Financing for Development in the Least Developed Countries. Needs, challenges and the Doha Programme of Action
Published by: Global Policy Forum Europe
Author: Bodo Ellmers, GPF
Once in a decade, the UN convenes a conference on the least developed countries (LDCs) to negotiate a programme of action, consisting of political agreements and international support measures. Financing for development in all its dimensions is an essential component of these programmes.
The process that led to the Fifth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries and the Doha Programme of Action took place under the difficult conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the limited financial space that LDCs had to respond to the pandemic and the economic crisis it caused, it was even more important that the LDC5 conference reaches an ambitious outcome.
This report analyses the financing needs of LDCs and assesses the status quo of international support at the beginning of the negotiations that led to the Doha Programme. It presents the policy positions of the various stakeholders and finally summarizes and assesses the outcome.
As the Doha Programme runs in parallel with the remaining period of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, its actions are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the 46 LDCs and for the 1.1 billion people who live in LDCs.