United Nations — Rabab Fatima is Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS).
As the world grapples with overlapping crises–climate change, economic instability, and food insecurity–the 44 Least Developed Countries (LDCs) face existential threats that demand urgent, collective action.
These nations, home to over one billion people, contribute merely 3.3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet they bear the brunt of climate impacts, with disaster-related mortality rates 2.5 times higher than the global average.
Rabab Fatima
Ahead of the 3rd LDC Future Forum in Lusaka, Zambia, this reality compels us to confront a critical question: How can the international community rally behind LDCs to build resilience and unlock their immense potential for sustainable development?
The Resilience Imperative
Resilience is not a choice but a necessity for LDCs. Consider these sobering facts:
· 57% of LDC populations face food insecurity, with 22% undernourished–more than double the global average.· External debt has tripled since 2010, now standing at $585 billion, diverting scarce resources from critical investments.· Only 20% of LDC populations have access to clean energy, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.
Yet, amidst these challenges lie opportunities. The Doha Programme of Action (DPOA) provides a blueprint for addressing these vulnerabilities, but its success hinges on bold, innovative approaches and unwavering global solidarity.
Five Pathways to Resilience
1. Concessional and Innovative Financing:
Nearly two-thirds of climate finance to LDCs comes as non-concessional loans, exacerbating debt burdens. We must shift toward concessional financing, debt relief, and innovative instruments like catastrophe bonds and climate-resilient debt clauses. Official development assistance (ODA) must increase beyond the current 0.09% of donors’ GNI, against the target of 0.2% to LDCs.
2. Climate-Smart Agriculture:
With half of LDC populations dependent on agriculture, scaling up adaptive techniques–such as flood and drought-resistant crops pioneered in Bangladesh–can transform food security and livelihoods.
3. Renewable Energy Access:
Only 55% of LDC populations have electricity. Investments in solar, wind, and biogas–like successful projects in Kenya and Rwanda–can power sustainable development while reducing emissions.
4. Circular Economy:
Transitioning from linear “take-make-waste” models to circular systems can create jobs, reduce environmental pressures, and diversify economies. LDCs need policy frameworks and partnerships to make this a reality.
5. Social Protection:
Ethiopia’s Safety Net Programme and Cambodia’s digital IDPoor system aiming to ensure that a growing array of benefits reach the households and individuals who need them the most, demonstrate how targeted, shock-responsive social protection can shield the most vulnerable.
Credit: OHRLLS
A Call to Action
The upcoming LDC Future Forum is a critical opportunity to identify innovative ideas and practical solutions to overcome the pressing challenges of the LDCs. As we approach the midterm review of the DPOA in 2027 and the 2030 Agenda deadline, resilience must remain central to all of our efforts.
Major global conferences–including COP30 and the Fourth Financing for Development Conference–offer platforms to amplify LDC priorities.
To development partners, I call for increased concessional financing and enhanced support for debt relief. To policymakers, I stress the need for locally tailored solutions. To the private sector, I underscore the significant yet untapped potential for green investments in LDCs.
The stakes could not be higher. By investing in LDCs today, we invest in a more equitable, sustainable future for all. Let us seize this moment to forge transformative partnerships that deliver lasting change–for the more than one billion people counting on us.
IPS UN Bureau
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