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LDC5 Wraps up with Adoption of ‘Doha Declaration’

Doha, March 09 (QNA) – The Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) concluded its work this evening 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 USD1.3 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.

The State of Qatar announced a financial package of USD 60 million including USD10 million to support the implementation of the DPoA, and USD50 million to help build resilience in LDCs.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced USD 800 million to finance development projects in the LDCs, starting this year, and the Federal Republic of Germany allocated USD 200 million in 2023.

Canada announced USD35 million to UNICEF to provide vitamin A supplements in 15LDCs to help prevent malnutrition for more than 40 million children, as well as USD25 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, while 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 and Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, to attract the latest ideas and research that contribute to strengthening the capabilities of the most vulnerable countries.

The Green Climate Fund announced a new project to grant USD80 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 USD50,000 to continue its work in support of the most vulnerable member states of the United Nations.

In this context, HE Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, praised the efforts made by the State of 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, Her Excellency 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 worlds 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”.

HE Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Amina Mohammed, 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,

Her Excellency 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, Her Excellency 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 USD 500 billion a year.

Her Excellency 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.

Her Excellency 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, HE 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.

His Excellency expressed his thanks and appreciation to the State of 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.

His Excellency 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.

For her part, HE Secretary-General of the LDC5 and High Representative of the United Nations for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, Rabab Fatima, affirmed that the commitments made this week are a true embodiment of global solidarity and partnership and will pave the way for a new era of international cooperation.

Her Excellency added that the LDC5 was attended by more than 47 heads of state and heads of government, more than 130 ministers, and more than 5,000 participants from various positions of responsibility and specializations, all of whom expressed their commitment to putting the LDCs on the path to graduate and facing the expected challenges in the future, in a way that enhances the spirit of renewed cooperation and determination. implementation and follow-up of the Doha Program of Action (DPoA).

The need to enhance the capabilities of these countries and remove structural and trade restrictions in front of them, while involving stakeholders in implementing development plans and forging various alliances and partnerships to achieve the desired transformation and take broad steps towards sustainable development, Her Excellency stressed.

During the closing session of the conference, the reports of the eight high-level round tables held within the activities of the LDC5 were reviewed under the titles: “Investing in people in the least developed countries so that no one is left behind” and “Utilizing the power of science, technology and innovation for the sustainable development of the least developed countries.” developing countries”, “structural transformation as an engine for prosperity in the least developed countries”, “enhancing the participation of the least developed countries in international trade and regional integration”, “addressing climate change and supporting the environment”, and “sustainable recovery from the epidemic and building the resilience of the least developed countries against future shocks”, “mobilizing resources and strengthening global partnerships for sustainable development in the least developed countries” and “supporting the sustainable and irreversible graduation from the category of least developed countries”.

The results of the meetings of the focused tracks were also reviewed, which included the forums of parliamentarians, youth, south-south, the private sector, and civil society.

The round table reports and track-focused meetings centered on the need to implement the DPoA for the LDCs (2022-2031), which aims to demonstrate a new generation of renewed and strengthened commitments between LDCs and their partners, including the private sector, civil society and governments.

The program sets out a transformative agenda to take advantage of the potential of LDCs, including: building resilience to future shocks, eradicating poverty, strengthening labor markets by encouraging the transition from informal to formal employment, and enabling countries to graduate from the category of LDCs, facilitating access to sustainable and innovative finance, addressing inequalities, within and between countries, harnessing the power of science, technology and innovation, mainstreaming technology-based entrepreneurship, bringing about structural transformation and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, through a revitalized global partnership for sustainable development at the basis for enhanced and ambitious means of implementation and diverse forms of support for LDCs is the broadest possible coalition of multi-stakeholder partnerships. (QNA)

Source: Qatar News Agency

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