Statement at the Friends of LDCs Meeting

Excellencies, 
Ladies and gentlemen,

First, I want to express my warm appreciation to the Permanent Representative of Turkey for hosting this meeting and inviting me and my colleagues.

This is our first meeting in 2019, may be being already in February is a little late but I extend to you all my sincerest wishes for a happy New Year!

A thank you and congratulations also to the Government of Ireland, a key development partner of LDCs, for joining the Friends of LDCs.

Ambassador Ligoya, I am grateful for your presentation on the strategic priorities of LDCs. This will no doubt serve as an important guideline for the group and for my Office in carrying out our activities in the next three years.

OHRLLS stands ready to extend all necessary support in implementing the priorities, as requested by the Chair and the group.

Allow me to mention a few key aspects regarding the Fifth UN Conference on LDCs. The Second Committee resolution about the Fifth UN Conference on LDCs contains key features to be mindful of:

1. The Conference will be held for a duration of not more than five days in 2021
2. There will be two Preparatory Committee Meetings for a duration of no more than five days each in 2020/2021
3. Two regional review meetings will be held for a duration of no longer than 3 days each
4. There will be country level preparations and the UN System is encouraged to provide necessary support and to contribute actively to the preparatory process and the Conference itself
5. OHRLLS has been designated as the focal point for the preparations of the Conference

OHRLLS has developed a brief overview outlining the preparatory process which has already been shared with you.

The immediate task ahead of us is to organize the national level reviews of the implementation of the IPoA in each LDC.

It is vital that we get evidence-based assessments on the lessons learned, share best practices, challenges encountered in terms of the implementation of the IPoA, and come up with actionable recommendations.

These reviews are not yet another paper - they will inform and guide the inter-governmental negotiated document of the Fifth United Nations Conference on LDCs.

The way we prepare, I believe is very important! You do not hear me say this the first time, national ownership, dialogue and partnership are key ingredients, so let me turn to the practicalities of the process ahead of us.

OHRLLS will shortly prepare guidelines/template for the national reports - I have asked for concise guidelines as I am mindful of the many reporting requirements you experience!

OHRLLS will request resident coordinators and UN country teams to support LDCs in the preparation and validation of their national reviews. Based on the findings and recommendations of the national reports, OHRLLS will then prepare a synthesis report to inform the substantive preparations for the Conference.

The key preparatory activities to put on your agendas include two regional review meetings, one for Asia and the Pacific LDCs and another for Africa plus Haiti.

Based on the national and regional review outcomes, based on inputs from the UN agencies, and our own facts-based analysis, OHRLLS will then prepare a 10-year appraisal of the implementation of the IPoA focusing on the scope of the LDC5.

While we need strong national ownership we also need strong partnerships and we hope for ECOSOC, GA and other UNDS entities, World Bank Group and other relevant international and regional organizations to contribute to the LDC5 and its preparatory processes.

We also must identify two Co-Chairs to conduct the negotiations on the next programme of action for LDCs and relevant modalities of the Conference. This is a priority!

The first Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) meeting is scheduled to take place towards the end of next year. By end the preparations for the draft outcome document must commence.

We intend to convene a retreat of LDCs and the Friends of LDCs to brainstorm on the possible elements of the programme of action for LDCs in the next decade.

We have already organized an inter-agency consultative group (IACG) meeting to discuss the preparation for the LDC5. The agencies agreed to undertake coordinated preparations for successful organization of the conference, including pre-conference thematic events and substantive publications to inform the preparations of the next LDC programme. I hope our next IACG meeting can have concrete, action- oriented discussions on the preparatory process of the LDC5.

We will also invite the private sector, CSO, academia and parliamentarians, as well as young people and women to contribute to the Conference and its preparatory process.

Identifying a host country of the LDC5 is vitally important for the smooth organization of the Conference. My Office will send a letter to all member States inviting member states to express their interest in hosting LDC5. i invite you the Friends of LDCs to assist in identifying a host country. As you are aware, the Host Country will have to provide logistical support for the Conference and cover the cost of participation of the supporting staff members and some representatives from each LDC.