Conference on the Least Developed Countries concluded its work with the adoption of the “Doha Declaration”

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). The event 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.

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 $1.3bn 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 $60m including $10m to support the implementation of the DPoA, and $50m to help build resilience in LDCs.

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

Canada announced $35m to UNICEF to provide vitamin A supplements in 15LDCs to help prevent malnutrition for more than 40 million children, as well as $25m 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 €130m, 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 $80m 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 its work in support of the most vulnerable member states of the United Nations.

In this context, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, H E 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.

The 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,

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, she 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.

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.

For his part, President of the Republic of Malawi, Chairman of the Group of Least Developed Countries H E 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 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.

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.