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

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 51�Թ� 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 51�Թ� 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 51�Թ�, 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:

Statement on the High-level Briefing to LDCs Group on Accelerating Sustainable Recovery with Renewable Energy

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 14:24:00 +0000

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

14 October 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Greetings to all.

We are here together united by our conviction and shared goal that we must advance the access to renewable energy in the least developed countries. We all know that access to renewable energy is crucial to advance almost all the SDGs.

In June this year, UN-OHRLLS together with IRENA, UNIDO and the Rocky Mountain Institute, released a Policy Brief on advancing SDG 7 on Energy in the least developed countries.

The findings are unequivocal. Yes, the LDCs have made significant progress to achieve SDG7 over the last decade but they cannot do this alone. The least developed countries need strong support from all their partners to scale up and speed up efforts.

The good news is, with the right policy frameworks for renewables and finance, LDCs can move rapidly towards a future of clean, affordable electricity for all.

The ongoing COVID pandemic has unmasked many inequalities. The pandemic has unmasked how we cannot separate public health from access to energy , to food, to water - in short, the energy cross-sector linkages are very apparent and energy access takes centre-stage.

As admittedly slowly countries move from crisis response to recovery, we now must integrate sustainable energy as part and parcel of recovery programmes.

We cannot miss this opportunity and this will help economies to bounce back quicker and build inclusive, sustainable and resilient futures.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Integral to this effort is that we must continue to strive for limiting the global temperatures below 1.5 degree Celsius.

Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our age. Two-thirds of greenhouse emissions can be attributed to energy-related sources. Renewable energy and energy efficiency form the cornerstone of the global climate mitigation strategy. LDCs need urgent and enhanced support of the international community on both these fronts. LDCs have contributed the least to global emissions.

We have together an opportunity to raise their climate ambition through enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and at the same time support job creation in the renewables and energy efficiency sectors in LDCs.

The deployment of modern renewables is lagging far behind its potential in the least developed countries.

Harnessing this potential is critical to leapfrog straight to renewables.

Let us be reminded of what happened in communication technologies. Many countries skipped fixed lines to go straight to mobile technology !

This leap enabled countries to skip costly infrastructure investments in land lines and move straight to digital technologies.

This triggered economic and social development benefits to millions and contributed to reducing poverty within and across countries.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Non-renewable energy capacity is growing faster than renewables in LDCs, partly due to lack of accessible finance. Thus, many LDCs have not been able to benefit from falling costs of renewables.

This does not have to be so. New technologies in off-grid and mini-grid solutions provide more cost-competitive options for improving energy access, especially in rural settings.

But it takes Innovative partnerships.

It takes investment in gathering up-to- date and reliable data on the energy needs and generation potential in LDCs.

It takes creating an enabling policy environment, legislation that are predictable and stable to attract investments.

The Malawi Energy Investment Study mentioned earlier by Ambassador Ligoya holds important lessons that other LDCs could also benefit from. The case of Malawi holds true for many LDCs. The case shows how critical capacity building and increased technical assistance are and particularly so to improve the pipeline of projects ready for investment.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The COVID pandemic is a game changer. It is up to us to now fashion recovery in ways to build inclusive and sustainable futures.

It is now that the measures to safeguard and promote renewable energy have to be put in place.

We need to create enabling environments, improve access to public finance as well as private investments.

The pandemic has grown the global momentum for a clean energy transformation.

We must capitalize on this momentum and accelerate the energy transition in LDCs.

I now look forward to the upcoming presentations and discussions on opportunities for strengthening cooperation with IRENA in harnessing the renewable energy potentials in the LDCs.

OHRLLS will continue to be by your side.

I thank you.

Front Page Article:

Statement on the Progress on Implementing the Vienna Programme of Action for LLDCs and Impact of COVID-19

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 13:51:00 +0000

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

23 September 2020
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

First, thank you Your Excellency Tleuberdi, for inviting me to this meeting.

I also wish to express appreciation for Kazakhstan’s leadership and commitment to the work of the Group of LLDCs.

The theme of

“Partnering for accelerated implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action and achieving sustainable development in LLDCs in the era of COVID-19” is timely and relevant.

Few us reckoned last year with how 2020 would unfold.

The midterm review held in December 2019 had already called for accelerated implementation of the VPoA in its remaining 5 years.

With the manifold, many not yet even known and still continuing COVID-19 pandemic impacts, we must more than ever come together to find innovative strategies to achieve this mandate and the SDGs in LLDCs.

Excellencies,

LLDCs make efforts to address their development challenges but they remain behind in achieving the SDGs and the objectives of the Vienna Programme of Action.

Progress has been realized in some SDGs and VPoA targets.

Overall, LLDCs lag behind the averages of all the developing countries and of the world on many socioeconomic development indicators.

LLDC average growth in real per capita GDP declined from 2.3% in 2018 to 1.4% in 2019.

The unemployment rate stood at an average 4.5% in 2019. Youth and women are disproportionally affected.

Food insecurity indicators continue to exhibit deteriorating trends.

Between 2015 to 2018, we saw a quite modest decline of about 3 percentage points in the population living below the international poverty line of US$1.90.

Such health-related indicators as maternal, under-five and infant mortality, to HIV incidence, and vaccinations also recorded a modest progress. Now, COVID-19 threatens to reverse this very limited progress.

We all know of the high vulnerability of LLDCs to the negative impacts of climate change, especially drought, desertification, land degradation and the melting of glaciers.

This continues to be of serious concern. Land covered by forests has declined from 17.2% in 2015 to 16.8% in 2020.

LLDCs and their transit neighbors continue to make efforts to implement the much needed regional and sub-regional initiatives to facilitate transit.

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to also reverse progress in this area.

Countries continue to impose border restrictions in their efforts to combat the spread of the virus.

LLDCs’ share of global merchandise trade remained low at about 1 percent in 2019. Their exports continue to be concentrated on very limited products with 26 of the LLDCs dependent on primary commodities for more than 60% of their exports.

The impact of COVID-19 on the commodities markets and thus the commodity dependent countries accelerates the looming LLDCs debt crisis. Thirteen LLDCs are already classified as Highly Indebted Poor Countries. In some countries, the level of external debt exceeds gross national income.

Very little progress has been achieved in the much needed structural economic transformation.

LLDC’s share of manufacturing value added in GDP stagnated at about 10 percent in 2019. The share of services value added in GDP declined from 47.3% in 2017 to 46.6% in 2019.

This limited diversification of economic activity leaves LLDCs more vulnerable than ever to new shocks and disruptions including from COVID-19.

Many times we have recalled that we must address the high trade costs faced by LLDCs.

It is indeed encouraging that all LLDCs that are WTO members have ratified the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.

Implementation, however, remains low at about 35%.

This limited and slow progress is now threatened by the introduction of measures aimed to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Enhanced support is needed to build the capacity of the LLDCs and transit developing countries to implement initiatives aimed at facilitating trade.

Achieving an enabling environment for private sector development remains a challenge in many LLDCs. Almost a third of LLDCs ranked in the bottom quarter of ease of doing business according to the 2020 edition of the World Bank’s Doing business.

On infrastructure development, LLDCs have made progress in expanding their road and rail networks. This is of course costly, it takes time and challenges include missing links, operational limitations and limited funding.

Regarding energy, in 2018, the average proportion of population with access to electricity in LLDCs increased from 56.3% in 2017 to 58.7% .

Yet, LLDCs still lag behind the world average of 89.6% and there is still a wide rural-urban gap.

On ICT, the proportion of individuals using internet was estimated to be 25.3% in 2018 which is way below the world average of 51.4%.

The high costs for broadband continue to be a challenge.

Digital connectivity has proven to be indispensable during this time of COVID-19 and therefore investments and support are urgently needed to reduce the digital divide.

To sum it up, it is NOW that the LLDCs need enhanced support to achieve the VPoA objectives and the SDGs.

It is thus of great concern that ODA to LLDCs continues to decline.

In 2018, ODA to LLDCs decreased from $29.2 billion in 2017 to $28 billion, in 2018. Also, ODA remains concentrated in a few LLDCs.

FDI flows also declined and are concentrated on few LLDCs and their extractive sectors.

Excellencies,

It is NOW that faster and enhanced multilateral effort and greater cooperation at regional and sub-regional levels are needed.

To play their part, 40 UN system agencies and relevant international and regional organizations contributed to the development of the Roadmap for Accelerated Implementation of the VPoA at the request of the Chair of LLDCs.

This is a sign of the strong and lasting commitment of the UN system and other international and regional organizations to support the implementation of the VPoA and help address the challenges of LLDCs.

OHRLLS not only facilitated the development of the Roadmap but continues to provide substantive support, including advocacy, for enhanced support to LLDCs.

We stepped up all these efforts in light of the devastating impact of COVID-19.

OHRLLS organized several events. The topics pertained to :

addressing sovereign debt distress;

Food Security;

universal Access to Resilient Connectivity.

OHRLLS in collaboration with WCO issued a joint statement calling for trade and transit facilitation to and from LLDCS during the Pandemic.

OHRLLS, UNCTAD, UNECA, UNECE, UNECLAC and UNESCAP issued a joint call for Smooth Transit and Transport Facilitation to and from LLDCs.

OHRLLS also published a report on effective Transit Transport Corridor Development and Management: Report on Best Practices.

The role of LLDCs is fundamental to achieving full implementation and the VPOA. Once more, I call on the LLDCs to redouble domestic efforts to implement the VPoA including by mainstreaming its priorities into national development strategies and sectoral plans.

The support of UN Resident Coordinators is fundamental in this regard.

Excellencies,

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the great divide of our times, inequality and so many other vulnerabilities. It has deepened existing vulnerabilities.

The LLDCs are no exception to this.

The LLDCs need faster, deeper and greater cooperation at all levels to address COVID-19 and mitigate its impact.

There is need for LLDCs and transit countries to enhance cross-border collaboration.

They must ensure coordinated interventions between national border agencies.

Facilitating the smooth movement of goods and keeping borders open for trade is fundamental.

In this regard it is important for Governments and organizations in the regions to collaborate to keep cross-border transport corridors and regional transport networks open while protecting public health.

Governments around the globe must go beyond just minimizing disruptions to international transport. We must view the crisis as an opportunity to reorient international freight transport operations towards a more sustainable path.

Strengthening regional cooperation between LLDCs and transit countries, in particular on transit and transport along important corridors and promoting public and private partnerships is now more critical than ever.

We all must come together and strengthen multilateral capacity to provide dedicated support to what is the most vulnerable group of countries and people.

Once again , I assure you that OHRLLS will continue to advocate for enhanced support to the LLDCs especially during these challenging times. We are in this together and it is indeed only together that we can lay the foundations for the future people want.

I thank you.

Front Page Article:

Foreign Ministers from Least Developed Countries Meet to Forge New Path Forward on Development Goals in Light of COVID-19

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 19:25:00 +0000

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Communities affected by heavy monsoon rains that triggered a widespread flooding in Bangladesh. COVID-19 is just the latest in a series of crises striking Least Developed Countries.

OCHA/Anthony Burke

NEW YORK 17 September 2020 – Reiterating their call for a global stimulus package for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Foreign Ministers met virtually at the General Assembly this week to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically hampered efforts for more vulnerable countries to meet their development goals.

On the sidelines of the 51�Թ� General Assembly, LDC Ministers and their development partners met to express their concern at slow, or reversing, progress towards the Istanbul Programme of Action and the Sustainable Development Goals.

In a declaration that was agreed at the meeting, Ministers expressed deepening concern about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on health and the loss of life, mental health, humanitarian needs, human rights and many spheres of society, including livelihoods, food and nutrition, education, poverty, employment, and the environment.

Hosted by the Malawi Foreign Minister, Chair of the LDC Group, the annual meeting was also attended by ministers from traditional donors and partner countries from the emerging South, known as "Friends of LDCs." The Deputy Secretary-General of the 51�Թ� also attended the meeting in a strong signal of support for the poorest and most vulnerable countries of the world.

Addressing the meeting, the newly-elected President of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir, explained how Least Developed Countries and their economies have been hit harder by the pandemic:

"The International Labor Organization estimates that the livelihoods of almost 1.6 billion informal workers are at risk. COVID-19 has, in many ways, pulled back the curtain on global inequality. It is imperative that the international community extends its full support to LDCs to tackle this pandemic – both the health impacts and the socio-economic response."

Deputy Secretary-General of the 51�Թ�, Amina Mohammed, put the pandemic in the context of a wider lack of development progress that preceded the coronavirus:

"Before COVID-19, our collective efforts towards the SDGs were already falling short. The projected global economic slowdown risks making matters worse. LDC economies will be hardest hit. In response, we must expend extra effort and garner extra support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda."

Hon. Eisenhower Nduwa Mkaka, Foreign Minister of Malawi and Chair of the Bureau of LDCs, reminded the international community that action taken on debt for vulnerable countries will not see them through this crisis:

“We would like to note and thank the World Bank, IMF and G-20 for the debt moratorium. We note however, that the moratorium only runs up to 2020 or 2021 and we further note the unpredictability of the crisis and therefore call for an extension of this moratorium and ultimate consideration of debt cancellation for LDCs.”

Vice President of Development Finance at the World Bank, Akihiko Nishio, highlighted that debt relief is a crucial part of the response to COVID-19 and reiterated the call by the Bank to extend and broaden the current debt service suspension initiative by the G20.

The meeting heard from high-ranking ministers from Least Developed Countries and development partners, so-called “Friends of LDCs”.

H.E. Dr. Francis M. Kai-Kai, Minister of Planning and Economic Development for Sierra Leone, expressed a concern held by many LDCs that the world will never return to normal after COVID-19 unless all countries, especially the most vulnerable, are assisted in gaining access to the -19 vaccine when it finally arrives:

"Critical to any return to normalcy is the availability and accessibility of vaccines to all who need it, but especially for low-income countries at the tail end of the global supply chain."

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, H.E. Gedu Andargachew, said the 2030 Development Agenda itself is at risk if the Least Developed Countries are not given the support they need:

"We continue to face multiple challenges, including poverty, unemployment, and climate change. We are, therefore, the battleground for the success of the 2030 Agenda."

The Fifth 51�Թ� Conference on Least Developed Countries, at which the next decade’s Programme of Action will be agreed, will be held in Qatar in early 2022. Speaking at the meeting, State minister for Foreign Affairs for Qatar, H.E. Soltan Bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, welcomed the opportunity to host the LDCs in Doha. In setting the scene for the LDC5 conference as an opportunity to take great strides in international collaboration with the LDCs, he looked forward to agreeing ambitious new targets for the Decade of Action there:

"The Fifth 51�Թ� Conference on Least Developed Countries, to be hosted by Qatar, will provide a unique opportunity to chart a course that responds to the needs and priorities of the Least Developed Countries."

Closing the meeting, the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, thanked the Qatari government for its generous support in hosting the LDC5 conference and for its commitment to LDC development. She also focused attention on the people of Least Developed Countries who are suffering the most through this series of crises – and the ones who stand to lose most if the International Community fails to deliver on its commitments:

"We must ensure our actions are driven by the ultimate goal: including the peoples of the world on a more sustainable path for development."

"We may be in the same storm. But we are in different boats."

We asked ambassadors from the Least Developed Countries to share their ambitions for this year's General Assembly.

Front Page Article:

Remarks at the HLPF Session: Mobilizing International Solidarity, Accelerating Action and Embarking on New Pathways to Realize the 2030 Agenda and Respond to COVID-19

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 21:09:00 +0000

Remarks 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,

We are all aware that LDCs, LLDCs and African countries are especially hard hit by COVID-19 and the world-wide recession. The poorest, women and girls and people with disabilities are among the people suffering the most.

The Groups of LDCs and LLDCs have prepared statements on COVID-19 outlining their special challenges and how to build back better. I encourage you to consider their requests for support.

The Political Declaration adopted at the Midterm Review of the Vienna Programme of Action for LLDCs last December flags the need to accelerate its implementation through improved transit, transport connectivity, trade facilitation, ICTs and digital connectivity, – to name just a few. My Office in consultation with UN system and other organizations has prepared a Roadmap in this respect.

The preparations of the Fifth 51�Թ� Conference on the LDCs, which will be held in Doha at the Heads of States and Government level, are also affected by COVID-19.

Two preparatory regional review meetings - for African LDCs in Malawi and for Asia-Pacific LDCs in Bangladesh – were scheduled for March and April of this year and had to be postponed.

Qatar, the host country, has suggested to postpone the conference to January 2022 to allow for a comprehensive preparatory process and for the Conference to provide an opportunity for in-person interaction. The intergovernmental preparatory process will have to be adjusted accordingly and a General Assembly resolution confirming the new dates is expected to be adopted soon. The new 10-year programme of action for the LDCs will coincide with the last 10 years of implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Notwithstanding the obstacles, the preparations are ongoing.

All stakeholders, including parliamentarians, civil society, youth and the private sector as well as academia and of course the entire UN System will be included in the Conference and its preparatory process.

The recent report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action for LDCs illustrates that progress has been rather modest in LDCs highlighting the need for accelerated action. It is also clear that building of resilience to withstand future crisis needs to be enhanced.

Let me close with some positive take. In our interactions with various LDCs we also learned about home-grown initiatives like the development of a $1 COVID testing kit in Senegal. We hope to also showcase such strong and compelling stories at the Fifth Conference for LDCs.

The goal is indeed to mobilize global support and action in favour of LDCs – to build back better in response to COVID-19 and to accelerate progress towards meeting the SDGs.

I thank you.

Front Page Article:

Malawi Sustainable Energy Investment Study: Validation Workshop and Launch

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Oct 2019 15:42:00 +0000

Wednesday, 09 October 2019 - 9:00am to 12:15pm

BACKGROUND

This workshop marks the finalization of the Malawi Sustainable Energy Investment Study. The project was launched in February 2019 to articulate how Malawi can attract and generate the required investment to achieve SDG7, and leapfrog to clean energy, with a view to contributing to the objectives of the Paris Agreement and holding the increase in the global average temperature to “well below 2°C”.

Over the past 9 months, Rocky Mountain Institute has supported the preparation of the Investment Study in close collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy, and Mining. The study proposes a clear roadmap for achieving Malawi’s goals: increasing supply of and access to reliable, affordable energy, as a platform for industrial and socio-economic development.

The Investment Study makes a detailed assessment of the power sector and cooking solutions, identifying and prioritizing projects to create a pathway that will achieve Malawi’s goals. A least-cost analysis of potential generation scenarios informs an optimal approach, that reaches targets at the least cost to government and consumers.

DOCUMENTS

Background Materials

Other

Malawi Sustainable Energy Investment Study Briefing Note

tags:

Sustainable Energy

Least Developed Countries

Energy Access

Renewable Energy

Energy

Sustainable Development Goals

Categories:

Events

LDCs

Statement at the High Level Side Event on Universal Health Coverage in LDCs

Anonymous — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 17:36:00 +0000

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

23 September 2019
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,

We are convening here in a crucially important meeting during a critically important week.

Enjoying a life in health is a fundamental human right. It is key to achieving sustainable development as well as mitigating the impacts of climate change.

To achieve this, there are unique structural constraints faced by the Least Developed Countries seriously limiting their ability to just do so and promote a sustainable development including all.

It is not you we must convince of the evident relationship which exists between access to health and the attainment of sustainable development.

Health is at the core of thriving communities and prosperous societies.

If we aim at leaving no one behind, facilitating access to health to the most vulnerable must be at the center of our efforts.

Health for all must be our objective and even more so given what we can expect from climate change on health outcomes.

Yet, tens of millions of people in the LDCs suffer from malnutrition or chronic undernourishment, parasitic diseases, respiratory diseases linked to pollution and all this impairs mental and physical abilities. This is particularly severe for infant and adolescent health statuses.

This severely constrains people's ability to become and be full and productive members of society. We all know what this does to school attendance and student achievement. We all are aware of the serious public health threat that the rise of non-communicable diseases, especially in urban areas, represents.

If we are to achieve a truly inclusive sustainable development we must ensure achievement of better health outcomes and this will have to include universal health coverage especially guaranteeing access to Primary Health Care.

The reality we deal with is that the LDCs fare worse than other developing countries.

Allow me to share some data.

The average infant mortality rate stands at an unacceptable high rate of 46.9 per 1000 live births. That is substantially higher than other developing countries.

A similar picture emerges for neonatal mortality rates.

Maternal mortality rates are also very high at 436 per 100,000 live births.

Data from 2014 indicate that only 57% of births were attended by skilled health personnel, compared to 80% for the world as an average. Health expenditure per capita in the LDCs remains at 43.9 USD, much below the 1026 USD of the world’s average.

The LDCs is also the group of countries most dependent on aid.

In fact, in many countries, aid does remain the most important source of external financing and the health sector is no exception. It is estimated that 17.5% of health expenditure, which as we have seen is very low in LDCs compared to other developing countries, is funded from external sources.

Now, this is not just a health issue per se or one of sub- optimal human resources capacities. The lack and also the very unequal access to universal health coverage is also a serious challenge to societies ' internal stability and cohesion given the exclusion of entire segments of society to even the most basic healthcare.

Marginalized groups have less access to health, thus perpetuating social exclusion and disparities through generations.

It is thus urgent that we develop policies and models of care building on primary health care for all, effective financing, capable of addressing the increasingly multi- sectoral nature in healthcare provision, ensuring social participation to guarantee all voices are heard for effective policy design and models of delivery.

Of course, LDCs for this will need faster and more reliable aid and capacity building support.

But there is an additional area needing work and this concerns evidence based policy making and models of delivery.

Poorly developed statistical capacities constitute a serious limitation that impairs evidencebased planning. This is an area in which progress is a necessary requirement to foster better and more inclusive access to health. Without gender-disaggregated data that cover all relevant dimensions of health outcomes, coverage and resources across the territory of a country it will be very difficult to achieve progress. Furthermore, adequate data is essential to identify the spread of epidemiological diseases and facilitate an early response. The difficulties faced by the countries affected by the Ebola outbreak shows the importance of strengthening national health systems as a matter of global concern. Just as climate knows no barriers, viruses also do not!

We need a multi- sectroal comprehensive approach.

An approach capable of managing the factors affecting human health from clean air to safe drinking water to access to sanitation to accessing supply chians of safe medicines to healthy foods.

As I already stated, the costs of not ensuring universal access are simply too high and lack of access to health costs the LDCs already countless lives.

According to the latest data available from 2015, it is estimated that only 42% of the population had universal health coverage, in contrast with 61% for developing regions as a whole.

Expanding health coverage to reach everyone in the LDCs will require an increase of investment in qualified personnel, health facilities, equipment, resources, policy formulation along with monitoring and evaluation.

The foundation to move forward is strong commitment of the Governments of the LDCs twinned with the support of bilateral donors, the multilateral system and the private sector.

Empowering LDCs to respond to these challenges is much more than just a matter of helping them becoming more resilient - this is about global public health. As I said, viruses know no borders.

Yes, a substantial amount of work is ahead of us.

If I have one certainty than it is that we must continue working together, do more, do it faster to make universal health coverage a reality for ALL in the LDCs .

Thank you.

Front Page Article:

Cabo Verde hosts UN Meeting on Localising SAMOA Pathway in Small Island Developing States

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 03:05:00 +0000

Press Release

PRAIA, 25 July 2019 – Government representatives from small islands and the 51�Թ� are meeting in Cabo Verde over the next two days to strengthen coordination of efforts to localize the SAMOA Pathway* and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in small island developing States (SIDS).

The government representatives are members of the SIDS National Focal Points network, an initiative by the 51�Թ� Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) to improve coordination between the 51�Թ� and island governments in the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway, the dedicated programme of action for SIDS as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, H.E. Paulo Veiga, State Secretary for Maritime Economy of Cabo Verde said “The Focal Points meeting has the advantage of bringing in close contact and collaboration the experts and institutions responsible for the implementation of SAMOA Pathway, enabling, on the one hand, to increase coherence in the handling of SIDS issues in 51�Թ� processes, and on the other, providing an important link between global and national levels, while facilitating coordination, information sharing, lessons learned and planning activities related to the implementation of SAMOA Pathway and the SDGs.”

“This meeting is highly significant as it helps to chart the future direction of the national focal points initiative in order to better support island governments in implementing internationally agreed goals and programmes of action,” said Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. She added, “I am certain that the outcomes will add great value to our collective efforts in supporting the sustainable development aspirations of Small Island Developing States especially as we set our sights on the upcoming high-level Midterm Review of the SAMOA Pathway in September.”

The meeting will formally adopt Terms of Reference on the functions and activities of the focal points network. Given critical statistical capacity constraints in SIDS, the meeting will also discuss the preparations of a toolkit to harmonize monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway and 2030 Agenda on the ground.

Participants are also expected to discuss achievements, challenges and gaps in the first five years of implementing the SAMOA Pathway as well as addressing linkages between the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway and the wider 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals.
“The SAMOA Pathway lacks a formal mechanism for monitoring and review, said Ms. Lois Young, Permanent Representative of Belize to the 51�Թ� and Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS). She added “this gap has contributed to the lack of data to identify progress and gaps in implementation. And during our preparations for the Mid-Term Review this emerged as a common issue across all action areas of the SAMOA Pathway. We hope to explore practical ways in which we can utilize the overlaps between the SAMOA Pathway and the 2030 Agenda to enhance and streamline monitoring across both, without creating additional reporting burdens.”

The Midterm Review of the SAMOA Pathway will take place on 27 September, 2019 to review all major commitments of the last five years through a SIDS lens – from the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Climate Change Agreement, the New Urban Agenda, and the outcomes of the 2017 Ocean Conference – and how living up to these commitments will help accelerate the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway.

Media Contact:
Damien Sass, UN-OHRLLS – sass@un.org

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Opening Remarks at the Side Event on Fostering the Participation of LLDCS in the Ocean Economy

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 20:49:00 +0000

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

17 June 2019
New York, USA

Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and gentlemen,

The Ocean is an important part of humanity and a common heritage to mankind. The ocean makes about seventy-one percent of the Earth’s surface and billions of people depend on the oceans for their livelihoods. Maritime transport remains an essential part of international trade as over 90% is carried by the seas, according to the 51�Թ� International Maritime Organization. It is estimated that the value of key ocean assets is US$24 trillion, with an annual value of goods and services at US$2.5 trillion.

Due to its significance, the ocean economy, is growing in importance and gaining momentum amongst policymakers across the world. Participation in the ocean economy and the global discussions on the ocean economy are however not fully inclusive and not fully understood. The participation of landlocked developing countries continue to be limited.

Excellencies and distinguished delegates, Ladies and gentlemen

Landlocked countries are not directly connected to the oceans due to their geographical location, but the 51�Թ� Convention on the Law of the Sea gives them rights to access and to use the ocean space including the marine resources. Some of the provisions that give the right to access and to utilize the Oceans by the landlocked countries include: article 69 on Right of land-locked States, Article 125 on Right of access to and from the sea and freedom of transit, Article 136 on Common heritage to mankind and Article 140 on Benefit of mankind. UNCLOS also states that the Area and its resources are common heritage of mankind and activities in the Area are to be carried out for the benefit of mankind as a whole irrespective of the geographical location of States. It is therefore necessary that no country, including LLDCs, should be left behind in the exploitation of the resources regarded as common heritage to mankind.

Out of the forty-four landlocked states, twenty-eight have ratified the UNCLOS and twenty of these countries are Landlocked Developing Countries. Six LLDCs have signed the Convention but have not ratified it and six have neither signed nor acceded to the Convention or the Agreement.

While twenty LLDCs are parties to the 51�Թ� Convention on the Law of the Sea their participation in the ocean economy, including in the meetings related to the implementation of UNCLOS, is however limited. The limited participation of these countries can be attributed to several reasons such as limited resources, lack of awareness and challenges of access. LLDCs are also faced with transit challenges, which include inadequate transit infrastructure and cumbersome transit procedures. Challenges in accessing the sea greatly affect the participation of the LLDCs in international trade and achieving sustainable development. It is therefore important to enhance access and freedom of transit of the LLDCs so that they can be integrated into global trade and into the blue economy. The implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action and other international and regional agreements that can facilitate transit is therefore fundamental. These include the Revised Kyoto Convention (2006), World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement, and 51�Թ� Convention on the Law of the Sea. The development of transit infrastructure is also fundamental in this regard.

OHRLLS, in collaboration with transit countries, development partners and relevant international organizations continues to make efforts to facilitate the integration of the LLDCs into the global economy. OHRLLS continues to advocate for efficient transit for LLDCs to access the sea and has previously organized events to discuss these issues and some of the recent events include a side event on importance of Efficient transit cooperation for the achievement of the SDGs by Landlocked Developing Countries held in 2017; a Side event at the Global Sustainable Transport Conference on Financing Sustainable Transport Infrastructure for enhancing Connectivity of the LLDCs; side event held during the Ocean Conference in 2017 on “Enhancing the participation of the Landlocked States in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14”, a High-Level Meeting for the Euro-Asia Region on Improving Cooperation on Transit, Trade Facilitation and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development held in 2017 and Ministerial Meeting of LLDCs on Trade and Transport held in 2018. OHRLLS also published several reports on improving transit cooperation and trade facilitation.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are integrated, indivisible, and universal. The initiatives to implement SDG 14 on conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources should therefore include landlocked countries. It is therefore fundamental to build their capacity to participate in the ocean economy and ensure that no one is left behind.

Today’s event is organized to deliberate on how access to the sea as well as the participation of the landlocked countries in the blue economy can be enhanced. Integrating these countries will ensure that they are not left behind including in taking part in the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and marine resources.

I look forward to our dialogue and recommendations on how we can foster the participation of LLDCs in the Ocean Economy.

I thank you for your kind attention.

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Urgent Action Needed to Scale-up Energy Access in World’s Poorest Countries

Anonymous — Fri, 31 May 2019 16:21:00 +0000

Press Release

BEIJING, 31 May 2019 – Without urgent and enhanced action, the world’s forty-seven least developed countries will not achieve global sustainable energy targets by 2030. This was the backdrop to discussions which took place over the last two days at a 51�Թ� conference on scaling-up energy access and finance in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Beijing.

While considerable progress has been made by this group of countries to increase the average rate of access to electricity from 33.4 per cent in 2010 to 51 per cent in 2017, this is in stark contrast to the global electrification rate of 88.8 per cent in 2017.

Furthermore, the LDCs face major disparities in energy access between urban and rural populations. In 2017, on average, 79 per cent of urban populations had electricity access, compared with only 37.8 per cent of rural populations. Regional disparities are also evident, where the Asia-Pacific LDCs are faring better with an electrification rate of 86.2 per cent compared to 33.2 per cent in African LDCs.

Alarmingly, 14 African LDCs still have electrification rates lower than 30 per cent and the 20 least-electrified countries in the world are all LDCs.

While overall assessments of progress in energy access illustrate major challenges, conference participants reflected on major progress being made. Countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Cambodia have all electrified at a rate of about 5 per cent per year since 2010. Many LDCs have already successfully tapped into using hydropower, and the use of solar and wind power is also increasing.

Speaking at the conference, the 51�Թ� High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu said “My key message is that Sustainable Development Goal 7 in the Least Developed Countries is within reach. We must step up and we need urgent action. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals is about our collective vision to leave no one behind. So, our responsibility is to work together and forge even stronger partnerships, ensuring that the global energy transition to sustainable and modern energy also reaches the poorest and most vulnerable communities in the world.”

The conference also saw substantive discussions on scaling-up investment in LDCs where current financing levels are significantly below what is required to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7). According to current estimates, in order to achieve SDG7, between 2018 and 2030, annual average investment globally will need to reach approximately $55 billion to expand energy access, about $700 billion to increase renewable energy, and $600 billion to improve energy efficiency. Currently, investments are not spread equally and many LDCs lack the capacity to access existing funding mechanisms.

A draft outcome circulated at the conference laid out concrete deliverables including the call for the launch of a large-scale initiative to bring forward the countries that are furthest behind first as well as establishing a network of energy focal points in LDCs. The draft outcome also illustrated the need for sustainable energy to be one of the central thematic topics to be featured in the new 10-year programme of action for the LDCs to be adopted at the Fifth UN Conference on the LDCs in 2021. Furthermore, the outcome of the conference is expected to feature in discussions at the Climate Action Summit in September 2019.

The Conference was jointly organised by the 51�Թ� Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) and the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO). It brought together 200 participants representing governments, 51�Թ� agencies, international and regional organizations, civil society, private sector, business community and think-tanks.

More information about the Global Conference on Scaling-Up Energy Access and Finance can be found at: http://unohrlls.org/global-conference-scaling-up-energy-access-finance-in-least-developed-countries/

Media Contact:
Damien Sass, UN-OHRLLS – sass@un.org

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

The Future of Work in Least Developed Countries

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Statement on the High-level Briefing to LDCs Group on Accelerating Sustainable Recovery with Renewable Energy

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

14 October 2020 New York, USA

Statement on the Progress on Implementing the Vienna Programme of Action for LLDCs and Impact of COVID-19

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

23 September 2020 New York, USA

Foreign Ministers from Least Developed Countries Meet to Forge New Path Forward on Development Goals in Light of COVID-19

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Remarks at the HLPF Session: Mobilizing International Solidarity, Accelerating Action and Embarking on New Pathways to Realize the 2030 Agenda and Respond to COVID-19

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9 July 2020 New York, USA

Malawi Sustainable Energy Investment Study: Validation Workshop and Launch

BACKGROUND

DOCUMENTS

Statement at the High Level Side Event on Universal Health Coverage in LDCs

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

23 September 2019 New York, USA

Cabo Verde hosts UN Meeting on Localising SAMOA Pathway in Small Island Developing States

Press Release

Opening Remarks at the Side Event on Fostering the Participation of LLDCS in the Ocean Economy

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

17 June 2019 New York, USA

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Urgent Action Needed to Scale-up Energy Access in World’s Poorest Countries

Press Release

14 October 2020
New York, USA

23 September 2020
New York, USA

9 July 2020
New York, USA

23 September 2019
New York, USA

17 June 2019
New York, USA