Digest of
Doha Programme of Action
Civil Society Forum
Doha, 4 - 9 March 2023
Document Structure
Key Action Areas & Targets
More specific key action areas with corresponding targets Member States have agreed to be achieved
6 Key Focus Areas
Background and rationale on why an area important, with a general direction of what should be achieved
Action Commitments
Member State-negotiated commitments aligned with the respective targets, prescribing certain directions for actions or recognizing core challenges of an issue
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※There are some exceptions.
DPoA’s 6 Key Focus Areas:
Download DPoA: A/CONF.219/2022/3
DPoA Table of Contents
The following slides list each issue areas and their respective paragraphs, divided by the six key areas.
I. Investing in people in least developed countries: eradicating poverty and building capacity to leave no one behind
Paragraphs 32 - 93
(Paragraphs 1-31 are an introduction with background on Istanbul Program of Action)
II. Leveraging the power of science, technology and innovation to fight against multidimensional vulnerabilities and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
Paragraphs 94 - 119
III. Structural transformation as a driver of prosperity
Paragraphs 120 - 156
IV. Enhancing international trade of least developed countries and regional integration
Paragraphs 157 - 194
V. Addressing climate change, environmental degradation, recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and building resilience against future shocks for risk-informed sustainable development
Paragraphs 195 - 233
VI. Mobilizing international solidarity, reinvigorated global partnerships and innovative tools: a march towards sustainable graduation
Paragraphs 234 - 309
63 pages,
309 Paragraphs
(Based on digital document)
Following slides contain excerpts from DPoA of pertinent to our strategy session.
I.10 Building and sustaining peace for sustainable development
89. A total of 24 of 46 least developed countries had active conflicts in 2019. The link between peace, security, stability and sustainable development are emphasized in the 2030 Agenda. Peace, security, development, human rights and humanitarian efforts are complementary and need to reinforce one another. Greater cooperation, coherence, coordination and complementarity among development, disaster risk reduction, humanitarian action and sustaining peace are fundamental to most efficiently and effectively addressing needs and attaining the Sustainable Development Goals…
Targets
We commit to taking the following actions:
91. Redouble our efforts to resolve/prevent conflict and commit to strengthening support for least developed countries affected by fragility and conflict in order to address root causes of conflict, country-specific needs and situations, including broad-based, inclusive and rapid socioeconomic development, with a special focus on rebuilding better national institutions and capacity, rebuilding critical infrastructure and generating productive employment and decent work for all.
92. Commit to building peaceful, just and inclusive societies that provide equal access to justice and that are based on respect for human rights (including the right to development), cultural diversity and pluralism, and public access to information on the effective rule of law and good governance at all levels, and on transparent, effective and accountable institutions. �Ensure that women effectively and meaningfully participate, on equal terms with men, in the design, implementation, follow-up and evaluation of policies and activities related to conflict prevention, peace mediation, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction.
93. Commit to increasing the predictability of aid and making more effective use of global and country-level funds for peacebuilding and State-building to achieve sustainable development. �Encourage bilateral donors and multilateral institutions to scale up access to instruments supporting investment in fragile contexts.
I.4 Population and Health
59. We will work together to support the acceleration of the demographic transition, where relevant, and champion the importance of increased investment in human development, including universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, and public services, infrastructure and job creation that keep pace with population growth and create healthier, better educated citizens and drive economic growth.
Targets
We commit to taking the following actions:
62. Commit to providing the financial and technical support necessary for least developed countries to strengthen integrated and inclusive national health systems and the design, implementation of and access to modern health infrastructure and systems, which is accessible to all members of the population, develop adequately skilled professionals and medical facilities and supplies, strengthen health-care information systems and the use of disaggregated data for decision-making, improve essential integrated health-care services, including sexual and reproductive health, and provide incentives to retain national health workers in order to achieve universal health coverage in least developed countries, with a special emphasis on primary health care as a cornerstone of a sustainable health system for all in least developed countries.
64. Reaffirm the decision of the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights on the extension of the transition period under article 66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement for least developed country members for certain obligations with respect to pharmaceutical products until 1 January 2033 and the decision of the Council on the transition period under article 66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement until 1 July 2034, and the commitment of World Trade Organization (WTO) developed country members to providing incentives to enterprises and institutions in their territories for the purposes of promoting and encouraging technology transfer to least developed countries, as obligated under article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement. We also encourage the voluntary transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms with a view to enabling least developed countries to produce life-saving medicines, including COVID-19 vaccines.
V.2 Climate adaptation and building resilience, including sustainable management of natural resources
211. While least developed countries have made some progress in the process to formulate and implement national adaptation plans and in implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, they often lack the resources and capacity to address critical needs. Adaptation and resilience in food systems, including in the sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, social protection services and livestock, are of prime importance for least developed countries and have major implications for food security, nutrition, livelihoods, especially of the most vulnerable in society, and employment…
Targets
We commit to taking the following actions:
213. Commit to continuing and striving for increased support, such as for capacity-building for adaptation planning and implementation in least developed countries, including through the least developed country work programme under the UNFCCC and additional and complementary means, in order to address medium- and long-term adaptation needs through the formulation of national adaptation plans and subsequent implementation of the policies, programmes and projects identified by them.
214. Commit to strengthening Action for Climate Empowerment in least developed countries through the development and implementation of training programmes focused on climate change education at all levels.
215. Commit to providing the technical assistance to least developed countries necessary to develop operational national risk information systems that support policymaking and decision-making by all stakeholders, including national and local governments, private sector business operations, cultural heritage managers and bearers, the real estate sector and land planning agencies, the insurance industry and local communities.
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219. Commit to enhancing international cooperation and technical assistance and support to least developed countries so that they can take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats and land degradation and loss of territory, halt biodiversity loss and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
III.4 Support for private sector development
152. A dynamic, broad-based, well-functioning and socially responsible private sector is a valuable instrument for achieving sustained, inclusive and equitable economic growth, access to goods and services, a source of tax revenue and sustainable structural transformation. Structural constraints, such as infrastructure bottlenecks, limited access to finance, high operating and trading costs, limited human capital, limited ICT capacities and institutional constraints, have limited the growth of the private sector in least developed countries.
Targets
We commit to taking the following actions:
153. Commit to promoting an enabling business environment conducive to growth and development, the absence of corruption, and a transparent and rules-based regulatory framework, simplifying business regulations and processes, reducing and streamlining administrative formalities, creating efficient national support mechanisms for micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises, improving supply chains, facilitating access to markets, reinforcing cooperation, building capacities to implement effective competition policies, and adopting open, transparent and clear regulatory frameworks for business and investment, with protection for property rights and land rights, as appropriate, and in accordance with national circumstances and consistent with international legal frameworks…
154. Commit to fostering economic activity and the ease of doing business for private companies by promoting domestic market and capital formation, economic clusters or hubs/industry parks/export processing zones that remove obstacles to investment and infrastructure usage, enable the simplified facilitation of business operations and trade and support least developed countries in the implementation of such measures…
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156. Support the provision of finance, including grants, technical assistance, seed funding and concessional financing, from donor countries, UN entities, the World Bank Group and IMF and the private sector, in order to leverage additional sources of finance for micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises to facilitate their growth and development. In this regard, we commit to promoting regular public- private sector dialogue.
IV.7 World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade Facilitation
183. We note that, while the current implementation rate of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation stands at 70.2 per cent for all WTO members, the implementation rate of least developed countries was only 36.8 per cent as at 10 June 2021. We also note that 80 percent of least developed countries have already identified their technical assistance needs. We further note that there are several challenges for least developed countries in implementing the Agreement, owing primarily to financial, technical and regulatory capacity constraints.
Targets
We commit to taking the following actions:
184. Implement the Agreement on Trade Facilitation to speed up customs procedures, make trade easier, faster and cheaper, provide clarity, efficiency and transparency, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and use technological advances.
185. Commit to supporting least developed countries in the implementation of the Agreement on Trade Facilitation, including assistance in and support for capacity- building to least developed countries to enable implementation of the Agreement, consistent with the Agreement, especially implementation of category C provisions based on the technical assistance requirement as notified by least developed country members. We also commit to working together within WTO, including through the ongoing quadrennial reviews of the Agreement, to support implementation through coordination, the sharing of experiences and transparency.
VI.2 International public and external finance to contribute to sustainable development in least developed countries
247. We note with appreciation that ODA to least developed countries by Development Assistance Committee countries increased in real terms from 2011 to 2019 by some 4.6 per cent, but note with concern that the average share of gross national income provided as ODA to least developed countries from Development Assistance Committee countries declined from 0.10 to 0.08 per cent during that time period…
248. We underline that North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation is vital to least developed countries, noting that South-South cooperation and commitments are not a substitute but a complement to North-South cooperation, in particular with regard to technical assistance, and the sharing of best practices in terms of their development, especially in areas of productive capacity-building, infrastructure, energy, science and technology, trade, investment and transit transport cooperation.
249. We recognize the rising significance of impact investing as a new public-private financing mechanism for the 2030 Agenda and underline the urgent need to develop mechanisms to channel public and private investment towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in least developed countries…
Targets
We commit to taking the following actions:
250. Commit to ensuring the fulfilment of all ODA commitments to least developed countries, ensuring the alignment of aid with least developed countries’ national priorities and increasing the alignment of aid with least developed countries’ national systems and procedures.
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257. Welcome the IMF special drawing rights allocation of the equivalent of $650 billion of 23 August 2021 to meet the long-term global need to supplement reserve assets, and encourage countries with strong external positions to seek options for the voluntary channelling of special drawing rights, in accordance with national laws and regulations. Appreciate the efforts of IMF to seek further viable options for the voluntary channelling of special drawing rights to countries most in need, including least developed countries, such as the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust and the new Resilience and Sustainability Trust, with a view to providing affordable long-term financing to developing countries in a manner that preserves their external debt sustainability, and encourage the consideration of viable options to voluntarily channel through multilateral development banks.
258. Call upon official creditors to make long-term sustainable financing available to least developed countries through grants and concessional funding and to offer more fixed-interest lending at low interest rates, emphasizing that this is part of a mix of financing approaches that also include grants.
VI.3 Debt sustainability and debt cancellation initiative through improved and transparent debt architecture
263. We note with concern that the stock of debt and debt service payment obligations of least developed countries increased significantly over the past decade. Total debt service increased from an average of 5 percent of exports of goods and services in 2011 to 13 per cent in 2019. As of February 2021, 4 least developed countries were classified as in debt distress, while the number of least developed countries at high risk of debt distress increased to 16. Over the past decade, the composition of debt of least developed countries changed considerably towards less concessional finance. We welcome the measures adopted in 2020 by the Group of 20 and the Paris Club, namely, the Debt Service Suspension Initiative, to facilitate higher COVID-19 pandemic-related spending and the Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the Debt Service Suspension Initiative to facilitate timely and orderly debt treatment on a case-by-case basis with broad participation of all creditors, on comparable terms, including the private sector, in line with the comparability of treatment principle.
Targets
We commit to taking the following actions:
264. Commit to assisting least developed countries in attaining long-term debt sustainability and coordinated policies aimed at fostering adequate debt financing, debt relief, when appropriate, debt restructuring and sound debt management, as appropriate, and ensuring that debt relief does not detract from ODA resources intended to be available for least developed countries.
265. Encourage IMF to conduct in-depth reviews of least developed countries’ external debt, effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on least developed countries’ debt servicing capacity and possible policy options at the national and international levels to effectively address the external debt problem of least developed countries.
266. Commit to continuing to enhance efforts to increase support, including financial and technical assistance, for institutional capacity-building in least developed countries to enhance sustainable upstream and downstream debt management as an integral part of national development strategies, including by promoting transparent and accountable debt management systems and negotiation and renegotiation capacities and by supporting legal advice in relation to addressing external debt litigation and debt data reconciliation between creditors and debtors, notably through the Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the Debt Service Suspension Initiative, so that debt sustainability may be achieved and maintained.
VI.6 Extension of international support measures to graduating and graduated least developed countries to make graduation sustainable and irreversible
Targets
We commit to taking the following actions:
277. Emphasize that a successful transition out of the least developed country category needs to be based on a national smooth transition strategy, formulated by each graduating country. We urge development and trading partners and the United Nations system to continue their support for the implementation of smooth transition strategies so as to avoid any abrupt reductions in either ODA, special and differential treatments, Aid for Trade or other technical and financial assistance. This includes the need for improved planning and coordination of transition finance by ODA providers during both the preparatory period and the post-graduation phase.
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279. We encourage the least developed countries and development partners to integrate graduation and smooth transition strategies into their national development and aid strategies, as appropriate, including capacity-building and technical assistance to diversify sources of financing, including blended finance and private finance.
280. We recognize that graduating countries face major challenges in addressing the social and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and of disasters and encourage the integration of disaster risk reduction into the smooth transition strategies of graduating countries in order to promote the sustainability of development progress, including the impact assessment of the likely consequences of graduation and the vulnerability profiles.
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282. We welcome the work of the inter-agency task force on least developed country graduation, led by the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, to provide strengthened and coordinated United Nations system-wide support to the countries graduating from the least developed country category and invite the Office to advocate for appropriate predictable and additional incentives and support measures for graduating and recently graduated countries and to mobilize additional international support for the implementation of the smooth transition strategies. We invite all relevant United Nations entities to collaborate under the inter-agency task force and develop operational guidelines for their support to least developed countries, including assistance to graduating countries.
Graduation
VI.6 Extension of international support measures to graduating and graduated least developed countries to make graduation sustainable and irreversible
273. We note with appreciation that 4 countries have graduated since 2011, another 4 have been designated to graduate by 2024 and 12 others have met the graduation criteria at least once. However, most graduating least developed countries face a multitude of challenges, including poverty and inequalities, in particular gender inequality, inadequate structural transformation and productive capacity, and vulnerability to economic and climatic shocks. Furthermore, we are concerned by the simultaneous loss of least developed country-specific support measures compounded by the negative social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis.
274. We further note that the Committee for Development Policy has found that a five-year preparatory period is necessary for all countries recommended for graduation at the 2021 triennial review to effectively prepare for a smooth transition, given that these countries will need to prepare for graduation while planning for a post-COVID-19 recovery and implementing policies and strategies to reverse the economic and social damages incurred as a result of the COVID-19 shock.
275. We encourage the Committee for Development Policy to continue to engage with graduating countries and countries recently graduated from the least developed country category so that the full extent of the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 are understood, in line with the work of the Committee on sustainable development and resilient recovery from the pandemic.
276. We aim to ensure an incentive-based international support structure to graduating and graduated least developed countries, including support for their smooth transition from development and trading partners, as well as the United Nations system, to make graduation sustainable and ensure post-graduation development momentum and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Graduation
VI.6 Extension of international support measures to graduating and graduated least developed countries to make graduation sustainable and irreversible
281. We recognize the need for enhanced support to countries before and after graduation, through appropriate, predictable, additional and demand-driven incentives and support measures, including in the following areas:
(a) Technical assistance in preparing and implementing a smooth transition strategy, including capacity development and technical assistance in the analysis and identification of support needs;
(b) Legal assistance to negotiate market access after trade preferences that are granted on the basis of least developed countries status end;
(c) Availability of credit ratings and risk management measures, including through the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency;
(d) Technical assistance to negotiate market access after trade preferences that are granted based on least developed countries status end;
(e) Technical assistance to build and strengthen intellectual property rights systems of least developed countries to enable them to comply with obligations related to intellectual property after graduation;
(f) Consider extending access to dedicated funds for addressing adverse impacts of climate change and vertical funds such as the Gavi Alliance, Aid for Trade and Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries for graduated countries for a fixed period and in a predictable manner.
283. Welcome the establishment of a Sustainable Graduation Support Facility by the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, as Chair of the inter-agency task force on least developed country graduation, and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, as the secretariat for the Committee for Development Policy, as a concrete, country-led solution of dedicated capacity development support.
284. Call for a monitoring mechanism that is responsive to emerging crises and that better links monitoring to specific support, including possible extensions of the preparatory period.
(a) Establishing a crisis response process within the monitoring mechanism to react to crises and emergencies occurring during the annual monitoring cycle;
(b) Mobilizing the existing crisis management expertise of the United Nations system and other international entities, utilizing the convening power of the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, both in case of crisis and regular monitoring;
(c) Expanding coverage of annual monitoring reports and the preparation process.
285. We call upon the Committee for Development Policy to continue due consultations with least developed countries and countries recently graduated from the least developed country category while conducting the triennial reviews of the list of least developed countries and monitoring the countries that are graduating and have graduated from the list of least developed countries, and request the Committee to include in these consultations those least developed countries whose graduation may have been deferred.
Graduation
Time frame of the eligibility procedure Full Timeline on UN-DESA
Graduation from the LDC category Detailed Description of the Criteria