can put into action to secure a truly sustainable future for the LDCs.

Thank you.

Front Page Article:

Vulnerable Countries are not getting the support they need despite trillions being mobilized globally to tackle COVID-19

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 19:20:00 +0000

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COVID-19 is impacting the world’s Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States in unprecedented and disproportionate ways. 

UNOHRLLS

NEW YORK 8 October 2020 – The global response to COVID-19 has been estimated at US$20 trillion and growing. Meanwhile, a mere US$8.5 billion has been spent by international partners to support the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). These countries, with a combined population of 1.1 billion, are facing the full force of the health and economic destruction from this pandemic, without the resources to recover.

“What is clear is that the support received by the most vulnerable countries, while useful and gratefully received, is not nearly on par with the challenges they face,” said Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, United Nations High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, whose office has recently released its findings on the COVID-19 impacts on these 91 vulnerable countries.

The global decline in demand for goods is severely impacting their economies, particularly for countries that depend on the export of manufactured goods. The crisis is also affecting remittances, which are projected to fall by more than 20 percent in the LDCs, representing the loss of a crucial lifeline for vulnerable households. Further, foreign direct investment to these countries is receding.

As High Representative ‘Utoikamanu notes: “Any global recovery will depend on how the weakest economies and health systems can cope with the pandemic. We need the same sense of urgency and ambition from the international community to support the most vulnerable countries, as is evident in the trillions of dollars that have been mobilized to shield advanced economies from the worst impacts of the pandemic.”

The vulnerabilities of the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS have been brought into stark relief as they attempt to save lives, shore up healthcare systems and cushion the economic and social consequences for millions of people, all while avoiding financial collapse. The three groups of vulnerable countries include some of the most indebted and poorest nations in the world. Hunger remains a critical challenge and has further deteriorated as a result of the pandemic. What’s more, many of these countries are on the wrong end of the digital divide, with the lowest rates of internet access and lacking in broad band capacities. Telecommuting and social distancing are not an option for many, and millions of children are not receiving an education since remote learning is unobtainable.

Tourism in small islands states has taken a major hit and their GDP will likely shrink by 4.7 percent this year, far more than the predicted global contraction of 3 percent. But several small island economies are expected to contract even more, perhaps as much as 8 percent. These countries are being battered by climate change and face high national debt levels; they are ill-equipped to face the economic and social devastation from COVID-19 on their own.

Earlier this year, LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS released statements stressing the scale of the pandemic’s impacts on their societies and economies and calling for greater solidarity and support from the international community.

The findings of the UN-OHRLLS analysis were announced today through the Office’s ‘COVID-19, The Most Vulnerable 91’ campaign, to spotlight the scale of funding that has been made available to these 91 countries, and to make the case for more urgent and ambitious support given their vulnerabilities.

To learn more click here.

Front Page Article:

Opening Remarks at the Local2030 Islands Network Virtual High-level Islands Side Event

Anonymous — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 21:24:00 +0000

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

29 September 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I am very happy to be with you today at the formal launch of the Local2030 Islands Network.

On behalf of the UN Deputy-Secretary-General, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, I thank you for your leadership and commitment.

Local action, local participation, local island-led solutions are key to addressing pressing global challenges.

There is no one size fits all solution that a global agenda should or can propose. As they say “thinking must be global and action must be local” .

The key to turning a global agenda into action lies indeed in formulating and then implementing local sustainability frameworks built on participation and local knowledge.

We all know how very vulnerable Small Island Developing States are to the ongoing and ever accelerating impacts of climate change.

The list of what climate change means practically is long and ranges from sea-level rise, to ocean acidification, biodiversity loss and severe weather events just to name a few!

This is why it is all the more remarkable how island nations, on many fronts, have lead in developing innovative solutions for the rest of the world to be inspired by and learn from.

So, I seize this opportunity to thank all who are submitting ambitious NDCs, in particular those recognizing the critical 1.5 degree Celsius limit and the urgency of mitigating the dire projections in the IPCC Special Report on 1.5 degrees.

2020, I have no doubt, will impact all of us for times to come.

COVID-19, the global shutdowns, multiple and accelerating climate change related disasters have deepened the complexity and difficulty to manage existing challenges.

An already unsustainable debt crisis is worsening, incomes decline as key sectors such as tourism have come to an almost standstill, remittances have dropped perilously, fiscal space for medium- to long term investments in climate action and inclusive sustainability rapidly shrinks.

Human security truly is at stake.

More than ever, partnerships are needed to avoid further descent into a dangerous downward spiral wiping out years of hard won gains.

This is also the moment where we must share lessons learned and best practices.

You have shown the way in how to build a bridge between global aims and essential local action through initiatives such as the Micronesian Challenge, Caribbean Challenge, and the Aloha+ Challenge.

Your work is inspirational .

It personally reminds me how long ago, in my country, we saw how what we then call a bottom- up approach to planning and doing makes the difference.

It was all about listening to local concerns, working with communities, bringing communities together with partners through what we called integrated local development programmes.

Participation, genuine participation with actions is what brings tangible and sustainable change to communities. It is change communities own.

Islands nations indeed show us many scalable models that can be key to sustainable development.

There is much we can learn from each other. There is much that can even be an example for larger economies to follow.

So, today I wholeheartedly join in the UN support by partnering through the Local2030 Initiative.

This is an innovative network bringing together the UN system, local actors, and national governments to collaboratively develop locally sensitive solutions to global challenges.

As I said before, participation at all levels is key.

More than ever it is critically important to bring the diverse voices of Mayors, Governors and municipal leaders, the private sector and civil society into the work of the United Nations.

There is great hope that the Local2030 Initiative and Local2030 Hubs will make a difference for climate action, inclusion and local economic development and equity.

Your work is key to ensuring that we leave no one behind.

I am confident that the Local2030 Islands Network, an initiative facilitated by the Hawai’i Green Growth Local2030 Hub and Global Island Partnership, will continue to help bring the critical and diverse voices of local island civil society, and public and private sector partners into the work of the United Nations.

The United Nations supports the four principles of the Local2030 Islands Network:

To identify local goals to advance the SDGs and strengthen long-term political leadership on sustainability and resilience.
To strengthen public-private partnerships that support diverse stakeholders in integrating sustainability priorities into policy and planning.
To measure progress through tracking and reporting on locally and community driven metrics.
And to implement concrete initiatives that build island resilience and circular economy, particularly at the water energy-food nexus.

In closing, I wish you a productive event to formally launch the Local2030 Islands Network.

We look forward to continuing to work with all of you.

OHRLLS is ready to cooperate on bringing local island voices to global fora.

We are ready to help foster global and regional partnerships for effective climate action and this includes work through the SIDS Partnership Framework and the SIDS Global Business Network.

The time for action grounded in participation by all is now.

I thank you.

Front Page Article:

Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States - COVID-19

Facing Multiple Crises, Africa’s Most Vulnerable Nations Call on International Community for Greater Support

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Statement on Asia-Pacific LDCs' Graduation, Trade and Pandemic

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

27 January 2021 New York, USA

Statement on the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries

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

21 December 2020 New York, USA

Climate Change and Security - The Challenge of Internal Displacement in Small Island Developing States

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Leaving no one behind and building back better from COVID-19: The Future of Work in LDCs

REGISTER

SPEAKERS

KEY QUESTIONS

OBJECTIVE

DOCUMENTS

Tackling Vulnerability on the Road to LDC5

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Small Island Developing States Call for Enhanced Support for a Resilient Post COVID-19 Recovery

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Statement at the Towards UN LDC5 - Recovery from COVID-19 Tackling Vulnerabilities and Leveraging Scarce Resources Event

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

21 & 23 October 2020 New York, USA

Vulnerable Countries are not getting the support they need despite trillions being mobilized globally to tackle COVID-19

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Opening Remarks at the Local2030 Islands Network Virtual High-level Islands Side Event

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

29 September 2020 New York, USA

27 January 2021
New York, USA

21 December 2020
New York, USA

21 & 23 October 2020
New York, USA

29 September 2020
New York, USA