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

The Future of Work in Least Developed Countries

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 17:00:00 +0000

madagascar_ilo.jpg

During the COVID period, merchants use a protective mask to sell their goods in Madagascar.

E. Raboanaly/ILO

The COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging labour markets around the world. Global trends such as globalisation, demographic shifts, climate change and technology have already brought profound shifts to the world of work, and the pandemic has accelerated changes.

Some advanced economies have been able to respond rapidly to adjust, and even take advantage, of these shifts. For some, the pandemic has generated not only new challenges but new opportunities for job creation. These countries stand ready to benefit from the spread of remote working arrangements, increasing automation and changes in international manufacturing.

But, as with many issues, the Least Developed Countries have struggled most to overcome deep-rooted and pre-existing vulnerabilities, and risk being left even further behind. LDCs often have limited cash to respond to crises, less and poorer technology available to work with and degraded environments. Their growing youth populations must be also absorbed by already fragile labour markets.

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 a new Programme of Action for LDCs will be agreed, OHRLLS and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) held a global event on November 19, 2020 to reflect on the actions required at national and international levels to overcome these vulnerabilities and achieve a promising future of work in the LDCs.

The event brought together governments, policymakers, researchers and others to hear about the impact of COVID-19 on labour markets in LDCs and propose policy frameworks to foster recovery and build future resilience. The ILO presented the alarming impact of the effect of COVID-19 on the labour market in LDCs and suggested policy options to consider as the world prepares for LDC5.

Laying out the situation on the ground, H.E Perks Ligoya, Permanent Representative of Malawi to the United Nations and Chair of the LDC Group, said that, LDCs have suffered the collapse of exports and tourism resulting in “a perfect tsunami of unemployment”. To compound the problem, migrant workers from LDCs are also losing their jobs, resulting in a huge loss of remittances. The end result, he said, is an increase in debt burdens and “the greatest economic crisis in decades”.

Calling for investment in digital connectivity as a vital lifeline in connecting economies, Ambassador Ligoya also called for investment in “decent work” and for the IMF and other Multilateral Development Banks to meet historical commitments and cancel all debts.

The High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, called for the issue of employment to be reflected at the heart of the next programme of action for LDCs. “Generating decent jobs at a time where the future of work is shifting will be critical to the ability of the LDCs to achieve an inclusive and sustainable development in the decade to come,” she said.

Moussa Oumarou, Deputy Director-General for Field Operations and Partnerships at ILO, called for the international community to advance opportunities for decent work that “provides just remuneration, ensures basic rights at work, provides adequate social protection, and the capacity to negotiate and develop work-related policies through social dialogue.”

He said that the right mix of policies to create a conducive environment for people to work themselves out of poverty is the most decent and sustainable way to avoid the deep scars on jobs and incomes resulting from the pandemic.

Speaking on behalf of the Host Country of the LDC5 Conference, HE Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, said that she hoped the Conference "builds a vision to help the 880m people in LDCs on a path to sustainable development” and delivers a “promising a future of work”.

She added that Qatar looks forward to working closely with OHRLLS and the ILO to further strengthen cooperation in 2021 as the world prepares for LDC5.

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:

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

Opening Remarks at the Virtual Webinar: Breaking Geographical Barriers - Leveraging the Role of Multilateralism to Achieve VPoA and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in LLDCs

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 14:40:00 +0000

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

28 July 2020
New York, USA

Honorable Ministers,
Excellencies,
Head of Organizations,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

We enter the last decade of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. We enter the last five years of the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing countries.

Above all we find ourselves in an unprecedented situation.

The world goes through a pandemic affecting the lives and livelihoods of billions of people.

No country or individual is spared from the global impacts of COVID-19.

It is its impact which greatly differs across countries and within countries.

The LLDCs are amongst the hardest hit due to their vulnerabilities.

Honorable Ministers, Excellencies,

The UN General Assembly held the midterm review of the Vienna Programme of Action for LLDCs in December 2019.

The midterm review revealed that while LLDCs continue to make efforts to address their development challenges, they are far behind in achieving the SDGs and the objectives of the Vienna Programme of Action.

The midterm review revealed that one third of the population of LLDCs continues to live in extreme poverty. The prevalence of moderate to severe food insecurity continues to persist.

The average human development index lags behind the world average.

Economic growth has declined, inequalities have risen since the adoption of the Vienna Programme of Action.

The share of merchandise exports declined to less than 1 percent.

Still, there was dynamic and we saw the glass as half full.

Then came COVID 19 and now the risk for a glass becoming half empty.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities, deepened existing vulnerabilities. LLDCs rely on transit countries and many transit countries closed their borders in their fight to contain the spread of COVID-19.

LLDC exports are commodity based and the global demand for commodities declined drastically.

The very geography of LLDCs makes them reliant on other countries.

They require greater cooperation at sub-regional, regional and global level for their development.

International solidarity and cooperation are key for these countries’ peace and security and their inclusive and sustainable development.

An equitable multilateral trading system truly is the lifeblood for the LLDCs sustainable future through integration into the global economy.

Just as solidarity expressed through the multi- lateral system helped rebuild the world after the World War 2, the Multi- lateral system has over decades now delivered major economic and social progress including for the LLDCs.

Openness, cooperation and partnership between countries are critical to this success.

Today’s global economy is more interconnected than ever, connected at vastly greater speeds than ever and we are faced with more complex than ever multiple global challenges.

Inequality, climate change and pandemics know no borders.

A strong and well-functioning multilateral system that can deliver for people is more than ever needed.

At a time where more rather than less international cooperation is needed, multilateralism has come under great stress.

Protection is on the rise. This makes us all vulnerable and even more so those already in highly vulnerable life situations.

Of course, the whole of human history has been one of change and it is only befitting that we ask the question what kind of multi- lateralism today’s and tomorrow’s challenges need. In that it is vital that we listen to, that we hear the voices of the most vulnerable.

This webinar gives us the opportunity to exchange, to listen to each other, to hear each other.

The findings of our webinar will also feed into to the upcoming Annual Ministerial Meeting of LLDCs to be held in the margins of the High-level week of the UN General Assembly.

So, let us not just overcome geographical barriers but also all those other barriers too often preventing us from listening to each other.

I look forward to our exchanges.

Thank you.

Front Page Article:

Breaking Geographical Barriers: Leveraging the Role of Multilateralism to Achieve VPoA and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in LLDCs

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 16:43:00 +0000

Tuesday, 28 July 2020 - 8:30am to 10:00am

The webinar will provide an opportunity to contribute to the global conversation on “creating the future we want by 2045” and to leverage multilateralism in accelerating the VPoA and SDGs in LLDCs.

BACKGROUND

This year, the United Nations celebrates its 75th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced that the UN is hosting the world’s largest global conversation on creating the future we want by 2045, when the UN celebrates its centennial. The Theme for the year is “The future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism”. The UN had invited all the stakeholders to share their thoughts on the current state of the world and is asking us all how we can work together to improve our world so that everyone, everywhere, can live their best lives. The Landlocked Developing countries (LLDCs) voice in this global conversation is important to ensure that they are not left behind, including in the implementation of the Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs by 2030 and during the period beyond 2030.

Lack of territorial access to the sea, isolation and remoteness from world markets and high transport and transit costs impose constraints on the overall socio-economic development and trade competitiveness of the 32 LLDCs. The international community adopted in 2014 the Vienna Programme of Action (VPoA) for LLDCs for the Decade 2014-2024 to address these challenges. The VPoA, which is also an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Development, offers a holistic approach to improving the integration of LLDCs into the global economy through the following six priority areas: Fundamental Transit Policy Issues; Infrastructure Development and Maintenance; International Trade and Trade Facilitation; Regional Integration and Cooperation, Structural Economic Transformation, and Means of Implementation. The full and effective implementation of the VPoA is critical for LLDCs in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Whilst some progress has been made to implement the VPoA, there are challenges that need to be addressed to accelerate the implementation of the VPoA in order to meaningfully improve the welfare of the lives of over 500 million people living in the LLDCs. The COVID-19 pandemic could also reverse progress so far achieved by LLDCs in the implementation of the VPoA and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The pandemic has worsened existing vulnerabilities as LLDCs face a decline in investment, trade, remittances, growing debt burdens, and severely reduced fiscal space. Enhanced international cooperation is fundamental in dealing with the pandemic and addressing its devastating aftermath.

OBJECTIVES

To provide a platform for LLDCs and relevant stakeholders to engage and contribute to the global conversation on “creating the future we want by 2045”.
To identify megatrends and major challenges before humanity in the coming decades,
To discuss concrete and effective ways to leverage multilateralism to accelerating the achievement of the VPoA goals and the SDGs in LLDCs.
To highlight how multilateralism can be re-invigorated to better address global, regional and national challenges faced by the most vulnerable and amplify their voices and underline the role and contribution of the United Nations in this regard.

FORMAT

The webinar will feature:

Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States;
H.E. Mr. Kairat Umarov, PR of Kazakhstan and Chair of Group of LLDCs;
Mr Fabrizio Hochschild-Drummond, Special Adviser to the Secretary General on the Commemoration of the United Nations 75th Anniversary;
Honorable Dr. Unity Dow, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Botswana (TBC);
H.E. Mr. Antonio Rivas Palacios, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paraguay (TBC);
Mr. Yonov Frederick Agah, Deputy Director-General, World Trade Organization;
Mr. Nikhil Seth, Executive Director, UNITAR and
Ms. Sanda Ojiambo, Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact(TBC)

EXPECTED OUTCOME

An official summary will be issued as an outcome of this meeting.

ORGANISERS

Co-organized by: Chair of the Group of the Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Office of the High Representative of Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Islands Developing States (OHRLLS)

TARGET AUDIENCE

Member States; relevant UN system entities, relevant international, regional and sub-regional organizations; academia, and private sector.

REGISTER

https://bit.ly/3eTa9ZG

DOCUMENTS

Upcoming

Photo: Tondikorey, a small village located directly on the shores of the river Niger, Niger. OCHA/Ivo Brandau

tags:

Landlocked Developing Countries

Vienna Programme of Action

Categories:

Opening Remarks at the Virtual Meeting: Responding to COVID-19 in the SIDS - Access to Concessional Finance

Anonymous — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 05:43:00 +0000

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

22 July 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I must thank the United Kingdom for your collaboration with OHRLLS on this very important initiative for SIDS.

I also express my gratitude to H.E. Ambassador Young, the Permanent Representative of Belize to the United Nations and the Chair of AOSIS.

I thank you for your opening remarks.

It is not just now that SIDS, that OHRLLS and many others call for international support to address the severe vulnerabilities of SIDS long recognized. In fact, calls have been made for decades.

The most comprehensive call goes as far back as the global Barbados conference in 1994!

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, I would say we were well on the way to a glass half- full. Now we run the risk of a glass half-empty.

Indeed, even prior to the advent of COVID-19, UNCTAD estimates implied that a mix of additional loans and enhanced economic growth would not suffice to ensure that developing countries could meet the financing needs for the 2030 Agenda.

And this would in particular is the case for such highly indebted countries like many SIDS.

Many, including analysts from the International Financial Institutions, have warned that a deep and prolonged global recession is inevitable. The SIDS will be among the hardest hit.

The SIDS face a near perfect storm with commodity price shocks, loss of export revenue, major loss of foreign investment and remittances, and almost collapsed tourism sector, debt servicing costs, deteriorating credit ratings and ensuing challenges in mobilizing resources in capital markets for some SIDS.

SIDS always had to manage within limited fiscal space. This time, I fear, there just is not the space to simultaneously respond to COVID-19 and to build back better.

In short, the progress so far achieved in implementing the 2030 Agenda in SIDS, as well as the SAMOA Pathway is threatened.

The UN system has prioritized the most vulnerable countries, including SIDS, in its response to COVID-19 at the national, regional and global levels.

UN-OHRLLS, even if we now have to mainly work virtually, is doing its best to accelerate our advocacy regarding the urgent need for dedicated funds for SIDS. This includes advocating with the International Financial Institutions.

We work on a number of initiatives to ensure a comprehensive and innovative action package for immediate and long-term debt sustainability.

The top priority is for actions that help creating the fiscal space needed for recovery and doing so by investing in sustainable development.

But what is the present situation ?

SIDS are forced to overcome their ever increasing challenges with decreasing access to ODA grants and concessional borrowing.

This is why the focus of this meeting and the upcoming conferences to be hosted by the United Kingdom with support from OHRLLS are so timely and critical.

Together, we must find solutions for how vulnerable SIDS can have their access expanded to much needed concessionary financing.

There is a range of possible actions to increase external financing for sustainable development in SIDS.

A key driver will be solidarity, will be sufficient political will among large economies and other developing states.

It is truly NOW that we must discuss practical and shared solutions to the challenges ahead of the SIDS.

We cannot afford to slip back. We must focus on going forward. We cannot exclude the SIDS, we must include the SIDS.

For a forward looking discussion and ensuing action grounded in fact, we need readily available and authoritative indicators from SIDS and partners.

We must ensure that partners have access to the reality of SIDS unique vulnerabilities.

In short, a key basis for all of us to move forward has to be a shared understanding of what is needed to move forward.

Excellencies,

I look forward to this meeting and the upcoming discussions.

As I said, time is NOW and it is time for ACTION.

I hope we can focus on practical and thus achievable solutions – which can focus our common efforts and engagement both with other developing countries and partners.

In closing, I again wish to express my appreciation for this timely initiative by the United Kingdom.

I thank all participants for contributing to this event.

Front Page Article:

2020 SIDS National Focal Point Meeting - Pacific Region

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 20:52:00 +0000

Tuesday, 21 July 2020 - 5:00pm to 7:00pm

INTRODUCTION

The SIDS National Focal Points Network (NFP), established and inaugurated in 2018, facilitates the strengthening of coherence and coordination at the national, regional and global levels on SIDS-related issues and fosters peer-learning and exchange of best practices on the implementation and follow up of the SAMOA Pathway, the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other global frameworks.

As the COVID-19 response will continue to constrain the fiscal space of SIDS and exacerbate their vulnerabilities to natural disasters brought about by climate change, international support is critical. This also requires a concerted effort to promote coherence and coordination at the national, regional and global levels of the COVID-19 response, in line with the objectives of the SIDS national focal point network.

OBJECTIVES

To share experiences and best practices on the response to the COVID-19 pandemic at the national, regional and global levels; and;
To continue to share experiences and best practices on mainstreaming the SAMOA Pathway and SDGs into national development processes as well their implementation and follow up, in the context of COVID-19, in line with the principle to “build back better.”

CO-ORGANISERS

The event was organized by UN-OHRLLS

DOCUMENTS

Background Materials

Presentations

Ms. Fekita ‘Utoikamanu (Opening Remarks)
Papua New Guinea
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Pacific Sustainable Development Steering Committee
Ms. Fekita ‘Utoikamanu (Closing Remarks)

Meeting Summary

Photo: Students make the most of new high-speed broadband in Tonga. Tom Perry / World Bank

tags:

Small Island Developing States

National Focal Points

Categories:

High-level Political Forum 2020 Side Event: UN Roadmap for Accelerated Implementation of the VPoA for LLDCs in the Decade for Action and COVID-19 Era

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 17:25:00 +0000

Thursday, 09 July 2020 - 12:00pm to 1:30pm

The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact spans the economic, social, environmental and political spheres, with the LLDCs likely amongst those most impacted.

It will undoubtedly pose serious constraints on the pursuit of LLDCs in achieving the goals and targets of the Vienna Programme of Action and the SDGs.

BACKGROUND

The Comprehensive High-level Mid-term Review of the Implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action (VPoA) was convened in New York on 5-6 December 2019 to review progress made, identify best practices and lessons learnt as well as remaining obstacles and the actions to accelerate the implementation of the Programme. The Midterm Review adopted a Political Declaration (A/RES/74/15) which symbolized the renewed commitment of the international community to support the aspirations of the LLDCs on their path towards sustainable development.

The Midterm Review revealed that although some progress had been achieved in implementation of the VPoA and on some SDGs by LLDCs, the progress is not sufficient and the LLDCs are lagging behind. As the international community embarks on the Decade of Action to deliver on the SDGs by 2030, greater support for LLDCs is essential. The SDGs cannot be achieved if the most vulnerable countries, such as the LLDCs, are left behind.

The High-Level Political Forum’s 2020 theme "Accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development" is particularly relevant for the 32 LLDCs, in light of the outcome of the Midterm Review of the VPoA and the COVID-19 crisis.

In light of the above, UN-OHRLLS has coordinated, in consultation with other UN system agencies and relevant international and regional organizations, the development of a UN Roadmap for Accelerated Implementation of the VPoA in the Remaining Five Years. The objective of the Roadmap is to identify key actions and concrete activities and deliverables by the UN system and other regional and international organizations towards accelerated implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action.

OBJECTIVES

This HLPF Side Event is an opportunity for LLDCs and their partners to review and discuss the UN Roadmap. It will also facilitate sharing of LLDC experiences in dealing with the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

FORMAT

The event will feature a discussion among panellists representing different stakeholders from Member States and the UN system, followed by an interactive dialogue with members of the audience. Participants will include Member States, in particular the Landlocked Developing Countries, UN system organizations, as well as representatives from academia, the private sector and civil society.

EXPECTED OUTCOME

The event will increase awareness and spur deeper discussions around the needed deliverables by the UN system and other international organizations towards achieving accelerated implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action during the Decade for Action and COVID-19 era and ultimately helping achieve sustainable development in the LLDCs.

ORGANISERS

CONTACTS

Chair of the Group of LLDCs

Mr. Nurzhan Rakhmetov

First Secretary

Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan

Email: nurzhandf@gmail.com

UN-OHRLLS

Ms. Dagmar Hertova

Programme Management Officer

Email: hertova@un.org

REGISTER

https://bit.ly/3dzSWUI

DOCUMENTS

Background Materials
Draft Programme
Summary Report of the Meeting

Photo: South Sudanese refugees practice social distancing as they wait to access a food distribution at Kakuma camp. OCHA

Statement at the 2020 HLPF Side Event: UN Roadmap for Accelerated Implementation of the VPoA for LLDCs in the Decade for Action and COVID-19 Era

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 16:42:00 +0000

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

9 July 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Ambassador Umarov, we certainly meet frequently virtually! Thank you so much for co-organizing this side event with UN-OHRLLS.

I wish to express my gratitude to our President of the General Assembly to make the time to be with us. Thank you.

My task is to give you an overview of the UN Roadmap for Accelerated Implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action.

My task is to brief you on the process of its development.

The Chair requested that a Roadmap be developed.

OHRLLS was designated to prepare the document in close consultation with other parts of the UN system and other organizations.

We worked to develop the initial framework for the document. In April, we contacted all the members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Group on the Implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action.

We sought their organizations’ inputs into the Roadmap in regard to concrete deliverables they plan to undertake to support the implementation of the VPoA in its remaining five years.

A meeting of the inter-agency consultative group was held two weeks ago with the main objective to discuss the revised consolidated Roadmap.

This has meant coordination with some 40 different organizations from the UN system, with multilateral and regional development banks, intergovernmental and other organizations.

I express my sincere appreciation to all contributing entities for their strong collaboration and partnership.

Some fine tuning of the Roadmap is still taking place.

I can report that we have gone from the initial idea to producing a solid comprehensive document in just under sixth months.

Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,

Many stakeholders, partners are involved in the implementation of the VPoA.

They include Member States, of course the LLDCs, transit countries, development partners as well as the UN system and international and regional organizations, private sector and civil society.

The Roadmap is a strategic commitment for the UN system, other international organizations and a framework for partnerships, with measurable deliverables.

An extraordinary number of entities participated in this process and contributed to the elaboration of the Roadmap.

I read this as a sign of strong support of the UN system and other international and regional organizations towards the implementation of the VPoA and helping address the challenges of LLDCs.

It is now up to the Member States, the LLDCs, the transit countries, with support of development partners, to lead the accelerated implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action.

I will now draw your attention to the key elements of the Roadmap that was already shared with you.

The Roadmap has five main parts.

Part 1 sets out the guiding principles for the UN system and other relevant international and regional organizations in their efforts to implement this Roadmap.

These include:

Enhancing coordination, building synergies across the UN system and working in the spirit of Delivering as One;
Leveraging the UN Development System Reform, including the reinvigorated UN Resident Coordinator system and the revamping of regional assets;
Integrating LLDC priorities in broad sustainable development processes;
Strengthening innovative partnerships with Governments, private sector, financial institutions, other organizations and civil society; and;
Promoting good practices and experience sharing.

Part 2 of the Roadmap focuses on key asks from policy makers in LLDCs, transit countries and development partners, the private sector, multilateral and regional development banks, and the UN system and other organizations.

These cover what we call cross-cutting areas where progress would help address the structural challenges of the LLDCs. It is about leveraging high-impact opportunities across priority areas.

The issues are cross- cutting and thus all international community stakeholders have a role to play in the accelerated implementation of the VPoA.

Part 3 of the Roadmap focuses on key and urgent actions to be supported by the UN system.

These cover the thematic areas of the VPoA, such as transit, trade and transport facilitation, energy and ICT development, structural economic transformation, cooperation between LLDCs and transit countries and means of implementation.

Additional areas include actions to enhance broadly speaking resilience of LLDCs.

This covers adverse impacts of climate change, natural disasters and environmental degradation.

It argues for the strengthening of the International Think Tank for LLDCs; helping LLDCs deal with the impacts of COVID-19; supporting LLDCs to achieve gender equality and empowerment of women and girls; and developing and coordinating various stakeholder networks towards implementation of the VPoA.

From there evolves then part 4.

Here, we present a detailed mapping of activities as submitted by and to be implemented by the UN system and other international and regional organizations.

Some of the activities have been identified as proposals. It means that these activities need to be further conceptualized, developed or funded.

The last section of the Roadmap covers implementation.

The Roadmap argues for regular reviews of its implementation. These reviews will be undertaken in the context of the inter-agency group.

The progress in implementation of the Roadmap will be reported in the annual report of the Secretary-General and shared with Member States.

In summary, this is a living document to be regularly updated. It is a living document to leverage emerging, new opportunities.

Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,

We are halfway into the implementation of the VPoA.

We now entered the Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs by 2030.

I think the Roadmap is a timely and relevant tool for all of us not just to deliver on the SDGs but also as a basis for the upcoming ten-year review of the implementation of the VPoA.

We all live in extraordinary times.

It sure has not made our task any easier! What is clear is that we must all stand together in solidarity.

OHRLLS will continue to advocate for increased support to the LLDC Group.

This advocacy now must include action to respond to the manifold impacts of COVID-19.

Rest assured, that we will do our utmost to promote accelerated and strengthened implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action in synergy with the goals of the 2030 Agenda.

I thank you.

Front Page Article:

Briefing Remarks to UN Permanent Representatives of SIDS Highlighting the World Bank Group COVID-19 Response and Recovery

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 19:42:00 +0000

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

1 July 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

First, I wish to thank Ms. Laura Jaitman for her close cooperation in convening this briefing.

Allow me to also congratulate you on your appointment as Special Representative of the World Bank Group to the UN.

I look forward to our continued strong collaboration with the World Bank in support of the most vulnerable countries.

I also thank H.E. Ambassador Young for her opening remarks.

All of us are probably beyond aware of the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Analysts, and this of course includes the World Bank, continue to warn that a deep and prolonged global recession is inevitable.

The small island developing States (SIDS) will be among the hardest hit.

For weeks now, we have noted in numerous fora the dire situation that the island nations and their peoples will be among those hardest hit.

The commodity price shocks, loss of export revenue, near to non-existing tourism, major losses of foreign investment and remittances, deteriorating credit ratings making it even more challenging to mobilize resources in capital markets in some SIDs characterize in a snapshot the situation.

The bottom line is: SIDS will have limited fiscal space to both respond to COVID-19 and to build back better.

The economic and social impacts will be long lasting.

Prior to the pandemic, the SIDS already struggled to address the often devastating impacts of climate change. They already were faced with high debt burdens.

Now, they will have to ramp up spending to mitigate against the severe shocks of the pandemic – not as a luxury but to save lives and to ensure the basic livelihoods of their peoples.

All this must be done with limited access to ODA grants and concessional and market-based borrowing.

Excellencies,

The situation was already challenging, but the challenge has beyond just doubled. Yes, there are short- term, immediate requirements but we must respond to COVID-19 without losing sight that we must also achieve the SDGs.

The pandemic threatens progress so far achieved in implementing the 2030 Agenda in SIDS, as well as the SAMOA Pathway.

The international community is urgently called upon. We must together undertake targeted and effective measures to support SIDS. We cannot leave them behind, we cannot deprive them of the most fundamental of human rights: sustainable development.

We cannot leave them behind alone to bear the brunt in responding to the crisis and bringing about recovery.

The UN system has prioritized the most vulnerable countries, including SIDS, in its response to COVID-19 at the national, regional and global levels.

We work on a number of initiatives in this regard. This includes high up on the agenda, comprehensive and innovative actions for immediate and long-term debt sustainability.

The focus is on creating fiscal space for recovery and fostering investments in sustainable development.

We also look at the special needs of SIDS in the administration of the United Nations Response and Recovery Multi-Stakeholder Trust Fund.

We continue our work to advocate for dedicated funds for SIDS, including within the context of the International Financial Institutions.

I cannot stress enough how vitally important it will be to expand access to concessional financing and existing emergency financing instruments for the SIDS.

It is all about complementing domestically financed stimulus packages. The domestic stimulus packages will not be sufficient on their own to address the considerable needs of SIDS during this crisis and beyond.

It is against this challenging and complex background, that I very much look forward to our discussions here today.

At this point, the World Bank is to be commended for their considerable response to the COVID crisis, from which some of the SIDS have benefited.

In moving forward, we must above all listen to and factor the concerns of these vulnerable countries even more into our policy instruments and initiatives.

I express my sincere gratitude to the panelists for agreeing to brief us on what the World Bank is doing in this regard.

I look forward to listening to you and to our exchanges.

Thank you.

Front Page Article:

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

The Future of Work in Least Developed Countries

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

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Disaster Risk-Informed and Resilient COVID-19 Recovery

BACKGROUND

OBJECTIVES

GUIDING QUESTIONS

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Opening Remarks at the Virtual Meeting: Responding to COVID-19 in the SIDS - Access to Concessional Finance

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INTRODUCTION

OBJECTIVES

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High-level Political Forum 2020 Side Event: UN Roadmap for Accelerated Implementation of the VPoA for LLDCs in the Decade for Action and COVID-19 Era

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OBJECTIVES

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