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

21 December 2020. The 51�Թ� General Assembly has issued a resolution on the Graduation of Vanuatu from the LDC category (A/RES/75/128). It commends Vanuatu's commitment to graduate, welcomes the adoption of its smooth transition strategy, expresses concern over the consequences of Cyclone Harold and the closure of borders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and invites bilateral, regional and multilateral development and trading partners to provide full support to the implementation of the smooth transition strategy, "including by extending international support measures, in particular those related to trade, as appropriate, aid for trade and participation in international forums, until 4 December 2025".

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Vanuatu has graduated from the LDC category

MTAVARES1 — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 14:00:00 +0000

On 4 December, Vanuatu became the sixth country to graduate from the least developed country (LDC) category. As noted by the 51�Թ� Secretary-General, this is “testimony to years of effort resulting in hard-won sustainable development gains”. The government of Vanuatu has prepared a smooth transition strategy which will help navigate the next steps in its development path.

Vanuatu should be applauded for embracing graduation despite setbacks due to climate change and disasters and most recently, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vanuatu was recommended for graduation from the LDC category by the CDP at the 2012 triennial review, having met the graduation thresholds for the Human Assets Index (HAI) and income (GNI per capita) in 2006, 2009 and 2012. The CDP recommendation was approved by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 2012 and by the UN General Assembly in 2013. Following cyclone Pam in 2015 a three-year extension was granted by the UN General Assembly, with graduation postponed to 4 December 2020.

Information from the government of Vanuatu

UN News: Vanuatu graduates from the list of least developed countries

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