27 July 2012: The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has adopted a draft resolution, titled “Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020” (E/2012/L.29), which invites UN and other multilateral organizations, together with the private sector, civil society and foundations, to contribute to the implementation of the Programme of Action. It also calls on developing countries to support the implementation of the Programme of Action.

The resolution was adopted by the Council during its 2012 Substantive Session. The resolution further calls on the LDCs, their development partners and the UN to fully implement commitments made in the Programme’s eight priority areas. It also encourages giving appropriate consideration to the special needs and development priorities of the LDCs in processes devoted to the definition of the post-2015 development agenda.

In addition, the resolution underlines the need to take the necessary steps to ensure that the LDCs and their development partners are mutually accountable for delivering their commitments under the Programme of Action, and invites the relevant UN regional commissions and agencies to undertake biennial reviews of the Programme’s implementation.

The following small island developing States (SIDS) are currently classified as LDCs: Madagascar; Sao Tome and Principe; Kiribati; Solomon Islands; Samoa; Timor-Leste; Tuvalu; and Haiti. [Publication: ECOSOC Resolution on the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020] [IISD RS Story on ECOSOC Substantive Session]