Algiers, Algeria, 13 May 2015 (ECA) - Initiated at the Fourth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (UN-LDC IV) in Istanbul, Turkey, in May 2011, the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) represents a comprehensive set of actions aimed at overcoming the structural weaknesses and vulnerabilities of the 48 Least Developing Countries (LDCs) around the world, 34 of which are in Africa.
In preparation for the mid-term review of the programme planned in Antalya, Turkey in 2016, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in collaboration with UN-Office of the High Representative for Land Locked, Least Developed and Small Island States (UN-OHRLLS) organized an Expert Group Meeting on May 5 2015 in Algiers to review the implementation of the IPoA in the context of Africa.
The meeting, attended by 22 participants comprising a mix of African LDC focal persons and development planners, provided a platform for frank discussion on how to improve performance on the IPoA. Participants acknowledged that there has been limited progress in achieving the IPoA in Africa and urged governments and development partners to step up the mainstreaming and implementation of the IPoA. In this context, development partners need to prioritize LDCs and fulfill their commitments with respect to ODA, market access, investment promotion and access to technology. As regards access to technology, the initiative to create a technology bank for LDCs was discussed and welcomed. Participants highlighted that an improved education system is a precondition for the use of technology and that the adaptation of existing technology to national contexts is equally important.
Overall, the meeting recommended an improved analysis of LDCs issues, for an in-depth understanding of the drivers of progress, the underlying reasons behind the slow progress and proposals to effectively address the identified bottlenecks.
Participants also noted that information related to the implementation of the IPoA often remains at the level of Foreign Ministries, which many LDCs Focal Points belong to; they underscored that for an effective operationalization and implementation of the IPoA, this information has to reach development planning units. In this regard, suggestions were made to improve networking and in particular expand the network of LDCs National Focal Points, including through a dedicated on-line platform.
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