24 May 2016
IPoA Review Co-Facilitators Release Draft Declaration for Endorsement
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A draft political declaration has been released for endorsement during the midterm review of the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

The text was negotiated by UN Member States in informal meetings led by the co-facilitators of the intergovernmental consultations on the preparatory process, Benedicte Frankinet, Permanent Representative of Belgium and Jean-Francis Regis Zinsou, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Benin, and agreed ad referendum.

The declaration is under "silent procedure" until 24 May 2016, at 12 pm EST.

Midterm Review of the Istanbul Programme of Action20 May 2016: A draft political declaration has been released for endorsement during the midterm review of the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The text was negotiated by UN Member States in informal meetings led by the co-facilitators of the intergovernmental consultations on the preparatory process, Benedicte Frankinet, Permanent Representative of Belgium and Jean-Francis Regis Zinsou, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Benin, and agreed ad referendum. The declaration is under “silent procedure” until 24 May 2016, at 12 pm EST.

The midterm review will take place from 27-29 May 2016 in Antalya, Turkey.

Per the draft declaration, countries reaffirm their commitment: to the “full, effective and timely” implementation of the IPoA; the “full and timely” implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and to give a special attention to LDCs in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. They also recognize that while the LDCs have made significant efforts towards achieving the objectives, goals and targets of the IPoA, much remains to be done by these countries and their development partners.

In its section on “state of progress and lessons learned in the implementation of the IPoA,” the declaration includes text on: graduation from the LDC category; productive capacity; infrastructure and energy; agriculture, food security, nutrition and rural development; economy, trade and investment; good governance at all levels, and human development; gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; financing for development; science, technology and innovation (STI); and resilience building. These topics are also included in the section of the political declaration on ‘looking forward and recommendations,’ which considers additional areas, namely: human and social development, children and youth; South-South and triangular cooperation; migration and remittances; and UN System support.

Among other commitments, the draft declaration encourages LDCs to carry out a stocktaking exercise to assess current statistics and data availability for implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the IPoA at the national and local levels, and to identify data gaps and build statistical capacity to ensure that data for statistics and monitoring of the SDGs are available and reliable. It also promotes sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns “including efforts to reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.”

The draft declaration invites the UN Secretary-General in his capacity as the Chair of the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) to include the issue of investment promotion regimes for LDCs in the CEB’s agenda, with a view to enhancing the overall effectiveness of the UN system support that can contribute to enhancing the flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to LDCs and the ability of LDCs to attract FDI. It also encourages broad LDC participation in partnerships and other international conventions and initiatives, as appropriate, such as the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

By the draft declaration, Heads of State and Government and High Representatives would reaffirm their commitment to fully operationalize the Technology Bank for LDCs, and note that: duplication will be avoided and synergies will be promoted with the Technology Facilitation Mechanism (TFM), and close cooperation on technical and administrative matters will be encouraged with the UN Inter-agency task team on STI for the SDGs. The declaration also invites the Governing Council of the Technology Bank, “with the assistance of appropriate technical experts, as needed, and in consultation with the Member States,” to draft a legal Charter to be adopted by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) “as appropriate” before the end of 2016.

Finally, the draft declaration decides to undertake an in-depth analysis on crises mitigation and resilience building for LDCs at national and international levels, with a view to building and further strengthening the crises mitigation and resilience in LDCs, and requests the UNGA to determine the parameters of this analysis at its 71st session.

The midterm review was called for by the UNGA in December 2014 (resolution A/RES/69/231). It is expected to redouble global efforts to assist LDCs in their path to sustainable development and graduation out of the category. [Draft Political Declaration and Letter from Co-Facilitators] [Midterm Review Website] [IISD RS Guest Article: Translating Sustainable Development into Practice: The Case of LDCs]


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