LDC Portal - International Support Measures for Least Developed Countries - Graduation

From the CDP Secretariat: Cambodia and Senegal scheduled to graduate from the LDC category in 2029

MTAVARES1 — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0000

19 December 2024.

Graduation of Cambodia and Senegal from the LDC category | Department of Economic and Social Affairs

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From UN News: São Tomé and Príncipe takes major development step

MTAVARES1 — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 03:12:00 +0000

16 December 2025.

World News in Brief - São Tomé and Príncipe takes major development step.

News item here.

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WTO Public Forum: Unlocking Bangladesh's Textile Recycling Potential for a sustainable LDC Graduation

MTAVARES1 — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 21:00:00 +0000

Thursday, 12 September 2024 - 5:00pm

12 September 2024. "As Bangladesh approaches its graduation from LDC status in 2026, the country faces both challenges and opportunities. A critical area of focus is the Ready-Made Garment sector, which generates approximately 400,000 tonnes of textile waste annually. Efficient recycling of this waste could unlock $3-6 billion in revenue for Bangladesh and significantly contribute to a sustainable LDC graduation.
This session will bring together government and business representatives from Bangladesh and Europe to discuss strategic trade policies for enhancing textile recycling. Key topics will include necessary national policies, the role of trade partners like the EU, and contributions from business partners."

Information and audio recording here: WTO | Public Forum 2024 - "Re-globalization: Better Trade for a Better World"

tags:

Bangladesh

WTO

Graduation

RMG

Garments

From UNDESA/CDP Secretariat: Bhutan Graduates from LDC Status

MTAVARES1 — Wed, 13 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000

13 December 2023. From UNDESA/CDP Secretariat: Bhutan Graduates from LDC Status.

On 13 December, Bhutan became the seventh country to graduate from the least developed country (LDC) category. News item here: Bhutan graduates from LDC status | Department of Economic and Social Affairs (un.org)

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From the WTO: WTO members reach deal to support least-developed countries on path to graduation

MTAVARES1 — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000

23 October 2023. From the WTO: The General Council reached an important milestone on 23 October in the global efforts to assist least-developed countries (LDCs) on the path to graduation from LDC status, adopting a decision on the extension of support measures for graduating countries. The decision was taken as senior officials gather at the WTO on 23 and 24 October for a meeting aimed at making preparations for the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference, scheduled for February 2024 in Abu Dhabi. Read the news item here.

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GA resolution on postponement of Solomon Islands graduation from the LDC category

MTAVARES1 — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 21:00:00 +0000

25 August 2023. On 25 August, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to provide Solomon Islands, on an exceptional basis, with an additional preparatory period of three years before its effective date of graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category. Solomon Islands is now scheduled to graduate on 13 December 2027. More information here.

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ECOSOC has recommended deferral of Angola's graduation and extension of the preparatory period for Solomon Islands

MTAVARES1 — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 21:45:00 +0000

7 June 2023. The 51�Թ� Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has recommended that the General Assembly defer the graduation of Angola, currently scheduled for February 2023. Consultations are ongoing under the CDP's Enhanced Monitoring Mechanism. The CDP is to report back to ECOSOC on the outcome of the consultations. If the General Assembly defers Angola's graduation, the issue would be addressed by ECOSOC in 2024. Angola does not currently meet the graduation criteria.

ECOSOC also recommended, based on the CDP's monitoring outcome, that the General Assembly extend the preparatory period for Solomon Islands, which is currently scheduled to graduate in December 2024. The General Assembly is expected to address the issue during the current session.

More information in the CDP's report and ECOSOC's resolution, both available here.

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From the UN: The LDC graduation pathway must not disrupt overall sustainable development, says UN Deputy chief

MTAVARES1 — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 20:00:00 +0000

9 March 2023. News item here: The LDC graduation pathway must not disrupt overall sustainable development, says UN deputy chief | UN News

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From the WTO: Goods Council discusses high number of trade concerns, MC12 implementation, LDC graduation

MTAVARES1 — Fri, 25 Nov 2022 14:00:00 +0000

25 November 2022. At a meeting of the Council for Trade in Goods on 24-25 November, WTO members addressed trade concerns including the Least-Developed Countries (LDC) Group’s proposal concerning countries graduating from LDC status. News item here: WTO | 2022 News items - Goods Council discusses high number of trade concerns, MC12 implementation, LDC graduation

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South-South Exchange on Preparing Smooth Transition Strategies: Graduating cohort of 2021

MTAVARES1 — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000

Tuesday, 23 August 2022 - 9:00am to Thursday, 25 August 2022 - 6:00pm

South-South Exchange on Preparing Smooth Transition Strategies: Graduating cohort of 2021 | Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States

In 2021, the Committee for Development Policy for the 51�Թ� (CDP) recommended Bangladesh, Lao PDR, and Nepal for graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.

In light of the exceptional circumstances posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Bangladesh, Lao PDR and Nepal were afforded an extended 5-year preparatory period, in place of the standard 3 years. Since this recommendation, the COVID-19 crisis was compounded by the high cost of food and energy as well as financial constraints, further complicating the efforts of the world’s most vulnerable states in achieving sustainable development.

All three countries are expected to use the preparatory period to develop their Smooth Transition Strategies (STS) ensuring that their development momentum is maintained, while preventing any disruptions to their development progress and ensuring the sustainability of their graduation.

Graduating countries will face several challenges, but also opportunities. By enhancing collaboration between each other during the preparation stages, Bangladesh, Lao PDR and Nepal will be able to benefit from these opportunities while developing their strategies. In this context, the UN - through iGRAD (Sustainable Graduation Support Facility), a country-led, partnership-based global platform offered through the Inter-agency Task Force on LDC graduation (IATF) - is providing integrated capacity-building support in the form of policy and technical advisory and financial support, as recognized in the Doha Programme of Action. It will contribute to smooth transition and sustainable graduation of Bangladesh, Lao PDR and Nepal. This South-South-Exchange workshop is one of the many modalities being offered via iGRAD through the IATF. It is expected to re-energize the STS preparation process, learn from the industry/sector experts, share ideas amongst each other, and devise some common guidelines for transition.

Government officials and key stakeholders from the private sector, academia, research institutes, think tanks and civil society, at the technical level, who would directly work on formulating and drafting the STS in their respective countries are expected to attend the event alongside representatives from RCOs, DESA, ESCAP, OHRLLS, and other relevant UN agencies. The workshop is being funded by DESA as a contribution to iGRAD and through its Project “New assistance measures for graduating LDCs”, supported by the UN Peace and Development Fund.

Objectives:

Discuss common challenges of graduation and identify pathways to address them collaboratively in devising the STS.
Identify key international support for the Smooth Transition Strategies of each country and devise plans for advocacy.
Advocate jointly and separately for effective international support for the implementation of national Smooth Transition Strategies.

Key deliverables:

Working papers or presentations on key challenge areas for graduating LDCs.
Accumulation of views from policymakers, private sector, development partners, academia, and CSOs on graduation related challenges and recommendations to overcome them in their respective country context.
STS processes of the graduating cohort of 2021.
Common advocacy points for the Fifth UN Conference on LDCs (LDC5) Part Two (to be held in Doha in March 2023).