Africa’s Least Developed Countries Call for Accelerated Action as Ministers Conclude Regional Midterm Review of Doha Programme of Action

Ministers and senior officials from Africa’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have called for urgent, scaled-up action to accelerate implementation of the Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries 2022–2031 (DPoA), concluding a two-day regional ministerial review with a strong appeal for greater investment, climate finance, technology transfer and support for sustainable graduation from LDC status.

The Africa Regional Ministerial Mid-Term Review of the Doha Programme of Action, co-organized by UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative Rabab Fatima's Office and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Executive Secretary Claver Gatete, brought together ministers, policymakers, development partners and regional organizations to assess progress halfway through the implementation decade of the DPoA and to shape Africa's contribution to the global review scheduled for Doha in March 2027.

A Critical Moment for African LDCs

Opening the meeting, Rabab Fatima warned that African LDCs continue to face mounting challenges amid a rapidly changing global environment.

"We meet at a moment of cascading and compounding crises, that are disproportionately impacting the African LDCs," she said, noting that the Sustainable Development Goals remain off track, development assistance is declining, and climate shocks, conflicts and trade disruptions are placing additional strain on already vulnerable economies.

She underscored the importance of the review for Africa, home to 32 of the world's 44 LDCs.

"The DPOA is therefore critical for Africa's own development agenda. Its success will depend, to a very large extent, on Africa's leadership, advocacy and progress," she said.

Progress Recorded, but Major Gaps Remain

According to the regional review, African LDCs have recorded gains in several areas since the adoption of the DPoA in 2022, including improvements in education, digital connectivity, climate adaptation planning and regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Internet penetration in African LDCs has risen significantly, and more countries are investing in renewable energy and infrastructure.

However, ministers acknowledged that progress remains uneven and insufficient to place most countries on a sustainable path toward graduation from LDC status. Economic growth across African LDCs has remained below the 7 per cent target envisioned under the Sustainable Development Goals, while poverty, food insecurity, debt pressures, limited industrialization and persistent digital divides continue to undermine development gains.

A Call for a Course Correction

Reflecting on the findings of the review, Rabab Fatima stressed that incremental progress would not be enough.

"We need a decisive course correction to recover lost ground, accelerate implementation and place LDCs on a sustainable development pathway," she said. "The Mid-term Review must be more than an assessment of what has or has not been achieved. It must be a turning point."

The meeting also highlighted the importance of advancing the DPoA's key deliverables, including the Resilience Building Mechanism, the Food Stockholding Mechanism, the Online University for LDCs, the International Investment Support Centre and the Sustainable Graduation Support Facility (iGRAD). Ministers called on development partners to provide the resources needed to fully operationalize these initiatives and translate commitments into tangible improvements in people's lives.

Ministers Adopt Priority Actions

In the outcome document adopted at the close of the meeting, African LDCs committed to strengthening investments in education, health, social protection, industrialization, digital infrastructure and climate resilience. They also called on development partners to meet longstanding official development assistance commitments, increase access to concessional finance, address debt vulnerabilities, scale up climate finance and support technology transfer and capacity-building.

Closing the meeting, Claver Gatete emphasized that economic transformation must remain at the centre of efforts to support Africa's LDCs.

"Economic transformation must remain at the centre of our efforts. We need economies that produce and process more, diversify into higher-value activities and create decent jobs," he said. "But economic transformation must also improve people's lives."

He stressed the importance of investing in education, skills, social protection, science, technology and innovation, while addressing the growing impacts of climate change through adaptation, early warning systems and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Looking Ahead to Doha 2027

Looking ahead to the global mid-term review in Doha in March 2027, Gatete urged countries to bring a clear and evidence-based message on Africa's priorities.

"What we take from Addis Ababa to the global review should reflect an honest assessment of where implementation is falling short and evidence of what is working," he said. "We must also be assertive in making the case for what Africa's LDCs need to accelerate progress during the remaining years of the Doha Programme of Action."

The ministers concluded by reaffirming their commitment to the full implementation of the Doha Programme of Action and called for renewed global solidarity and bold multilateral action to ensure that African LDCs can build resilience, achieve sustainable development and graduate from LDC status with confidence. The outcome of the Addis Ababa meeting will serve as Africa's key contribution to the comprehensive global mid-term review of the DPoA in Doha in March 2027.

About UN-OHRLLS

The United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) advocates for the special needs of the most vulnerable Member States of the United Nations. Through strategic advocacy, policy coordination, and capacity-building, the Office mobilizes international support and resources to ensure these countries are not left behind in global development efforts.

KEY LINKS

• Event Website: https://www.un.org/ohrlls/events/africa-regional-mid-term-review-dpoa
• Doha Programme of Action: https://www.un.org/ldc5/sites/www.un.org.ldc5/files/doha_booklet-web.pdfPDF

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