Grateful for the time, support and commitment of the Members of the Board of Advisors on the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS during this dynamic session.
Their contributions have been instrumental in advancing the sustainable development of the countries in special situations.
H.E. Dennis Francis
President of the General Assembly
at its 78th Session
At the outset of the Presidency of H.E. Dennis Francis, he reiterated the importance of the General Assembly prioritising the need to address the peculiar challenges faced by the countries in special situations — the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small IslandDeveloping States (SIDS) and to accelerate their progress in sustainable development.
The LDCs represent the poorest and the most vulnerable segment of the Member States; the LLDCs are vulnerable due to their remoteness and lack of access to the sea, essentially limiting access to trading ports and world markets; and the SIDS, also remote from world markets, are deeply impacted by climate change and sea-level rise.
In this regard, the Board of Advisors to the President of the General Assembly on LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS — the LLS Advisory Board. was re-constituted.
Photo Credit: OPGA78
Members
Following 18 representatives serve as members of the LLS Board, based on their current leadership roles and organisational mandates, as well as the exemplary work on advancing the interests of LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS:
- H.E. Ms. Paula Narvaez Ojeda — President of the Economic and Social Council and Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations
- H.E. Mr. Walton Alfonso Webson — Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda, Host country of the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4).
- H.E. Dr. Gladys Mokhawa — Permanent Representative of Botswana to the United Nations and Chair of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries.
- H.E. Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa — Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations and Chair of the Group of Least Developed Countries.
- H.E. Ms. Alya Ahmed Saif Al-Thani — Permanent Representative of Qatar, Host country of the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5).
- H.E. Ernest Rwamucyo — Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations, Host country of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries(LLDC3) [at the time the Board was constituted].
- H.E. Mr. Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Pa’olelei Luteru — Permanent Representative of Samoa to the United Nations and Chair of Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
- Mr. Li Junhua — Under-Secretary-General for UN Department of Social and Economic Affairs (DESA).
- Ms. Rabab Fatima —Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS (OHRLLS).
- Mr. Guangzhuo Qu — Director, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Liaison Office with the United Nations.
- Mr. Par Henrik Liljert — Director, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) Office to the United Nations.
- Ms. Ursula Wynhoven — Representative and Head of the Liaison Office, International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
- Mr. Juan Jose Martinez Badillo — Chief of New York Office, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
- Mr. Achim Steiner — Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
- Ms. Toni-Shae Freckleton — Chief, New York Liaison Office, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UN DRR).
- Ms. Catherine Russel — Executive Director, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
- Mr. Ralf Bredel — Director and Representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to the United Nations, New York. [joined on 18 March 2024]
- Ms. Sima Bahous — Executive Director, UN Women.
Key documents
Summary-LLS-Advisory-Board-First-Meeting
LLS Advisory Board – Second Meeting –
Concept Note LLS-Advisory-Board-Second-Meeting-MVI-Summary
LLS Sustainability Week-Third Meeting
Concept Note SUMMARY-LLS-ADVISORY-BOARD-MEETING
LLS Advisory Board Fourth Meeting – SIDS4 and Beyond – Summary
LLS Advisory Board Meeting – 4th meeting – SIDS4 – Concept Note
PGA letter – LLS Advisory Board – Fourth Meeting – Summary
PGA Remarks at the 5th Meeting with LLS Advisory Board | General Assembly of the United Nations
I was pleased to convene the final meeting of the LLS Advisory Board today for the 78th Session.
I Appreciate the comprehensive dialogue on how to best support LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS on their path to sustainable development, including through the High-Level Political Forum and the upcoming Summit of the Future, amongst other events.
I thank all the Board members for their valuable contributions throughout the session.
