16 February 2012: The Committee for Development Policy (CDP) of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has published a report outlining actions that could be taken by the international community and countries graduating from least developed country (LDC) status to strengthen the preparatory process for graduation. The report will serve as input for the CDP’s 2012 Triennial Review of LDC Category, to determine countries to be added to or graduated from the list of LDCs.

This report, informed by deliberations at an expert group meeting of the CDP on 16-17 January 2012, describes the current process for a smooth transition from the LDC category, and gives an overview of experiences from recently graduated and graduating countries. It makes preliminary recommendations on how to improve this process, and reflects on how to facilitate the gradual phasing out of LDC-specific international support measures.

The report concludes that the main issue is not the creation of additional incentives for graduation. Instead, the main areas that need to be strengthened are improving and clarifying the rules of engagement with development partners after graduation, and adjusting those rules to the situation of countries, which may still require support as developing countries. It also makes recommendations on achieving these goals.

To date, two countries have graduated from the category – Cape Verde and Maldives. Samoa is “earmarked” for graduation in 2014, the UNGA is considering a recommendation to graduate Equatorial Guinea, and Vanuatu and Tuvalu are being considered for graduation by the CDP.

The report will contribute to the CDP’s discussions at its next plenary meeting on the topic, to be held from 12-16 March 2012. [Publication: CDP Background Paper No. 14: Strengthening smooth transition from the least developed country category]