Least Developed Country

23 May 2017, UNHQ - Preparing for graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category is a daunting task for the majority of LDCs. The countries face challenges in fully understanding the benefits from LDC-specific support they receive and what implication a possible graduation will have. Demand for information and support for a smooth transition from the LDC category continues to be high.

The Committee for Development Policy (CDP) launched today the second edition of the Handbook on the Least Developed Country Category: Inclusion, Graduation and Special Support Measures at a briefing in New York. The Handbook contains a detailed description of the procedures and methodologies used by the CDP in the identification of least developed countries (LDCs), as well as an overview of the international support measures associated with the LDC category. As a supplement to the Handbook, the LDC 2015 Country Snapshots was also presented at the briefing. The Country Snapshots is a compilation of one-page profiles for each of the 48 countries classified as LDCs in 2015 and illustrates the gaps in progress towards the LDC graduation thresholds for each country.