Statement by Ms. Rabab Fatima at the LDCs Ambassadorial Meeting

Your Excellency Lok Bahadur Thapa, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, Chair of the Group of Least Developed Countries, and President of ECOSOC,
Excellencies ,
Mr. Selwin Hart, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition,
Distinguished Delegates,

Thank you, Chair, and I echo your appreciation for the valuable presence of colleagues this morning. 

Let me also commend you, Mr. Chairman, for your able stewardship and leadership of the Group.

Excellencies,
We meet at a moment when the global development landscape is marked by volatility, testing not only the resilience of the LDCs but also of multilateralism itself.

The Secretary-General’s latest report (A/80/82-E/2025/63) on the Doha Programme of Action (DPOA) provides a sobering picture: despite progress, LDCs continue to face deep structural barriers. Access to education, water, investment, trade, and technology remains far below global averages. 

With 15% of the world’s population, LDCs host more than half of the world’s internally displaced people. These figures remind us of the urgency, ambition, and renewed solidarity required to change course.

I shall provide a more detailed report at the Ministerial meeting next week.  Today, I would like to give you a brief overview of the implementation of the DPOA, as you prepare your Ministers for the meeting on the 26th.

Excellencies, 

We remain fully engaged in advancing the implementation of the DPOA and the operationalizing of its five key deliverables.  With generous support from the Government of Qatar and other development partners, we have made important progress. 

Allow me to briefly go over the different deliverables:

First, the Resilience Building Mechanism: 

Building on the Secretary-General’s analytical report on multi-hazard early warning systems, we will convene a first-of-its-kind workshop in November 2025 focused on early warning and action in fragile, conflict-affected African LDCs - a critical step to safeguarding lives and futures.   And we have secured $11 million dollars as seed money for this. We are working in close collaboration with the relevant UN entities in advancing this important deliverable. 

[Selwin is here – this is one deliverable that we will be working closely with him, as there is a synergy with the SG’s EW4A initiative; and to see how we can complement/support that process through this deliverable.] 

Second, the Food Stockholding Mechanism:  

The Secretary-General’s report (A/79/540) outlines two modalities - physical and virtual stocks for self-sufficient LDCs, and primarily virtual stocks for grain-importing, price-vulnerable LDCs. To operationalize this, OHRLLS has convened a system-wide UN Task Force, secured $10 million in seed funding, and is commissioning a comprehensive feasibility study with pilot projects and a resource mobilization strategy underway.

Third, International Investment Support Centre (IISC):   

Guided by the DPOA and Sevilla Commitments as well as General Assembly mandates, we will launch tailored country pilots this quarter on this deliverable.  Our purpose is to check out feasibility of this model/service to build national capacity to cultivate FDI aligned with the SDGs and provide a one-stop support mechanism for LDCs.  We will be working in close concert with the relevant UN and other entities.

Fourth, the Online University for LDCs:  

Following the successful high-level experts’ meeting in June, we submitted the Secretary-General’s report on the proposed online University to the General Assembly confirming that such a platform is not only viable but also urgently needed to enhance access to quality higher education opportunities for rapidly growing youth population in LDCs. 

 This platform seeks to offer innovative solutions by harnessing cost-effective digital technologies and strategic partnerships to overcome access gaps in tertiary STEM education in LDCs. [I thank you all, who actively participated and provided important guidance and feedback during the EGM in June.]

And finally, Sustainable Graduation Support Facility (iGRAD): 

With 14 countries in the graduation pipeline, tailored support is vital. The Facility is now operational, providing demand-driven assistance to ensure smooth transitions, coordinated through the UN system and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Graduation.

Excellenicies, 

The DPoA reminds us that peace, security, and sustainable development are inseparable. Nearly three-quarters of LDCs are affected by conflict or post-conflict conditions. In line with paragraph 301 of the DPOA, my Office is leading an inter-agency process to develop operational guidelines for UN support in such contexts, ensuring that peacebuilding and development efforts are better aligned.

The Doha Forum is hosting an event on the interlinkages between peace and development during the high-level week of the 80th session, which will provide an opportunity to explore this issue in greater depth.

Excellencies,

We are grateful to the Government of Qatar for its generous support, which has enabled us to mobilize substantial resources to accelerate DPOA implementation. 

The LDC Future Forum in Lusaka demonstrated the power of knowledge and partnerships, and preparations are already underway for the 2026 Forum in Finland. 

We have also secured resources from the Peace and Development Fund for projects on export diversification, resource mobilization for graduating LDCs, and STI capacity building.

Excellencies,

Looking ahead, the Comprehensive High-Level Midterm Review of the DPOA, to be held in Doha in March 2027, will be a critical milestone. 

Let me share with you some of the planned activities in preparation of the MTR.
•   My Office has developed and circulated practical guidelines for the preparation of robust LDC national reviews. These will form the basis for meaningful, action-oriented regional and global reviews.  I request you to sensitize your capitals to ensure timely, evidence-driven submission of national reports. 

•   At the regional level, arrangements are underway for two review meetings in 2026: one for Africa + Haiti, and one for Asia + Yemen. Logistical details will follow.

•   Prior to these, we will convene an Ambassadorial Retreat for the LDC Group and Friends of LDCs. This will provide an opportunity for candid strategic discussions and recommendations.

•   The UN system will be mobilized through the IACG. Agencies will conduct sectoral appraisals of the DPoA implementation. 

•   Let me also share with you that HLPF is expected to dedicate a session to issue system-wide key messages in support of the LDCs.
At the global level, the forthcoming Second Committee resolution will present the modalities for the MTR. I call on the Group for continued engagement to support the Chair in finalizing this vital step.

In this regard, I wish to acknowledge the LDC Group’s leadership in the FfD4 process. Thanks to your tireless engagement, the Sevilla Commitment contains 39 paragraphs dedicated to LDCs, reaffirming DPOA deliverables such as the IISC, the Online University, and also the Technology Bank.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates,

As we move ahead, the mandate and resources of OHRLLS must be strengthened. I urge you to continue advocating for robust support to OHRLLS in the ongoing UN80 reform process. Our ability to serve as the global hub for LDCs - convening, coordinating, and providing intergovernmental support - depends on preserving and reinforcing our institutional capacity.

The road ahead may be steep, but with collective resolve and enduring solidarity, we can deliver transformative change for the 1.2 billion people in the Least Developed Countries. 

My Office remains deeply committed to advancing LDC priorities, and I look forward to continuing our close partnership to realize the full promise of the DPOA and the 2030 Agenda.

I thank you.