Impact of the war in Ukraine on LDCs , Heatmap of vulnerabilities - UNDESA

The impacts of the war in Ukraine also threaten the development prospects of least developed countries (LDCs). Therefore, DESA started to monitor the vulnerability of LDCs to the impacts of the war on food, energy and finance. The monitoring is presented in form of a heatmap (the heatmap for LDCs is an extract of the heatmap showing data for all developing countries). Price indices are colored in relation to their historic peaks. For example, as food prices as measured by FAO reached their historic high, the food price index is coded in dark red. Despite recent increases the global oil prices currently remain below the peak in early March and significantly below historic high from June 2008 and are, hence, coded in medium red. Other indicators are predominantly coded based on their distribution across countries, while taking into account potential outliers. Green colors indicate that a country might see an improvement in its development progress, e.g., by benefiting as net exporter from higher global prices. The corresponding data values used for the heatmap are provided. Detailed information on the monitoring methodology and indicators used can be found in: https://www.un.org/development/desa/dpad/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/Heatmap-note.pdf The monitoring complements, and contributes to, the work undertaken by the Global Crisis Response Group of the Secretary-General of the United Nations as well as the analysis and monitoring provided by the relevant entities of the United Nations system and other international organizations. It constitutes work in progress, so indicators of the monitoring will be adapted further in the coming months based on continuous examination of the relevance and viability of relevant additional or alternative indicators.