PRESIDENT DR LAZARUS CHAKWERA REMARKS BEFORE THE FIRST PART OF THE FIFTH UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

17 March 2021

I delivered my remarks before the first part of the fifth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries ( LDCs) on behalf of all the 46 members under this category.

My sentiments focused on reminding the United Nations to take special interest in addressing the needs of LDCs through concrete plans, investments and action.

I reminded the conference that poor societies and economies have faced more devastation from climate change, Covid-19 and economic uncertainties.

I also used the opportunity to specifically lobby Malawi’s case as critical in light of socioeconomic devastation over the past couple of years caused by the global pandemic, Cyclones Idai and Kenneth, Tropical Storms Ana and Gombe.

The conference has since adopted the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) for 2022-2031 period. This is an intervention that seeks to chart a recovery path for LDCs and facilitate economic growth in line with the UN 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

The DPoA will therefore support measures for eradicating poverty, ending hunger and malnutrition, making internet access universal, diversifying our economies and increasing our exports and trade. It will also set a benchmark for official development assistance.

Through the programme, there will be establishment of an online university, an international investment support center and food stockholding for enabling LDCs to build back stronger.

In addition, the programme launched the Sustainable Graduation Support Facility that will help economies move into upper brackets of development categories.

As LDCs we have also lobbied for debt relief and restructuring as one way to grant adequate cushion to our economies and help us recover meaningfully.

#SDGs
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