The upcoming Fifth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5) will take place against a bleak socio-economic backdrop – LDCs saw their economies significantly shrink in 2020, amidst a severe global recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. While advanced countries deployed massive fiscal stimulus to cushion the pandemic’s impact, and are on the verge of successful mass vaccinations, the policy response in LDCs was much more limited, due to tight fiscal constraints. Access to vaccines remains many months, if not years away.
The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to not only reverse some progress made during the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) but also exacerbate persistent challenges in LDCs. Ultimately, this compromises the ability of countries to graduate from the LDC category.
We are at an inflection point. Unless the world takes immediate action to step up support to the most vulnerable countries, there will be another great divergence, with SDG achievements out of reach for most LDCs.
Preparatory Committee (PrepCom 1) will focus on the following key themes:
- Investing in people in LDCs: Eradicating poverty and building capacity to leave no one behind
- Leveraging the power of science, technology, and innovation to fight against multidimensional vulnerabilities and to achieve the SDGs
- Structural transformation as a driver of prosperity
- Enhancing international trade of LDCs and regional integration
- Supporting our climate, recovery from COVID-19 pandemic, and building a resilient society against future shocks
- Mobilizing international solidarity, reinvigorated global partnerships and innovative tools for risk-informed sustainable development - A march towards sustainable graduation
The event will be live-streamed on the UN Web TV Website.
For more information, please visit the OHRLLS website.
Find the programme of the side-events here.