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

Statement on the Ministerial Roundtable for National Energy Planning and Implementation for Fostering Energy Transition

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 20:20:00 +0000

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

19 January 2021
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to join your important discussion.

As we all know it is the small island developing states, the least developed countries and the landlocked developing countries are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The irony is of course that they have least contributed to greenhouse gas concentrations.

And notwithstanding their many challenges, they are also at the forefront of climate action.

This was again demonstrated during the Secretary-General’s Summit on Climate Change .

The SIDS and the LDCs made commitments to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

UN-OHRLLS together with UNDP and UN Energy support the implementation of these initiatives.

Some of you have heard me say this before but I cannot stress enough how acceleration of the SDG 7 achievement in alignment with SDG 13 on climate change and the Paris Agreement is a top priority for my office.

UN-OHRLLS is committed to mobilize resources and build partnerships to give a helping hand to energy transition in the most vulnerable countries.

Allow me to share one example.

In 2019, together with the Government of Malawi and the Rocky Mountain Institute, OHRLLS launched a study which shows how through whole-system energy investment planning countries such as Malawi can achieve SDG through the use of abundant renewable resources.

The study identifies least-cost pathways for developing this infrastructure. It shows how US$3 billion of investment, from a range of sources, can make this possible.

We now work with the UN Office in Malawi to support the government to implement the recommendations of this study.

The effort was well received, and we are now looking to scale up this study to cover the LDC group as a whole.

Our aim is to develop broad policy recommendations and advocacy tools so that other countries can benefit from the experiences and approaches adopted in Malawi.

Quite importantly, all this will feed into the thematic preparations for the upcoming LDC5 Conference in Qatar, Doha in January 2022.

The Conference is a strategic opportunity to place sustainable energy as a thematic priority for a new 10-year programme for the LDCs.

I can already share with you that the private sector track of the LDC5 Conference will have dedicated sessions on Energy and Climate Change.

The goal is to generate new partnerships to support energy transition and climate action in the LDCs.

If we want to be successful, we must engage with all stakeholders in this important process.

You state that a global energy transition is underway.

Unfortunately, the most vulnerable countries to date rarely benefit from the ongoing large-scale investments. Progress remains largely concentrated in the more advanced developing and middle-income countries.

So, we really must do more because there is a tremendous growth potential in the energy sector in the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS. Their endowments with natural resources such as solar, hydro, geothermal and wind are tremendous.

What is now required is a radical change of pace, massive investments in the energy sector and capacity building over the next few years.

Let me add that in the context of COVID recovery, there is great opportunity for governments to center recovery plans on energy transition. We all know how energy transition is a conduit for poverty alleviation, increasing resilience of healthcare systems including in fighting this and future pandemics and to build back better.

It is now that countries need strong support from the international community.

We must be there to improve access to finance, build capacity and assist developers in the preparation of bankable renewable energy projects.

Urgent action is also required to strengthen or develop enabling environments and institutional frameworks.

I think these are all actions that can help to further expand and deepen initiatives such as IRENA’s SIDS Lighthouse Initiative.

IRENA is indeed a key partner in enhancing support to the most vulnerable countries.

Building on our strong collaboration, IRENA and UN-OHRLLS signed a Memorandum of Understanding on areas of cooperation focusing on energy connectivity, supporting NDCs, just transition and harnessing energy’s interlinkages with other SDGs over the next few years.

For example, IRENA and OHRLLS partner to prepare a report to be launched this year on Scaling Up Renewables in LLDCs.

As I mentioned earlier, we reach out to stakeholders from the international community and the public and private sector to contribute to the LDC5 conference in January 2022 and to make concrete announcements on energy and climate change.

UN-OHRLLS together with our partners, are committed to make the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS an integral part of the global energy transition that is underway.

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:

Enhancing the role of the private sector in implementing the Vienna Programme of Action for LLDCs

Anonymous — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 04:00:00 +0000

Thursday, 03 December 2020 - 11:00am to 12:45pm

BACKGROUND

The Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries (VPoA) highlights that renewed and strengthened partnerships with the private sector is critical to the successful implementation of the VPoA. The role of the private sector is highlighted in almost all the priority areas of the VPoA including: improving transit facilitation and establishing efficient transit transport regimes; infrastructure development and maintenance; trade facilitation reforms, structural economic transformation and in the overall implementation of the VPoA.

OBJECTIVES

The event will highlight how the ICC and the Alliance are working with the private sector to promote the implementation of the VPoA and the 2030 Agenda and in addressing the impact of COVID-19. Particular focus will be on mobilization of private sector support in trade facilitation and interventions to strengthen private sector implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action through supply chain resilience and capacity building for Small and Medium Enterprises. Specific case examples of effective practices will be shared and possible areas of partnerships will be identified.

PARTICIPATION

The briefing will be attended by ambassadors and experts from LLDCs.

FORMAT

The meeting will be virtual and will be held for one and half hours back to back with the LLDC Ambassadorial meeting. The event will feature presentations by the ICC and the Alliance and will be followed by an interactive dialogue with members of the LLDC Group.

ORGANISERS

The briefing is organized by Chair of LLDCs, Kazakhstan and UN-OHRLLS in close in collaboration with International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

POSSIBLE OUTCOMES

The briefing is intended to strengthen the relationship between LLDC member states and the International Chamber of Commerce and its subsidiary and affiliate entities, including the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation. Following the briefing, member-states are invited to undertake bilateral discussions with ICC and the Alliance to identify concrete interventions and advocacy activities which enhance private sector implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action.

DOCUMENTS

Background Materials

Statements

tags:

Landlocked Developing Countries

Vienna Programme of Action

Private Sector

Categories:

Events

LLDCs

Statement at the Disaster Risk-Informed and Resilient COVID-19 Recovery Side Event

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 19:25:00 +0000

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

15 October 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to join you at this Second Committee side event.

I thank Special Representative Mami Mizutori and team for her leadership on this event, as well as the ILO and UN Women for their close partnership.

A critical topic brings us together.

As their United Nations High Representative, I once again must stress how the Least Developed countries, Landlocked developing countries and Small Island developing countries are among them most vulnerable nations of our shared planet.

Their peoples are disproportionately affected by climate change induced risks, by health risks and by the vagaries of the global economic and financial systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic shows all too vividly the manifold inequalities, the too many exclusions we must overcome if indeed we do not want to leave anyone behind and stay true to what we promise in Agenda 2030 and the Paris Climate Agreement.

What is the situation for the peoples of the countries OHRLLS advocates for?

Like everywhere else, we see the immediate physical health impacts.

That is the tip of the iceberg and it is of great concern that by now tourism, trade, remittances, all vital livelihood ingredients, have plummeted if not come to a standstill.

What does this mean? It means job losses, it means severe decline in government revenues, it means severe worsening of debt spirals that were already barely sustainable prior to the pandemic.

In short, lives AND livelihoods are threatened.

Just like elsewhere, lockdowns and closures have major negative psychological and social impacts.

Women, disabled people, poor people are disproportionately impacted.

Food insecurity is setting in, access to education given the poor connectivities is threatened and finding work hardly possible. Take this against a backdrop where there are hardly any social protection systems!

To add to this already vicious cycle, ever more frequent extreme weather events have brought further life threatening disruption – from Category-5 Tropical Cyclone Harold in the Pacific to the devastating floods in Bangladesh and Sudan.

This brings me to the Sendai Framework.

The framework gives us both, an approach and tools to safeguard against multiple catastrophes and building resilience at all levels.

Now is the time for renewed efforts and commitment to ensure that as many countries as possible can achieve Target E of the Sendai Framework to have national and local disaster risk reduction strategies in place.

Too much time has already elapsed and we must accelerate progress. To do so, capacity building and financial assistance are critical to support the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS in this important endeavour.

The LLDCs and SIDS concluded their mid-term reviews of their Programmes of Action respectively in September and December 2019. As I stated on other occasions, prior to the pandemic we could talk of a glass half full. By now, and in the immediate, we must ensure that the glass does stay half full and then we must together build!

An important opportunity is before us to just do that.

This is the Fifth UN Conference on LDCs, to be held in Qatar in 2022.

The Conference itself, its preparatory process, offer enormous opportunities to craft a risk-informed development agenda and plan for the next 10-year Programme of Action for the LDCs.

I have every hope that today’s meeting will explore the immediate and medium-term measures that Governments can take to address the underlying social and economic drivers at the core of disaster risk.

We have the chance to hear from an array of academics and practitioners from diverse backgrounds and countries.

Standing still is not an option. We must find solutions to ensure we leave no one behind.

I look forward to the discussions and am confident that we will make progress in advancing the debate.

Thank you.

Front Page Article:

Disaster Risk-Informed and Resilient COVID-19 Recovery

Anonymous — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 19:00:00 +0000

Thursday, 15 October 2020 - 3:00pm to 5:00pm

At this year's General Assembly Second Committee side event, leading scientists and academics, policymakers, and disaster risk reduction practitioners will discuss how the application of the Sendai Framework in COVID-19 recovery and rehabilitation measures can change the trajectory of development from one that unintentionally creates risk to one that purposefully reduces risk and builds resilience for current and future generations.

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is organizing a Virtual Side Event at the 75th Session of the General Assembly, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Office of the High Representative for the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS (OHRLLS), and UN Women. This side event will support countries in taking forward recent Second Committee decisions on a disaster risk-informed approach to sustainable development and the achievement of the SDGs. As the end of 2020 is the deadline for Target E of the Sendai Framework, for countries to have national and local disaster risk reduction strategies in place, the event will be an opportunity to take stock of progress and encourage countries to use the development of national disaster risk reduction strategies to guide a resilient, risk-informed, and inclusive COVID-19 socio-economic recovery

The Fifth United Nations Conference on LDCs (LDC5), to be held in Qatar in 2022, and its preparatory process also provides an opportunity to address risk in a systemic manner over the next decade and beyond.

BACKGROUND

Today’s risk landscape is rapidly changing, and risk has become progressively more systemic. New interactions between environmental, economic, technological and biological risks are emerging in ways that were not anticipated. One hazard can trigger another with cascading impacts across systems and borders and devastating impacts on progress across the SDGs. However, policies, institutions and financing remain focused on preparing for and responding to disasters, rather than preventing the creation of risk and subsequent losses. To achieve the SDGs, current, emerging and future risks need to be considered in policy and investment decisions in all sectors.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis exemplify the systemic nature of risk and the potential for cascading impacts. COVID-19 has triggered an unprecedented social and economic catastrophe on a global scale. Decades of development progress have unraveled, and poverty and inequality, particularly gender inequality, have deepened. As a consequence, vulnerability and exposure to other hazards, including the intensifying climate crisis, have greatly increased with impacts foreseen long into the future.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the side event are to:

raise awareness that limited attention to risk reduction in sustainable development policy, including economic policy, and public and private investments is compromising the achievement of the SDGs;
encourage Member States and stakeholders to apply the Sendai Framework in COVID-19 response and socio-economic recovery and rehabilitation policies and strategies in order to embark on a risk-informed and sustainable trajectory moving forward; and
to share promising national experience in implementing the Sendai Framework and reducing disaster risk.

GUIDING QUESTIONS

What immediate and medium-term measures can Governments take to embark on a development trajectory that reduces rather than creates risk?
What are the challenges and obstacles to applying systemic understanding of risk in development policy and investments and what measures are needed to support the public and private sectors to overcome them?
What actions can Governments take to ensure that COVID-19 recovery and rehabilitation is disaster risk-informed, inclusive, gender responsive, and addresses the underlying social and economic drivers of disaster risk?
What type of regulations standards and legislation are need, including in the workplace, to reduce disaster risk?
How can Governments and the private sector better access existing financing and disaster risk information to ensure policies and investments are risk-informed?

DOCUMENTS

Background Materials

WATCH LIVE ON UN WEB TV:

http://webtv.un.org/

More info: https://www.undrr.org/event/disaster-risk-informed-and-resilient-covid-19-recovery

tags:

Least Developed Countries

Landlocked Developing Countries

Small Island Developing States

SDGs

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Disaster Risk Reduction

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.

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

covid-91_c_no-logos.png

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:

Human Rights Council 2020 Social Forum: "Climate Change, Poverty and Inequality Among Countries"

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 17:21:00 +0000

Thursday, 08 October 2020 - 4:00am to Friday, 09 October 2020 - 12:00pm

Good Practices, Success Stories, Lessons Learned and Current Challenges in Combating Poverty and Inequalities

The Social Forum is an annual meeting convened by the Human Rights Council. It is defined as a unique space for open and interactive dialogue between civil society actors, representatives of Member States, and intergovernmental organizations, on a theme chosen by the Council each year.

In setting the theme and focus of discussion for each Forum, the Human Rights Council underlines the importance of coordinated efforts at national, regional and international levels for the promotion of social cohesion based on the principles of social justice, equity and solidarity as well as of addressing the social dimension and challenges of the on-going globalization process.

Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa 'Utoikamanu delivered an address at the keynote Panel during the opening of the Human Rights Council 2020 Social Forum, on the topic “Climate Change, Poverty and Inequality Among Countries,” on 8 October 2020.

PARTICIPATION:

The Social Forum is open to representatives of United Nations Member States and all other interested stakeholders including intergovernmental organizations, different components of the United Nations system, representatives of the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, and representatives of other non-governmental organizations

REGISTER:

The 2020 Social Forum will take place from 8-9 October 2020, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and also online.

https://indico.un.org/event/20111/

DOCUMENTS

Background Materials

Programme

Photo: Communities in São Tomé and Príncipe work together to improve the management of the Provaz River catchment and to secure the water supply in the future. IWRM AIO SIDS

tags:

Least Developed Countries

Small Island Developing States

Landlocked Developing Countries

Categories:

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

Categories:

Statement at the Regional Dialogue on Strengthening Transport Connectivity in the SPECA Region and Beyond in the Era of COVID-19

Anonymous — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 14:14:00 +0000

Statement 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 warmly welcome you all to our regional dialogue on Strengthening transport connectivity in the SPECA region and beyond in the era of COVID-19.

The aim of our meeting is very important.

It is to facilitate a discussion on this topic amongst the countries of this region that includes seven Landlocked Developing Countries.

We are still in the midst of a pandemic teaching us over and over that it knows no borders. We barely begin to get a grasp on its far-reaching and complex social, economic institutional and political impacts.

We already know how hard the transport sector has been hit.

Passenger and freight transport have slumped and so have the millions and millions of jobs associated with the sector.

Tourism has all but come to a halt and revenue is a fraction of what it used to be.

Supply chains have been disrupted including those of the critical supply in medicines.

Merchandise trade has plummeted.

The LLDCs rely heavily on being able to transit goods through neighboring countries.

For LLDCs, transport connectivity is key in building inclusive and sustainable development and , thus, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The current situation is not just a major setback, it is a threat.

Prior to COVID- 19, we already knew that LLDCs face high transport costs, cumbersome border procedures and challenges in advancing sustainable transport solutions and closing missing transport links.

Back in 2014, the international community responded to the needs of LLDCs through the Vienna Programme of Action for LLDCs for the decade 2014 -2024.

The goals for transport are straightforward:

promotion of efficient and cost-effective access to and from the sea for LLDCs by all means of transport, on the basis of the freedom of transit.

development of enhanced transport infrastructure and increased trade facilitation.

In December 2019 , the High level Midterm Review of the Vienna Programme of Action took place.

A strong call for action on targeted and accelerated measures by LLDCs, transit countries and development partners was issued so that in the remaining five action years the Vienna Programme goals could be reached.

The Political Declaration calls for greater efforts, and I add faster efforts to meet the goals of the Vienna Programme.

Even before COVID-19, the goals were at risk of not being met!

What is called for concerns first and foremost the effective implementation of all relevant agreements to improve transit;

Calls for the promotion of corridor development;

Calls for the development of regionally integrated, sustainable and climate resilient transport infrastructure;

Calls for enhanced trade facilitation; and

Calls for deepening regional integration.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis at the start of this year, the United Nations system has called for supply chains and transport networks for LLDCs to remain open and functional while ensuring their public health safety.

Transport and value chains are globally interconnected. So, an effective response requires coordination.

Regional connectivity of the LLDCs hinges on effective and efficient transit transport systems.

We must place at the core of efforts the enhancement of regional connectivity of LLDCs.

The overarching goal is to have sustainable, affordable and resilient transport systems capable of fostering health and safety of all.

We also ought to leverage the COVID-19 crisis to now leverage new technologies.

LLDCs and their neighbours stand to greatly gain from the enhanced use of digital tools and technologies that lower transport costs and border crossing times, but also address COVID-19-related border disruptions.

Think of electronic cargo tracking systems, electronic exchange of information, paperless solutions, use of mobile banking and payment systems and digital solutions for cross-border facilitation such as the e-TIR and e-CMR.

A further critical action pertains to harmonizing border procedures and interventions at the regional level in light of COVID-19. This would ensure transparency and enhanced information sharing to enable a continued smooth flow of goods and services.

We now must also look beyond immediate recovery measures and leverage much more systematically the transport sector as a driver of inclusive and sustainable growth in the post COVID-19 world.

Investment in resilient transport infrastructure should be a priority, as it has the potential to alleviate the impacts of COVID-19 and help LLDCs recover better.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Any crisis bears opportunity.

It is up to us to now seize the opportunity to scale up our actions and invest in innovative transport solutions.

Our response to the pandemic, our support to helping LLDCs recover ought to be focused on what is needed to lay the ground for a sustainable path for future progress.

Just last week the Annual Meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers of Landlocked Developing Countries adopted a Ministerial Declaration that underscores enhanced coordination and solutions to the impacts of COVID-19 on transport connectivity and other sectors.

In turn, the General Assembly recently adopted an Omnibus Resolution on Comprehensive and Coordinated Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

It stresses the importance of facilitating transportation and logistical supply lines, as well as enhancing the effective implementation of relevant international conventions and multilateral instruments on transport and transit.

UN-OHRLLS will continue to advocate for enhanced transport connectivity of the LLDCs.

Over the past few months, we have coordinated the development of a Roadmap for Accelerated Implementation of the Vienna Programme that was adopted by the LLDC Ministers last week.

This Roadmap is a plan of action, it includes tangible activities and deliverables by the UN system and other international and regional organizations to accelerate the implementation of the Vienna Programme.

Development of transport infrastructure and transit and trade facilitation are amongst the key action areas, with concrete projects in the region.

Let me give you an example.

In collaboration with the Economic Commissions for Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and the other UN Regional Commissions, we are implementing a project that is supported by the United Nations �ٱ��Ƶapp and Development Trust Fund.

The focus of the project is “Strengthening the capacity of LLDCs under the Belt and Road Initiative” to design and implement policies that promote inclusive, affordable and sustainable transport connectivity for the achievement of the SDGs. This will include regional training workshops for LLDC policy makers.

I hope the discussions today will be a useful input to the preparations of the LLDC ministerial conference on transport connectivity organized together with the Government of Turkmenistan as well as the 2nd Global Conference on Sustainable Transport.

Being a landlocked country as the word says means you are locked and you are reliant on global and regional collaboration. Countries cannot simply “go it alone”.

The pandemic impact has shown us over and over the critical importance of connectivity of all kinds.

Our concerted transport connectivity efforts must not just continue. They must be strengthened so that we do not further exclude the LLDCs from international trade at a critical time.

In closing, may I wish you productive deliberations on this vital issue.

Thank you.

Front Page Article:

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

Statement on the Ministerial Roundtable for National Energy Planning and Implementation for Fostering Energy Transition

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

19 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

Enhancing the role of the private sector in implementing the Vienna Programme of Action for LLDCs

BACKGROUND

OBJECTIVES

PARTICIPATION

FORMAT

ORGANISERS

POSSIBLE OUTCOMES

DOCUMENTS

Statement at the Disaster Risk-Informed and Resilient COVID-19 Recovery Side Event

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

15 October 2020 New York, USA

Disaster Risk-Informed and Resilient COVID-19 Recovery

BACKGROUND

OBJECTIVES

GUIDING QUESTIONS

DOCUMENTS

WATCH LIVE ON UN WEB TV:

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

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

covid-91_c_no-logos.png

Human Rights Council 2020 Social Forum: "Climate Change, Poverty and Inequality Among Countries"

PARTICIPATION:

REGISTER:

DOCUMENTS

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

Istanbul Programme of Action

Vienna Programme of Action

Statement at the Regional Dialogue on Strengthening Transport Connectivity in the SPECA Region and Beyond in the Era of COVID-19

Statement 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

19 January 2021
New York, USA

21 December 2020
New York, USA

15 October 2020
New York, USA

8 October 2020
New York, USA

29 September 2020
New York, USA