13 September 2016: The UN Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS) released its 2016 report on the ‘State of Least Developed Countries’ (LDCs), highlighting that at least ten countries are currently in the progress of graduating from LDC status. Titled ‘Follow up of the Implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries,’ the 2016 report takes on the special theme of ‘Coherence and Synergies between the IPoA and the 2030 Agenda.’

The report reviews the status of the world’s 48 LDCs, noting that countries continue to face important challenges due to volatile commodity prices, impacts of natural disasters, effects of climate change, and outbreaks of diseases such as Ebola. While trade is an important part of development, since 2011, LDC exports have made up just 1.1% of total world trade. Nevertheless, in some areas LDCs overall have made substantial progress, with increased mobile phone ownership, improved access to clean water, reduced child mortality, and gender parity in primary education.

The authors note that most LDCs have yet to meet the targets set out in the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries (IPoA), which was adopted in 2011. They call for an integrated approach to implementing both the IPoA and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and their report maps the IPoA commitments against those of the 2030 Agenda, finding many similarities.

Launching the report in New York, US, on 13 September 2016, UN High Representative for LDCs Gyan Chandra Achargya drew attention to the report’s recommendation that development partners fulfill their commitment to provide 0.15 to 2% of gross national income as official development assistance (ODA) to LDCs. He also stressed recommendations to work to attract larger and more diversified foreign direct investment (FDI) in LDCs, and to conduct joint monitoring of the IPoA and 2030 Agenda, so far as possible.

Of the countries with LDC status, 34 are in Africa, 13 in the Asia-Pacific, and one in Latin America. [UN Press Release] [OHRLLS Press Release] [Report Webpage] [Publication: State of the Least Developed Countries 2016]