QNA
Doha
The Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) concluded on Thursday at the Qatar National Convention Center, with the adoption of the “Doha Declaration”, which reinforces the international community’s commitment to the Doha Program of Action (2022-2031) towards the 46 least developed countries (LDCs).
During the five-day conference, stakeholders from countries, international bodies and institutions under the theme “From Potential to Prosperity” pledged financial commitments of more than $1.3 billion in the form of donations, investments, loans, aid, development projects and technical support, with the aim of positively affecting 1.2 billion people living in the LDCs, which represents a translation of the DPoA into tangible results.
Qatar announced a financial package of $60 million, including $10 million to support the implementation of the DPoA, and $50 million to help build resilience in LDCs.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced $800 million to finance development projects in the LDCs, starting this year, and the Federal Republic of Germany allocated $200 million in 2023.
Canada announced $35 million to UNICEF to provide Vitamin A supplements in 15 LDCs to help prevent malnutrition for more than 40 million children, as well as $25 million to preserve ecosystems and improve biodiversity in Burkina Faso.
The EU Commission announced cooperation agreements that promote sustainable investments in Africa, with a total investment of more than 130 million euros.The Republic of Finland announced an annual event under the name “The United Nations Least Developed Countries Forum” in Helsinki, in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, to attract the latest ideas that contribute to strengthening the capabilities of the most vulnerable countries.
The Green Climate Fund announced a new project to grant $80 million in equity to provide green guarantees for businesses and reduce the cost of capital, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization announced the creation of a new $10 million Tourism Fund for Development, supported by the TUI Care Foundation, which will invest until 2030 to support sustainable tourism in the LDCs as a major driver of development.
The Government of Kazakhstan pledged $50,000 to continue in support of the most vulnerable member states of the United Nations.
In this context, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, praised the efforts made by Qatar to host the LDC5, noting Qatar’s unlimited support towards these countries over the past years.
During her speech at the closing session of the conference, Amina Mohammed said, “Twice we were thrown off course by the COVID-19 pandemic. But during that time, we never lost sight of the need for the world’s most vulnerable countries to have this global moment. A moment where the entire UN system, development partners, parliamentarians, the private sector and civil society all came together with one ambition: The determination to get the development journeys of the LDCs back on track, and to bring the Sustainable Development Goals back within their reach”.
She added that the conference confirmed that a lot can be achieved through true partnership and multilateral dialogue, as each track (youth, South-South cooperation, the private sector, parliamentarians, and civil society) contributed ideas for permanent change of these countries.
She indicated that the Doha Program of Action is a clear blueprint for recovery, renewal and resilience in the world’s most vulnerable countries, and its focus areas respond to the major challenges facing the least developed countries, and define the path to a more prosperous and equitable future.
During her speech, Amina Mohammed referred to the need of the least developed countries for large financing, directed at what is more important, pointing out that for this reason the Secretary-General of the United Nations called for reforms in the international financial structure, in addition to stimulating the goals of sustainable development, by increasing financing for development by no less than about $500 billion a year.
She said, “As we move forward with the important events of 2023, represented by the United Nations Water Conference, the Food Systems Assessment, the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in September, and COP 28, we must continue to prioritize the least developed countries, and put first those who are left behind in their own development trajectories, which requires G20 approval of the Sustainable Development Goals at the September Summit.”
Her Excellency noted that everyone is looking forward to the future summit next year, which will bring together member states, UN agencies, civil society, academic institutions, the private sector and youth, to discuss multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow.
Her Excellency concluded her speech at the closing session by saying that the Doha Program of Action is dedicated to the least developed countries, but it is a charter owned by the entire international community, and a means that brings all closer to achieving the goals of sustainable development, indicating that commitments and responsibilities begin with signing documents and attending conferences.
She added that it should be an integral part of all efforts until 2030, especially as least developed countries cannot wait, they need to commit now.
For his part, President of the Republic of Malawi, Chairman of the Group of Least Developed Countries Dr Lazarus Chakwera, said that the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries had succeeded in two basic tests, the impressive success in organization and reaching a real plan that includes new resources for the coming years.
He expressed his thanks and appreciation to Qatar for hosting this historic conference, and for its great support for the implementation of the Doha Program of Action.
During his speech at the closing session, His Excellency stressed the need for the least developed countries to cooperate with each other to face the various common challenges they face, calling on the developed countries to fulfill their obligations related to helping the least developed countries, and to allocate (0.7%) and (0.2%) of the gross national income as development aid to these countries.
He stressed the importance of strengthening the various efforts exerted to achieve the aspirations of the least developed countries to get out of the list of these countries, by starting new joint operations to implement the Doha Program of Action, which will represent a road map that guides the work of these countries, and achieve what all aspire to in this framework.
