Specific Programmes for LDCs

Trade-Related Technical Assistance

Integrated Framework (IF) for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries was approved at the WTO conference in 1996. The objectives of the approach are to enhance trade opportunities for LDCs, to expand its capacities to respond to market demands and to integrate them into the global trading system. This is supported by the International Monetary Fund(IMF), the International Trade Centre (ITC), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development(UNCTAD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank and the World Trade Organization(WTO). See for further information, http://if.wto.org

Global Environment Facility LDC Fund

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) helps developing countries fund projects and programs that protect the global environment. Established in 1991, GEF forges international cooperation and finances actions to address six critical threats to the global environment: biodiversity loss, climate change, degradation of international waters, ozone depletion, land degradation, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

The GEF has allocated $4 billion in grants and leveraged an additional $12 billion in co-financing from other sources to support more than 1,000 projects in over 140 developing countries and countries with economies in transition. In August 2002, 32 donor nations pledged nearly $3 billion to fund the work of the GEF for the next four years.
GEF brings together 173 member governments, working in partnership with the private sector, NGOs, and international institutions to address complex environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives.

Assistance to LDCs

In November 2001, the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), at its seventh session (COP 7 of the UNFCCC) decided that the least developed countries (LDCs) should be assisted in preparing national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs) to address urgent and immediate needs and concerns related to adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change. It also requested the Global Environment Facility (GEF as the entity operating the financial mechanism of the UNFCCC) to provide funding for preparing NAPAs, as the first activity under the LDC fund (Established by decision 7/ CP.7 of the COP of the UNFCCC).

In December 2001, the GEF Council responded to these COP decisions by authorizing GEF support to LDCs for the preparation of NAPAs with anticipated funds from contributions towards the LDC fund (Paragraph 1 S (c) of the Joint summary of the chairs of the GEF Council meeting of December, 2001). These operational guidelines for the funding of NAPAs are intended to assist LDCs to prepare proposals for obtaining GEF funds through an expedited process.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) organized a consultation with select LDCs and members of the LDC Expert Group in Arusha and Tanzania on February 28th and March 1st; 2002, to discuss guidelines for the preparation of NAPAs. During this Consultation the three Implementing Agencies and UNITAR presented their experiences in planning for Adaptation in developing countries.

GEF Grants

Four main categories of GEF grant co-financing are available through the World Bank Group:
1. Full-Sized Project funding (GEF grants over US $1 mil);
2. Medium-Sized Project funding (GEF grants up to US $1 mil);
3. Expedited Enabling Activity grants; and
4. Project Preparation Grants.

Full-Sized GEF co-financed projects generally follow the Bank's project cycle and Bank's standard project procedures. Medium-sized projects (MSPs) and Enabling Activity grants up to $450,000 for Biodiversity and Climate Change focal area and up to $500,000 for POPs, follow expedited procedures. GEF Project Preparation Grants procedures have been established for developing projects. There are three categories of project preparation grants: PDF Block A (up to $25,000); PDF Block B (up to $350,000); and Block C (up to $1 million).

Related documents:

Operational Guidelines for Expedited Funding for the Preparation of National Adaptation Programs of Action by Least Developed Countries
Summary of the Consultation of Potential Donors to the LDC Fund
Arrangements for the Establishment of the New Climate Change Funds

For further information on Least Developed Countries Fund, please contact:

Mr. Alan Miller
Team Leader, Climate Changes & Ozone Depletion
Global Environmental Facility
202-473-8324
amiller2@worldbank.org
website: www.gefweb.org

WMO Programme for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

1. The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) at its fourteenth Congress held in Geneva, Switzerland in May 2003 (Cg-XIV) decided, among others, to establish a WMO programme for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) taking into account the United Nations Programme of Action for LDCs for the decade 2001-2010 adopted at the third United Nations Conference on the LDCs (Brussels, Belgium, May 2001). The long-term objective of the WMO programme for the LDCs is to enhance the capacities and capabilities of the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) so that they can contribute efficiently and in a timely manner to the social and economic development of the respective countries. The main areas to be addressed to ensure that NMHSs contribute efficiently to the implementation of national development plans and meet their international obligations include the following:

(a) Rehabilitation and strengthening of basic infrastructure and facilities of the NMHSs;

(b) Enhancing the human resource base through capacity building and training;

(c) Availability of adequate financial resources for the operations and maintenance of infrastructure and facilities; and

(d) Establishment of appropriate institutional frameworks.

2. The WMO programme for the LDCs is based on initiatives already developed in the various WMO regions, in particular the strategy for the enhancement and improvement of the World Weather Watch (WWW) basic systems in Africa, the strategic plan for the enhancement of NMSs in Asia, and the strategic action plan for the development of meteorology in the Pacific region. Other initiatives to be taken into account include NEPAD, the GCOS Regional Action Plans as well as plans developed by several LDCs within the framework of regional economic groupings in Africa and Asia.

3. For the implementation of the programme, a special WMO Trust Fund for the LDCs has been established in line with decisions of Cg-XIV. The Trust Fund will receive voluntary cash contributions from Members, bilateral and multilateral funding agencies, and other cooperating partners.

4. In addition to the Trust Fund, several other strategies are being pursued for the successful implementation of the Programme. These include the development of specific projects for LDCs and the mobilization of resources through the establishment of strategic partnerships with regional/sub-regional organizations and economic groupings, public and private sectors, banks, UN agencies, multilateral organizations and bilateral arrangements.

5. As requested by the fourteenth WMO Congress, the WMO programme on the LDCs has been incorporated into the Technical Cooperation Programme structure within the Sixth WMO Long-Term Plan.