THIRD UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

STATEMENT BY Mr. ABDOULIE JANNEH, ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR AND REGIONAL DIRECTOR, UNDID AFRICA

(Statement delivered by Jean Barut, Senior Economist, UNDP Africa)

Brussels, 19 May 2001

(check against delivery)

Mr. President,
Colleagues and Friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

In his opening statement, the Secretary-General reminded us of the sad fact that since the last LDC Conference ten years ago, the list of these countries has grown longer rather than shorter. Therefore, one of the biggest development challenges for the international community is to ensure that, when we will meet again ten years from today, the number of LDCs would have effectively decreased or, in other words, many of them would have "graduated". This challenge is particularly important for me in my capacity as the Regional Director of UNDP Africa.

As you know, 34 out of the 49 LDCs are located in sub-Saharan Africa, with a total population of 400 million people. Therefore, for us in UNDP-Africa, we see our role and raison d'etre as supporting the struggle of the LDCs to pull out of the double trap of poverty and marginalization from the world economy.

The picture emerging from the LDCs in Africa continues to be mixed and patchy, contrasting a picture of hope and gloom. The region is home to a large and increasing number of poor people, living on less than $1 a day. Human development indicators are deteriorating. HIV/AIDS continues to claim lives by the dozens of thousands each year, which, together with conflicts and natural disasters, are reversing hard-earned socio-economic gains.

On the other hand, a number of LDCs in Africa are bubbling with hopes and waiting for their tremendous potential to be realized. Political pluralism and the emerging democratic culture are manifesting themselves through largely credible national elections and power alternance systems, like in Senegal, Cape Verde, Benin, Mozambique, Uganda and Botswana. Several other countries

prepare for elections this year. On the economic front, many African countries have consistently implemented far-reaching economic and structural reforms: they have privatized public enterprises, they undertook civil service reforms as well as reforms in the banking and financial system, and are creating a more pro-business environment for private sector led growth. Thanks to these reforms and other comparative advantages, the rates of return on investment are higher in Africa than in many other developing regions. A resilient civil society, and entrepreneurial youth continue to act as change agents in Africa, demanding greater accountability from their Governments, asserting their voices in national decision making processes and planting the seeds of a better future.

This is the Africa whose efforts the international community should continue to support. We, in UNDP-Africa, are determined to help African LDCs move forward in their socio-economic development. Significant proportion of all UNDP core resources are channeled towards this group of countries, a clear indication of the importance we attach to their problems. We will continue to strike a balance between policy and programme support activities on one hand, and innovative activities that impact directly and rapidly on the lives and livelihoods of the poor, on the other hand. We will support the LDCs in their efforts to eradicate poverty through appropriate pro-poor policies, capacity-building and institutional development.

In the policy support area for example, we assist African countries to prepare their Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP), major documents for policy dialogue with access to resources from development partners.

At the community level we provided last year US $12 million to help launch micro-finance services to the poor in Benin, Madagascar and Togo, aiming at increasing their access to productive and financial assets. In Mali, UNDP helped introduce the Multifunction Platform as a pilot scheme designed to enlarge income opportunities and improve the lot of women in 60 villages. This platform is versatile machinery powered by a diesel engine, which can provide electricity, pump water, grind grains and process shea nuts.

We are also very active in building capacity for good governance in Africa. This includes, but is not limited to, support to electoral processes such as in Guinea Bissau, Niger, Tanzania and many others; strengthening parliamentary and judicial systems in 13 countries as well as supporting Human Rights National Commissions in 14 countries.

In post-conflict countries we continue to play an active role in the preparation and management of Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Programmes as well as the mobilization of resources through Emergency Round Tables or Special Consultations.

On the HIV/AIDS front, we are intensifying our global advocacy role to raise awareness and resources to support long-term planning and capacity replacement in the most seriously affected countries. We are also partnering with private sector and together we are mobilizing resources for specific initiatives at the country level. Let me give an example. In Malawi, UNDP has provided strong support to the government to develop a national strategy and to y build partnerships for resource mobilization to combat HIV/AIDS. We helped organize a Roundtable which raised over 100m US dollars to support the
government develop and implement the strategy both at the policy level and in local communities utilizing the leadership of people living with Aids.
As I said in the beginning, what we see in Africa is a complex mix of problems but there are clear signs of hopes and opportunities. What the LDCs need is the right combination of human, financial, policy and institutional resources, and a strong continued commitment by the leadership. This conference has provided a golden opportunity for all of us to mobilize all the above resources, and help put the LDCs on the path of sustainable growth.

Thank you.