Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Least Developed Countries

Background 

The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) continue to confront an increasingly complex and uncertain global environment. Multiple and interconnected crises, including climate change, biodiversity loss, economic volatility, debt distress, geopolitical tensions, conflicts, food insecurity, energy market disruptions, and persistent financing gaps, have eroded development gains and constrained progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Despite being home to approximately 14 per cent of the world's population, LDCs account for less than 1.5 per cent of global trade and remain highly vulnerable to external shocks. Many LDCs continue to face mounting debt burdens, shrinking fiscal space, declining levels of official development assistance in real terms, and widening technological and digital divides. Climate-induced disasters are occurring with increasing frequency and intensity, disproportionately affecting countries that have contributed least to global greenhouse gas emissions while undermining hard-won development progress. 

• The proportion of the population living below the international poverty line stagnated at approximately 42% between 2021 and 2023. 

• Severe food insecurity among the population in the least developed countries increased to 21.9% in 2024 compared to 10.1% globally. 

• In 2025, about 33.7% of the population in LDCs use the Internet, compared with approximately 73.6% globally. 

• According to the OECD, ODA flows from official bilateral donors to LDCs fell by 25.8 percent in 2025 compared to 2024. 

Against this backdrop, the Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2022–2031 (DPoA) remains the principal global framework for addressing the structural challenges facing LDCs and advancing their sustainable development aspirations. As the international community prepares for the Midterm Review of the DPoA, to be held in Doha, Qatar, from 25–27 March 2027, a critical opportunity to take stock of implementation efforts, assess progress against commitments, identify gaps and emerging priorities, and mobilize renewed political will and international support for the remainder of the decade. 

Several preparatory processes have already taken place in the lead-up to the global Midterm Review in Doha next year. LDCs have submitted national reports outlining the status of DPoA implementation within global and regional contexts. Regional review meetings were also convened for the Asia-Pacific LDCs and Yemen from 31 March to 1 April in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and for the African LDCs and Haiti from 8 to 9 September in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Together, the synthesis report of the 27 national reports received, and the outcome documents of the two regional reviews will serve as key inputs to the Global Midterm Review process. 

The Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the LDCs will therefore provide a strategic platform for Ministers to reflect on developments affecting LDCs, review progress under the DPoA and the 2030 Agenda, and articulate common priorities and expectations for the Midterm Review. The Meeting will also contribute to broader discussions on the future of multilateralism, sustainable development, and international cooperation, including within the context of the UN80 initiative and ongoing efforts to strengthen the effectiveness and responsiveness of the United Nations system. 

The Meeting will bring together Foreign Ministers and representatives of LDCs, the Friends of LDCs, development partners, the United Nations system, and other stakeholders. Participants will exchange experiences, lessons learned, and innovative approaches to implementing the DPoA amidst a rapidly evolving global landscape. The Meeting will furthermore provide an opportunity to identify practical solutions to persistent and emerging challenges, strengthen partnerships, and advance a unified LDC perspective on priorities for sustainable development, resilience-building, and structural transformation. 

Key Objectives 

The Meeting aims to: 

• Take stock of progress and challenges in the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, drawing on the latest assessments and identifying key gaps, emerging risks, and opportunities for accelerated action. 

• Strengthen collective positioning and strategic guidance for the 2027 DPoA Midterm Review by fostering dialogue among LDCs, sharing good practices and lessons learned, and developing common priorities, recommendations, and expectations for the remainder of the decade. 

• Mobilize enhanced international support and partnerships by engaging development partners, the United Nations system, and other stakeholders to advance sustainable development, resilience-building, structural transformation, and the effective integration of LDC priorities into broader global processes, including UN80 and international development discussions. 

Expected Outcomes 

The Meeting is expected to: 

• Renewed political momentum and a strengthened common LDC position to accelerate implementation of the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the lead-up to the 2027 DPoA Midterm Review. 

• Strategic recommendations and priority actions to inform preparations for the Midterm Review, address implementation gaps, strengthen accountability, and enhance support for resilience-building, structural transformation, and sustainable development in LDCs. 

• Stronger partnerships and advocacy for LDC priorities, including greater engagement with development partners, the United Nations system, and other stakeholders, and enhanced integration of LDC perspectives into UN80 and broader global development and multilateral reform processes.