The Doha Political Declaration adopted at the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5), 09 March 2023

(Extracted from OHRLLS Press Release - 09 March)

The Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) that took place in Doha, Qatar from the 05 to 09 March brought together member states, participants from the private sector and civil society in LDCs, as well as relevant UN representatives to discuss and commit to measures to deliver on the Doha Programme of Action. This ten-year plan aims to manifest a new generation of renewed and strengthened commitments between the least developed countries and their partners, including the private sector, civil society, and governments, to put the world’s 46 most vulnerable countries back on track to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We need to commit to a decade of delivery for the LDCs, starting tomorrow”, said UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.

Under the theme ‘From Potential to Prosperity’ the main goal of the conference was aimed at driving transformational change to positively affect the 1.2 billion people who live in the LDCs.

“The LDCs have the most untapped potential in the world, if we can harness that potential, the LDCs will be able to chart a more prosperous future” said Rabab Fatima, Secretary General of the Conference and UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States.

The Doha Declaration

The Doha Political Declaration, adopted on the 09 March, reinforces the international community’s commitment to the Doha Programme of Action.

Member States reiterated their support for the UN Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries in strengthening the science, technology, and innovation capacity of least developed countries for structural transformation and productive capacity development.

Additional information:

• The Doha Programme of Action can be found on the LDC5 website here.
• The LDCs are: Afghanistan; Angola; Bangladesh; Benin; Bhutan; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Central African Republic; Chad; Comoros; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Djibouti; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Gambia; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Haiti; Kiribati; Lao People’s Democratic Republic; Lesotho; Liberia; Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mozambique; Myanmar; Nepal; Niger; Rwanda; Sao Tome and Principe; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Solomon Islands; Somalia; South Sudan; Sudan; Timor-Leste; Togo; Tuvalu; Uganda; United Republic of Tanzania; Yemen and Zambia. Vanuatu was the latest country to graduate from the category in late 2020. Bhutan is next to graduate in late 2023.
• To learn more about the Least Developed Country category and the criteria used for graduation, see the LDC5 website here.

Key LDC5 links

• OHRLLS Press Release: https://www.un.org/ldc5/sites/www.un.org.ldc5/files/ldc5_closing_press_release.pdf
• UN Technology Bank News: https://www.un.org/technologybank/latest-news
• LDC5 Website: https://www.un.org/ldc5/
• Doha Programme of Action: https://www.un.org/ldc5/doha-programme-of-action 
• Doha Political Declaration: https://undocs.org/A/CONF.219/2023/L.1
• Media Corner: https://www.un.org/ldc5/news