Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries Approved Ahead of LDC5 Conference

On 21 December 2021 the Preparatory Committee approved the draft Doha Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries and decided to recommend it to the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries for adoption.

The plan, known as the Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries (DPoA), will be formally adopted by world leaders at next month’s Fifth United Nations Conference on the LDCs (LDC5) taking place in Doha, Qatar from 23 to 27 January 2022.

Speaking in the General Assembly hall, Courtenay Rattray, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States said, “These last two years have shown us in glorious technicolour, that this is no time for solidarity to take a holiday.” He added: “And that’s why I talk about LDC5 not as a moment – but the start of a movement. A movement for genuine and lasting change.”

Through six focus areas that include: eradicating poverty, fostering science, technology and innovation as well as addressing climate change and recovering from COVID-19, the DPoA sets out ambitious commitments by the international community and LDCs to support this group of vulnerable nations to overcome their unique development challenges.

The new programme of action comes at a critical time for the LDCs. The people living in these nations are among the least vaccinated populations, most at risk from the most devastating impacts of climate change and have not been able to afford comprehensive economic recovery packages due to devastatingly high levels of debt.

LDC5 is expected to renew global solidarity with the LDCs to ensure they are not left behind. The conference coincides with the remaining ten years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and represents a once-in-a-decade opportunity to chart a new path for accelerating sustainable development in the places where international assistance is most needed.

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The inter-governmental negotiations for the DPoA were co-chaired by Bangladesh and Canada. To learn more about the LDC5 conference, visit: www.un.org/ldc5.

Click here to view the full statement by the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States visit: