The Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) prepared this comprehensive roadmap for the accelerated implementation of the Doha Programme of Action PDF(DPoA) for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) for the decade 2022-2031. It was prepared in close consultation with the United Nations Inter-Agency Consultative Group on the LDCs.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are some of the most vulnerable economies in the world. The United Nations (UN) recognises 39 sovereign states and 18 dependent territories that are classified as SIDS. The vulnerabilities extend to external shocks, excessive dependence on international trade due to high trade openness, susceptibility to natural disasters, remoteness from major markets, and limited natural resources, among others. Climate change, and especially the associated global warming and sea level rise are major threats to the SIDS.
The SDG7 Policy Briefs are developed in support of the High-level Political Forum which this year will review progress and action needed on SDG7. UN-OHRLLS as a member of the SDG7 Technical Advisory Group (SDG7 TAG), is the lead contributor to this Policy Brief on LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS. The Policy Brief underscores urgent international attention is needed to address the inequalities in access to sustainable energy that are faced by the three groups of countries.
Small Island Developing States currently suffer the highest frequency of disasters in the world, ranging from severe flooding to violent storms, hurricanes and cyclones. Due to inherent vulnerabilities and the persistent lack of capacity to strengthen resilience, these disasters can in minutes wipe out development gains that took decades to achieve.
Video statement by Ms. Rabab Fatima, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States
Empowering women from LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS in deep-sea research Report was commissioned as part of the activities under the Women in Deep-Sea Research (WIDSR) project implemented by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in partnership with the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) and more than twenty governments, international and regional organizations, research institutions, private sector entities, and non-governmental organizations.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed how all countries are vulnerable to some degree or another. But also how the extent of that vulnerability, and the capacity of different countries to overcome it, varied drastically.
Aside from pushing vulnerability to the forefront of the global consciousness, the economic fall-out of the pandemic also reinforced the urgent need to understand and measure it – so that responses and policies could be rolled out more effectively and equitably when future shocks inevitably strike.
Financing for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) remains below the levels needed to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Concessional flows (official development assistance) directed to SIDS in 2019 was $5,742 million (mn)(OECD, 2021). SIDS receive very little Official Development Assistance (ODA) as a share of total ODA. The Pacific receives most aid, and some countries in the Caribbean, particularly Haiti, are heavily aid-dependent.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are being disproportionately and increasingly impacted by the impacts of climate change while their special circumstances make them extremely vulnerable to other external shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic. SIDS urgently need access to external financial support and capacity to aid their pandemic recovery efforts and to build resilience between the social, economic, and natural systems on which they depend.
