On 18 July, Professor José Antonio Ocampo presented the Committee for Development Policy (CDP)’s 2024 report at the High-Level Segment (HLS) of ECOSOC. This year the Committee focused its input on the ECOSOC theme on innovation ecosystems for development, structural change and equity. Mr. Ocampo observed that, while there is a clear international consensus on the enormous potential of science, technology and innovation (STI) to contribute to sustainable development, that potential is vastly under-realized. Policy frameworks for STI need to be reassessed, he said, to address both long-standing challenges and new global trends, so as to ensure they work for and not against sustainable development and public priorities. Intellectual property rights are a key public policy tool, but are not being used effectively. Developing countries can make more effective use of existing policy space and of intellectual property rights frameworks, and more needs to be done to ensure a supportive international environment, including addressing related issues in the context of LDC graduation.
Mr. Ocampo also referred to the CDP’s triennial review of the list of least developed countries (LDCs), noting that ECOSOC has endorsed the recommendation of graduation of Cambodia and Senegal. He stressed that graduating and recently graduated countries continue to require support from the international community to secure a smooth transition from the LDC category, especially given the current global context. The Committee continues to work on several aspects of LDC graduation. Finally, Mr. Ocampo referred to the CDP’s recent communiqué on voluntary national reviews (VNRs).

Mr. Ocampo also participated in the HLS panel discussion on Current trends and their impacts: looking to the future and the realization of the SDGs.

More information:

• Statement by Professor Ocampo
• 2024 CDP Report
• Excerpt from the report: Innovation ecosystems for development, structural change and equity
• Excerpt from the report: The 2024 triennial review of the list of least developed countries
• Recording on UN WebTV

CDP participation at the HLPF and HLAB

Preceding the HLS, during the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) (July 8-17), Professor Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, CDP Chair, participated in a UNIDO side event entitled “Turning Challenges into Sustainable Solutions – The New Era of Industrial Policy” (July 15), emphasizing the central ideas on innovation ecosystems for sustainable development, structural transformation and equity. Professor Sabina Alkire participated in the session on SDG 1 and interlinkages with other SDGs – No Poverty (July 9) (statements/talking points available here) and in a side-event on Global Action for Social Development amidst Converging Crises (July 10), among other events. Arunabha Ghosh presented at the meeting of the UN High-level Advisory Board (HLAB) on Economic and Social Affairs, on the issue of "Supporting a just, fair, and equitable energy transition: policy options for responsible extraction and sustainable use of critical minerals".
The CDP’s next plenary meeting will take place in February 2025.