TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW 2

II. OPENING SESSION 3

III. SESSION 1: MINISTERIAL DIALOGUE ON LESSONS LEARNED AND BUILDING BACK BETTER 6

IV. SESSION 3: RETHINKING STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION IN AFRICAN LDCS IN THE ERA OF

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT AND INNOVATION 17

V. SESSION 4: MOBILIZING RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICAN LDCS 19

VI. SESSION 5: ENHANCING EXTERNAL TRADE, BUILDING AND MAINTAINING RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE
AND PROMOTING REGIONAL INTEGRATION IN AFRICAN LDCS 21

VII. SESSION 6: SOCIAL AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN THE AFRICAN LDCS: REDUCING INEQUALITY AND
ADVANCING WELLBEING AND OPPORTUNITIES – ORGANIZED IN COOPERATION WITH UNDP 22

VIII. SESSION 7: BUILDING SUSTAINABLE, INCLUSIVE AND RESILIENT FOOD SYSTEMS IN AFRICAN LDCS –
ORGANIZED IN COOPERATION WITH FAO 23

IX. SESSION 8: BUILDING CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND ACCELERATING THE ENERGY TRANSITION IN AFRICAN
LDCS 25

X. HIGH-LEVEL CLOSING SESSION 26

XI. SIDE EVENTS 29

A. “YOUTH ARE SDG ACCELERATORS IN LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES” ORGANIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF MALAWI WITH
SUPPORT OF UN MALAWI 29
B. “EMPOWERING LDCS THROUGH SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION – LESSONS LEARNED” ORGANIZED BY THE UN
TECHNOLOGY BANK 30
C. “IMPACTS OF COVID-19 ON SMES IN LDCS AND THE ROLE OF BLENDED FINANCE IN SUPPORTING A RESILIENT RECOVERY”
ORGANIZED BY UNCDF 33

XII. ANNEX I: POLITICAL DECLARATION 37

A. INTRODUCTION 37
B. CALL FOR ACTION 38
C. VOTE OF THANKS 47

XIII. ANNEX II: LIST OF PARTICIPANTS 48

A. MEMBER STATES 48
B. UN SYSTEM, IFIS AND OTHER IGOS 61
C. CIVIL SOCIETY, PRIVATE SECTOR, OTHER NON-GOVERNMENTAL REPRESENTATIVES 71
D. ACADEMIA 79
E. MEDIA 79

1
SUMMARY REPORT

I. BACKGROUND and OVERVIEW

The Istanbul Programme of Action for LDCs for the decade 2011-2020 (IPoA) is coming to an end. The
General Assembly decided to convene the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed
Countries (LDC5), at Heads of State and Government level, in Doha, Qatar, from 23 to 27 January 2022.1
The Conference is preceded by broad-based and inclusive substantive preparations at national, regional
and global level, engaging all least developed countries and their partners, parliamentarians as well as
civil society, academia and private sector representatives.2
In line with the mandate contained in General Assembly Resolutions 73/242 and 74/232, the Africa
Regional Review Meeting, also including Haiti, was held virtually from 22 to 26 February 2021. It was
hosted by the Government of the Republic of Malawi, as chair of the LDC Group, in collaboration with the
UN Office of the High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS (UN-OHRLLS) and the UN Economic
Commission for Africa (UN-ECA), with the support of the UN Malawi team. The co-organizers are also
grateful to the Office of the Special Advisor for Africa (OSAA), the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for co-organizing specific thematic
sessions. The Africa Regional Review Meeting was organized thanks to the generous financial support of
the Government of Turkey and the State of Qatar.
The Africa Regional Review meeting provided a unique opportunity to review the implementation of the
IPoA in the region, as 33 out of 46 LDCs are in Africa. The main objective was to assess the structural
challenges, vulnerabilities and emerging issues faced by African LDCs and Haiti in pursuing sustainable
development against the IPoA targets and goals. The meeting provided a platform for peer exchange and
learning, and for all stakeholders to gain insight and agree on concrete, targeted and effective cooperative
actions and recommendations that would assist these countries to overcome structural challenges and
accelerate sustainable development progress over the next decade. The meeting also provided space for
discussion on how to strengthen support provided to the LDCs by the international community and to
build linkages to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda as well as the Agenda 2063.
Over 900 participants registered for the five-half day meeting (see List of Participants in Annex II). The
Meeting was attended by delegations from Haiti and 28 African LDCs, IPoA National Focal Points,
representatives from partner countries, as well as development practitioners from international and
regional organisations, the private sector, academia and civil society, including youth.
The high-level opening was followed by eight thematic sessions on topics of special relevance to African
LDCs and Haiti. Interpretation was provided in English, French and Portuguese.

1
See GA resolution 74/232B
2
For more information on LDC5 preparations, visit: www.un.org/ldc5

2
The Africa Regional Review Meeting adopted a political declaration negotiated by the African LDCs and
Haiti (see Annex I). The outcome document outlines components of a renewed partnership for sustainable
development between the LDCs and their development partners. It is expected to be endorsed at the 53rd
ECA Conference of Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, to be held on 17-23 March
2021. It also serves as an important background document for the Preparatory Committee Meetings for
the LDC5 Conference to be held in New York on 24-28 May 2021 and 26-30 July 2021.
The detailed programme of the five half days of the Africa Regional Review Meeting is accessible on the
UN-OHRLLS website dedicated to the LDC5 Conference: www.un.org/ldc5/africa-review.

II. OPENING SESSION

The Africa Regional Review Meeting High-Level Opening Session focused on the theme: “From Istanbul to
Doha - towards a new decade of partnerships for LDCs”. The Master of Ceremony was the Honourable
Mr. Gospel Kazako, Minister of Information of the Republic of Malawi. Welcoming remarks were provided
by Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for LDCs,
LLDCs and SIDS, and Secretary-General of LDC5 Conference, and the Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus
Chilima, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi and Minister of Economic Planning and Development
and Public Sector Reforms.
Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu opened the Africa Regional Review Meeting by stating the strong
commitment that existed among African LDCs and their development partners to accelerate and further
the inclusive and sustainable development agenda for LDCs. She mentioned the negative impacts the
COVID-19 pandemic continued to have on many LDCs, as well as uncertainties and threats posed by
ongoing climate change. While positive trends in tackling poverty, access to safe water and sanitation,
generation of renewable energy, broadband coverage, as well as gender equality had been observed in
several LDCs throughout the past decade, these were now under severe threat due to the pandemic. She
cited UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the importance of equitable access to vaccines,
describing it as “the biggest moral test before the global community”. Seeing the challenges and the
progress made by African LDCs, she stressed the importance of this meeting in preparation for the LDC5
Conference in Doha, Qatar in January 2022, which must agree on actions enabling LDCs to build back
better, increase resilience and achieve the SDGs and graduation thresholds. She expressed her hope for
an ambitious action agenda and stressed the conference as an important opportunity for the international
community to ensure that the LDCs were at the core of the Agenda 2030 and not left behind.
The Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima also underlined the negative impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on already fragile economies in many LDCs. He expressed his hope that the Africa Regional
Review Meeting would provide an opportunity for exchange and learning, to gain insight and agree on
concrete, targeted and effective cooperative actions and recommendations that would assist African LDCs
in overcoming structural challenges and thereby accelerating sustainable development progress over the
next decade. He urged all participants to discuss practical ways of building back better and stronger, since
the outcome of the Africa Regional Review Meeting would be important in setting the course towards the
achievement of the SDGs as well as Agenda 2063.

3
Opening statements were delivered by H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the UN General Assembly; H.E.
Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey; H.E. Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, Minister of
State for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar and the Honourable Ms. Karina Gould, Minister of
Development Cooperation of Canada. Special opening remarks were delivered by H.E. Dr. Lazarus
Chakwera, President of Malawi, Chairperson of the Group of the Least Developed Countries.
H.E. Mr. Volkan Bozkir, President of the UN General Assembly, stressed the unique opportunity the Africa
Regional Review Meeting provided in understanding the success and challenges in implementing the
Istanbul Programme of Action in African LDCs during the past decade, while informing the international
community’s efforts to achieve the Agenda 2030 in LDCs during the next 10 years. The Meeting highlighted
the importance of deepened partnerships and the involvement of all relevant stakeholders. He called for
efforts undertaken by the international community to maximise the benefits of the demographic dividend
and create opportunities for youth in African LDCs and Haiti. He announced a thematic debate on digital
cooperation and connectivity, which his office would convene on 27 April 2021 to explore whole-of-
society approaches to end the digital divide as well as the joint event together with the president of
ECOSOC on 18 June 2021, which would focus on accelerating the implementation of the Agenda 2030 in
LDCs.
H.E. Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Host Country of the LDCIV Conference,
looked at progress made by several LDCs during the last decade, while only three countries (Samoa,
Equatorial Guinea, and Vanuatu) had graduated from the LDC category. As the co-chair of the Group of
Friends of LDCs he assured continued support of the Group to all LDCs. He outlined six main areas of action
that Turkey has been engaging in during the past decade: (i) Turkey increased its diplomatic presence on
the African continent; (ii) it increased ODA in line with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda providing USD
2.5bn between 2009 and 2019 to LDCs; (iii) it continued support to the UN Technology Bank for LDCs; (iv)
it supported the LDCs in the fight against COVID-19 and had been focussing on equitable access to vaccines
as well as local production of essential medical technologies. (v) Turkey supported the G20 Debt Service
Suspension Initiative (DSSI), and (vi) together with UNDP in the “Partnership in Development Program” in
Lao PDR, Turkey was engaged in increasing the role of the private sector in development and its
engagement through South-South cooperation. He concluded his statement by underscoring some
potential priority areas of the next Programme of Action, such as building of productive capacities,
promoting structural transformation, mobilizing domestic resources, and creating an enabling
environment for private investments.
H.E. Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Host Country
of the LDC5 Conference, confirmed the commitment of Qatar as the host country of the Fifth UN
Conference on LDCs to making the conference in January 2022 a success and a milestone in supporting
the LDCs to achieve comprehensive development, so they can benefit from their human and natural
resources potential to achieve growth and prosperity. Qatar acknowledged the particularly negative
effects of climate change on many LDCs and referred to the contribution made at the Climate Action
Summit held in September 2019 of USD 100 million to support LDCs and SIDS. He reaffirmed Qatar’s

4
continued efforts within the international community to support all initiatives aimed at finding solutions
to the crises and challenges that affected LDCs and to bringing international stability and peace.
The Honourable Ms. Karina Gould, Minister of Development Cooperation of Canada, described the
disproportionally negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on LDCs, which were threatening hard-won
development gains. The impact of the pandemic had added to the worsening effects of climate chance,
conflicts resulting in historically high levels of human migration and significant pressure due to high debt
levels in many LDCs. Canada had been supporting all efforts to fulfil the promise of the historic African
Continental Free Trade Area and was delighted to co-chair, alongside Bangladesh, the preparatory
committee for LDC5. Canada had also been partnering with LDCs on a range of initiatives to support
development objectives, for example on primary education. The minister emphasized the importance of
education, training and job opportunities for young people in African LDCs and Haiti, so they could get the
possibility to fully contribute to their communities. She also highlighted the importance of greater access
to financial markets, digital technologies and business development services for women. She concluded
that the coming ten years presented an opportunity to innovate, to pivot where necessary and to align all
efforts to solve the challenges African LDCs face. The future depended on the lasting commitment to move
forward with inclusive solutions that would see the world achieve the SDGs together, with no one left
behind.
H.E. Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, President of Malawi, shared some of the adverse impacts the COVID-19
pandemic had brought to African LDCs and some of the limitations it had exposed – especially in the fields
of science, technology, and innovations. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the Group of LDCs had
issued a statement on COVID-19, calling for a global stimulus package for LDCs, which included ODA
support, debt relief, aid for trade and access to technologies. The immediate concern was equitable and
universal access to vaccines and the necessity of declaring vaccines a global public good. Without access
to vaccinations for all, the economic consequences would be higher for all countries. He stressed the
importance of fully integrating African LDCs in world trade, with the African Continental Free Trade
Agreement (AFCTA) being an important first step in this direction. He reviewed the Istanbul Programme
of Action and outlined that many of its principles continued to be valid, especially looking at ownership
and leadership, which placed primary responsibility on the LDCs. To live up to these principles, emphasis
had to be placed on upholding the rule of law, promoting peace and justice, and ensuring the inclusion of
all relevant stakeholders, especially the youth. He outlined focus areas for LDCs during the next decade
that would be required to build resilience and find solutions to the current global economic crisis. He
thereby focused especially on building systemic resilience and crisis preparedness, domestic resource
mobilisation to identify measures to expand fiscal space and prevent illicit financial flows, harnessing
science, technology and innovation including renewable energy technologies, resilient food and nutrition
systems that transform agri-food systems to ensure sustainability and access to healthy diets, and
partnership and cooperation, urging the international community to demonstrate solidarity and provide
stronger support.

5
III. Session 1: Ministerial Dialogue on Lessons Learned and Building Back Better
The first session of the Africa Regional Review Meeting was chaired by the Right Honourable Dr. Saulos
Klaus Chilima, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi and Minister of Economic Planning and
Development and Public Sector Reforms. The session was structured as a ministerial dialogue preceded
by an introductory presentation and a keynote address. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the
LDCs were stressed by over 30 high level speakers, and national recovery plans, lessons learned, and policy
recommendations on how to build back better were shared.
Ms. Vera Songwe, ECA’s Executive Secretary, provided an introductory presentation, based on ECA’s
Report on the Implementation of the IPoA during the past decade.3 She highlighted that during the ten
years of IPoA implementation, African LDCs had made good progress on some social, political and health
targets, but they had been less successful in transforming their economies, falling short of the 7 percent
GDP growth target by 2.8 percentage points on average. Manufacturing value-added growth had been
declining since 2015. Sixty percent of Africa’s LDC population did not have access to electricity and one in
every three African LDC pupils did not graduate from primary school. Digitalization remained a challenge
with less than 20 percent of the African LDC population having access to the internet.
Ms. Songwe stressed that addressing the looming debt crisis would be vital in building forward better. It
would be imperative to assist LDCs in accessing concessional financing to strengthen their response to the
pandemic-induced crisis through increased access to cheap financing including through special drawing
rights. African LDCs would also need to move to recovery with a focus on green investments and
harnessing digital technologies and innovation to enhance growth, create decent jobs and accelerate
intra-regional trade, through the effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade
Agreement (AfCFTA). Stimulating investments in productive sectors would be crucial. Ms. Songwe
concluded by stating that greater emphasis had to be placed on securing the means of implementation of
the above-mentioned priorities.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the World Health Organization’s Director-General, delivered the
keynote address. He pointed out that COVID-19 had thrown into sharp relief the importance of better
preparedness, a ‘One Health approach’, and ‘universal health coverage’. The pandemic had severely
disrupted health systems, including emergency care, primary health care, routine immunization and many
other essential services. Vaccine equity and equitable distribution of vaccines, diagnostics and treatments
as global public goods were top priorities. He highlighted three main lessons, learned over the past year.
i. First was preparedness. When COVID-19 hit, investments for country and community-level
preparedness were inadequate, and the international system was not well coordinated to support
these efforts. These weaknesses had to be urgently addressed to strengthen the global ability to
prepare for, prevent, detect, and respond to pandemics. Two proposals had been put forward: (i)
a Universal Health and Preparedness Review, by Central African Republic and Benin, as a regular
and transparent process of peer review, aimed at building mutual trust and accountability for

3
See the Report document E/ECA/COE/39/15 of 13 January 2021.

6
preparedness, by exchanging best practices, identifying new and emerging threats, promoting
accountability and targeting investments more efficiently, and; (ii) an international treaty for
pandemic preparedness and response, which would give force to International Health Regulations.
ii. Second, he noted how difficult it was to predict next diseases given the fact that approximately
70 percent of all emerging and re-emerging pathogens were zoonotic. He therefore stressed that
future pandemics could only be prevented through an integrated ‘One Health approach’ that
addressed how human activities were disrupting ecosystems, encroaching on habitats, and
further driving climate change. These activities included pollution, large-scale deforestation and
extraction, the intensification of agriculture and livestock production, the overuse and misuse of
antibiotics, and the way we produce, consume, and trade food. “Protecting and promoting human
health and addressing determinants of health takes a whole-of-government, whole-of-society
approach”, he stressed.
iii. Lastly, he underscored that health was not a luxury or a reward for development. Rather, it was
the foundation of social, economic, and political stability. “When health is at risk, everything is at
risk”, he reminded the meeting. He added that health must not be seen as a cost to be contained,
but as an investment to be nurtured – an investment in productive populations, and in sustainable
and inclusive development. He concluded that ‘universal health coverage’ was essential and that
building strong health systems for universal health coverage required investments in primary
health care, and reliable supply of safe, effective and high-quality medicines.
The Ministerial Dialogue included 25 statements by heads of delegation participating in the Africa
Regional Review Meeting, including UN agencies and civil society representatives.
The Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, Vice President of Malawi, shared lessons learned from the
implementation of the IPoA in his country. He noted the tremendous progress in agricultural productivity,
primarily through the provision of agricultural input subsidies and value addition interventions on key
agricultural crops (cassava, beans, oil seed products and pigeon peas), with the plan to start exporting
globally. A major setback had been the prevalence of climatic shocks including droughts and floods. To
address these shocks, Malawi had been investing in climate smart agriculture. In the energy sector,
Malawi was ready to enhance energy production with emphasis on clean renewable energy, and planning
to utilize its regional energy sources through connection to the Southern Africa Regional Power Pool. The
Vice President noted that as a land-locked country, Malawi faced high transport costs which made it
difficult to fairly compete on the global market. Progress had been made in terms of improving trade
transit time thanks to the One-Stop-Border Post initiative that had streamlined border procedures and
facilitated trade with neighbouring countries. In coordination with the latter, Malawi had continued to
invest in rail and road infrastructure to facilitate trade with the rest of the world.
H.E. Mr. Selibe Mochoboroane, Honourable Minister of Development Planning of Lesotho, noted that his
government had been actively engaging the private sector in formulating and implementing strategies
that would drive economic development and create sustainable and decent jobs. Efforts had been made
to improve the investment climate through the Investment Climate Reforms Process aimed at increasing
private investment in the economy to promote financial resources mobilization for development.
7
However, challenges remained that continued to limit Lesotho’s productive and absorptive capacity. He
noted that the government aimed at growing its export base and attracting adequate trade and
investment flows. It had developed a curriculum and assessment policy aimed at harnessing and
developing the necessary skills that are better aligned to our economic strategy. Lesotho was in the
process of defining its new National Vision, which was an opportunity to further streamline strategies, to
ensure synergies with new global perspective including SDGs, The African Union Agenda 2063, Financing
for Development (Addis Ababa Action Agenda) and the LDC development Agenda.
H.E. Mr. Francisco André, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, stressed that
with global interdependence so clearly confirmed, the world had a moral imperative to make it a turning
point for real change. He noted that 60 percent of Portuguese bilateral Official Development Assistance
was concentrated in the Least Developed Countries and in Africa, by providing not only financial resources,
but also training of professionals, especially in the areas of health and education, as well as by raising the
awareness of the population, sending medical supplies, organizing humanitarian flights, and supporting
micro, small, and medium-sized companies, among others. As President of the Council of the European
Union (EU) since January 2021, Portugal had placed human development, a sine qua non condition for
sustainable development, as a priority in the area of international partnership building for the EU. He
announced that in April 2021, in partnership with the European Investment Bank, the EU-Africa High Level
Green Economic and Investment Forum would be organized with a view to strengthening investment
between the two continents, with particular emphasis on the green economy and energy transition, and
aiming to foster an effective partnership for economic development and job creation in Africa.
Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), noted that an
analysis by UNDP had found that 1 billion people could be living in extreme poverty by the year 2030 - a
quarter as a direct result of the pandemic. He put forward five pivotal areas that the LDC agenda for the
next decade could focus on:
i. Green Economy: it had been demonstrated that the greening of economies was a new engine for
growing wealth, increasing decent employment, and reducing persistent poverty. UNDP had been
helping countries to incorporate this concept into all COVID-19 recovery and stimulus measures.
An accelerated energy transition was a crucial component. With proper investment and support
of key international partners, African LDCs had the potential to “leapfrog” towards clean and
renewable energy that could create millions of new green jobs.
ii. Governance: over 60 percent of countries had regressed on basic rights in 2020 as a result of
measures to tackle the pandemic. He called on the UN family to continue to pool vital resources
and know-how to support effective, transparent, and accountable governance systems at all
levels, as stable foundations were necessary to create much-needed opportunities.
iii. Access to Finance/Debt Relief: the current crisis required a combination of additional concessional
financing, timely debt relief, and transformative reforms -- including strategic use of catalytic
blended finance solutions to attract sustainable private investment.
iv. Digital Transformation: UNDP had been helping countries take advantage of the power the
ongoing digital transformation, in particular innovations that could create new jobs. Affordable

8
broadband would be key. A worthwhile investment of $428 billion could achieve universal
broadband connectivity by 2030.
v. Social Protection: there was an urgent need to scale-up innovative approaches to expand social
protection coverage in sub-Saharan Africa, including schemes designed to correct gender
inequalities. UNDP had suggested the introduction of a Temporary Basic Income that would
enable nearly three billion people to stay at home – slowing the spread of the virus.
Mr. QU Dongyu, Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, underscored
the critical prevalence of undernourishment in African LDCs; which was more than double the global
average. He stressed the need to protect the functioning of domestic food and agricultural value chains,
notably in rural areas as food security and agriculture held the key to realize the 2030 Agenda and end
poverty and hunger. He called on African LDCs and Haiti to harness the potential and power of science for
the agro-food system transformation, to facilitate the adoption of innovative approaches and the use of
modern technology and digital applications. FAO had been working to catalyze the global efforts for
inclusive and sustainable food systems and called for better collaboration and sharing of successful
experiences among the international community.
H.E. Mr. Francis Mustapha Kai-Kai, Minister of Planning and Economic Development of the Republic of
Sierra Leone, emphasized the call for fair and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, the need to declare
vaccines a global public good and to provide support programmes to ensure universal immunization
coverage. He outlined the adverse impacts COVID-19 had on the development path of Sierra Leone, which
had been otherwise on a good trajectory before the pandemic, with human capital development at its
centre. He congratulated development partners on the support provided and drew attention to the need
for increased resource flows to finance the recovery efforts and achievement of the SDGs. He called for
adequate access to climate financing and technology transfer to enhance climate change mitigation and
adaptation plans. He reiterated the need for all member states to adhere to the commitments made in
the Paris Agreement and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. Sierra Leone welcomed the launch of the
Coalition on Sustainable Energy Access for LDCs and called upon scaling up energy investment in LDCs. He
expressed the commitment of Sierra Leone, as the chair of the G7 Group of Fragile States, to international
initiatives aimed at improving good governance, combatting corruption, inclusive development and
delivering services to its people.
Mr. Koen Doens, Director General of the European Commission's Department for International
Cooperation, European Union echoed the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in
calling for a global recovery initiative that was green, digital, socially just, resilient and considered
sustainability in its various forms. He underscored climate change, which was threatening livelihoods and
ultimately human existence; the need for a holistic digital rulebook that included accessibility,
investments in skills, and protection of data and privacy; the need for inclusive domestic job markets that
met the demands of young people and followed the demographics of many African countries; and
governance mechanisms that protected democratic institutions challenged by populism and
misinformation, the main global challenges of our time. He described how the EU as a partner on global
recovery generated scale through the Team Europe Initiative to provide a coordinated, efficient, and

9
impactful response to the pandemic. In less than one year, the initiative mobilised about EUR 40bn to help
partner countries respond to the crisis, led the contributions to COVAX with over EUR 2.2bn, including a
recent pledge of EUR 1.4bn at the G7 meeting, and invested in structural partnerships through the work
of the European and African Centres for Disease Control. In the period 2021 to 2027, the EU would aim to
mobilise a focused and efficient foreign aid budget. This would entail a substantial quantitative and
qualitative increase by being more flexible to adapt to evolving contexts and partner’s needs, including
tools to help restructure debt, provide concessional financing, offer technical assistance and foster private
sector development.
H.E. Mr. Mamadi Camara, Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Guinea, focused on the
adverse effect of the COVID-19 crisis on the livelihoods of people and the economy of Guinea. The
response by the Government of Guinea had helped mitigate these and included estimating and securing
additional budgetary resources, ensuring the availability of funds for service delivery, accounting for and
transparently reporting on resources deployed and ensuring the continuity of activities of essential staff.
He noted that Guinea would continue its fiscal transparency efforts to improve efficiency and
effectiveness of public investment and plans on strengthening public investment in growth sectors.
H.E. Mr. Dag-Inge Ulstein, Minister of International Development of Norway stressed the need to prioritise
a rapid and equitable roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines globally. Norway had been co-chairing the Facilitation
Council of the ACT Accelerator together with South Africa to mobilize support to develop, produce and
make COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and tests available globally. He called on all countries to step up
and finance the USD 27 billion missing to fund the ACT Accelerator. Norway had contributed USD 500
million to it and maintained its development funding at one per cent of the country’s GDP. He noted the
priority areas of international cooperation for Norway as being climate adaption and the prevention and
fight against hunger and its active engagement in the preparations for the UN Food Systems Summit.
Norway was also the co-leader of the Alliance for Digital Public Goods and the Norwegian global digital
library being in use in several LDCs. He highlighted the need to transform the digital divide into a digital
bridge to open opportunities for many people in LDCs. Together with the World Bank, IFC and regional
development banks, Norway promoted private sector development and supports the African
Development Bank’s “Jobs for Youth in Africa” initiative. He mentioned the investment of 60 percent of
Norfund’s capital in Sub-Saharan Africa and concrete counter-cyclical actions to support small businesses
throughout the pandemic. He noted the importance of looking at each country’s specific circumstances
and described the process of debt restructuring for countries in immediate debt distress by the Paris Club.
He concluded by stressing the need for global solidarity and cooperation to promote financial integrity,
transparency, and accountability for sustainable development.
H.E. Mr. Augustus Jonathan Flomo, Deputy Minister for Economic Management, Ministry of Finance and
Development Planning of the Republic of Liberia, discussed some of the issues Liberia had to face over the
past decade, including the Ebola crisis, commodity price drops and the repercussions of the war and
stressed that Liberia worked very hard to ensure the national development agenda remains a key priority.
For this purpose, the Government of Liberia concentrated on four policy areas of reform: restoring
macroeconomic stability, ensuring a fiscally sustainable growth path, addressing weaknesses in public

10
sector governance and the rule of law and the provision of basic social services. He confirmed that the
Government of Liberia was also focussing on private sector growth and digitizing the economy, which
became a sudden priority with the COVID-19 crisis. He recognised the support received by development
partners and informed about a recently launched National Aid & NGO Policy, which highlighted alignment
with the national development agenda, prioritizing the use of country systems as a way of building
capacity.
Ms. Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UNSG for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNDRR, underlined
the importance of the Istanbul Programme of Action in advancing the disaster risk reduction agenda in
LDCs. In light of COVID-19 and the climate emergency, the need to reflect the multi-hazard and systemic
nature of risk faced by LDCs in the new Programme of Action had become more urgent. Disaster risk
reduction needed to be placed at the core of the objectives, principles, and priorities of the programme
of action, particularly in the areas of structural transformation, productive capacities and infrastructure
development. She stressed the importance of the LDC5 Conference in stepping up national action on
disaster risk reduction and the need for international support on this. She concluded by commending the
African member states, the African Union and sub-regional organizations on their commitment to disaster
risk reduction and ensured the full commitment by her office to support African LDCs in their journey
towards resilience.
Dr. Milton Reis, State Secretary for Planning of the Republic of Angola, discussed the extension of the
preparatory period for graduation that the General Assembly had recently agreed to. Based on the drop
in oil prices and its effect on the economy, in 2018 Angola had signed an IMF agreement under the
Extended Financing Programme, which established targets such as a reduction in fiscal vulnerabilities,
strengthened debt sustainability, reduced inflation, a flexible exchange regime, financial sector stability
and a strengthened framework to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. To build a strong,
sustainable and inclusive economy and create an enabling environment for business activities, Angola was
undertaking deep institutional and economic reforms and aimed to diversify its economy. He stressed the
need for adequate human and financial resources on all levels to implement the actions and
recommendations of the IPoA. He concluded by focusing on the demographic potential of many African
LDCs and highlighted that to take advantage of it, strategies in cooperation with development partners
needed to be developed to build human capital capacity and improve the quality of education,
strengthening the national social protection systems and strengthening health care systems and improve
the quality of health care services.
Ambassador Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury, Ambassador of Finland in Malawi, also outlined the adverse
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LDCs threatening the achievement of the SDGs and increasing
extreme poverty. She reconfirmed Finland’s commitment to contributing to international efforts to
promote sustainable development, combat climate change and respond to the pandemic bilaterally,
multilaterally and via the EU. She reiterated Finland’s support to the preparations for the LDC5
Conference, particularly referring to her country hosting the LDC Future Forum together with the UNU-
WIDER Institute with the aim to produce science-based recommendations that would benefit the action
plan for the coming decade.

11
Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), noted that even
before the global pandemic, the global community had fallen behind in realizing the aspirations of the
IPOA. She called for choosing partnership for impact in the formulation of the new programme of action.
Based on the disproportionally adverse impact of the pandemic on micro-, small- and medium-enterprises
(MSMEs), she suggested that these should be at the centre of the next programme of action – supported
by policies and programmes to build resilience and competitiveness coupled with Aid for Trade from
traditional donors, South-South partners and the private sector. Furthermore, all economic and
development policies needed to address climate change and mainstream green solutions as well as digital
empowerment. Finally, investment in women’s economic empowerment had to be a priority, which ITC
addressed through its SheTrades initiative, working with women entrepreneurs and partners to further
develop the competitiveness and capacity of women led MSMEs. She concluded by stressing the need for
partnership and international collaboration and reported on the partnership between ITC and OHRLLS to
undertake a joint evidence-based export potential analysis in selected LDCs and a joint operational study
focusing on best practice routes to recovery to be launched at LDC5.
Dr. Nemera Gebeyehu Mamo, State Minister of Planning and Development Commission of the Federal
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, agreed on the overall uneven and mixed level of implementation of the
Istanbul Programme of Action. He noted the challenges of slow structural transformation and a poorly
performing export sector with limited competitiveness on the path to sustainable economic growth.
Ethiopia had formulated a ten-year perspective plan addressing these issues and mainstreaming the SDGs
and other global goals. He highlighted the commitment of Ethiopia to promote regional integration and
cooperation by a new logistics strategy, constructing infrastructure and exporting electricity to
neighbouring countries. He emphasised the need for enhanced support to LDCs to overcome structural
challenges and to leave no one behind.
Mr. Holger Illi, Deputy Director Africa, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development, referred to Germany’s long-standing cooperation with LDCs in the face of additional
challenges faced due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He noted the launch of an Emergency COVID-
19 Support Programme and the commitment of EUR 4.3 billion to partner countries as part of the 2020-
2021 development budget. He stressed the need to promote equitable access to vaccines and support the
global ACT-Accelerator in the G7 and G20, to which Germany contributed EUR 600 million in 2020 as the
second biggest donor and recently pledged an additional EUR 1.5bn to the ACT-Accelerator. He expressed
his concern about the state of progress with regards to vaccine distribution and asked for additional
countries and multilateral development banks to also step in and provide funding to the efforts of the ACT
Accelerator in 2021. He welcomed a discussion on how the recovery measures could be aligned with the
Agenda 2030 and a “forward recovery”. He suggested building back better as the leading slogan in future
development policy and policy making through carbon-neutral investments and transformative policies.
Mr. Joshua Setipa, Managing Director of the UN Technology Bank for the LDCs, outlined how COVID-19
had changed the world and impacted health, social, economic, and political structures in LDCs, putting
LDCs at risk of being left further behind. He stressed the need for global partnerships and enhanced
coordination to allow LDCs to respond to COVID-19, foster productive capacities, graduate from the LDC

12
status and achieve the SDGs. He focused on concerted efforts that needed to address inequality within
and across countries, bridging the digital divide, strengthening health care systems by accelerating
universal health care progress, enhancing STI capacity in LDCs and developing supportive networks by
facilitating collaboration and resource sharing between public and private sector actors. He concluded by
confirming the readiness of the Technology Bank for LDCs to support LDCs to identify their STI challenges
and opportunities and promote structural economic transformation and the achievements of the SDGs.
Ambassador Philip Ochen Odida, Deputy Permanent Representative of Uganda to the UN in New York,
noted that it was critical for the LDC5 Conference to adopt a new ambitious and action-oriented
programme of action that would support LDC graduation. Notwithstanding constraints, Uganda had
registered some progress including in the areas of GDP growth, increase in accessibility to electricity and
use of mobile phones for financial transactions, and reduction of maternal and infant mortality and HIV
rates. It had adopted its third national development plan for 2021-2025 on the theme sustainable
industrialization for inclusive growth, employment, and wealth creation. This included priority policies to
increase household incomes, enhance value addition and increase productive capacities and export
diversification. Lessons learned were the need to strengthen public sector management, to invest
holistically in human capital development; to intensify efforts to address climate change, biodiversity loss;
explore alternate sources of revenue and blended finance. The new programme of action should continue
robust means of implementation and monitoring systems.
Ambassador Ronaldo Costa Filho, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the UN in New York, noted some
of the initiatives and projects that several LDCs were implementing together with Brazil as a partner in
South-South cooperation. He expressed his appreciation for LDC5 coming at a timely moment with a new
programme of action needed for the 1 billion people living in LDCs. He outlined priority areas for the
programme including science, technology and innovation, to allow LDCs to participate in the global digital
economy; agriculture as a priority sector for job creation in LDCs with enhanced productivity and efficiency
having the potential to eradicate poverty; international trade to allow for diversification of value chains;
and strategies to ensure smooth graduation and transition periods for LDCs. He concluded by reaffirming
the importance the Government of Brazil had attached to LDC5 and its preparatory process.
Ms. Trine Rask Thygesen, State Secretary for Development Cooperation of Denmark, noted the
particularly adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LDCs, which was coupled with the severe
impacts of climate change and ongoing conflicts. She stressed the commitment of Denmark as a long-
standing partner, who was taking the joint responsibility seriously. For more than 40 years Denmark had
demonstrated solidarity and delivered on the UN goal of committing at least 0.7 percent of GNI to
development funding. Through the EU and as a direct donor, Denmark was supporting the COVAX facility
and the World Bank’s initiative on electrification of health clinics in Africa with renewable energies
(ESMAP) and reprioritised DKK 1bn in 2020 to the COVID-19 crisis in developing countries. She stressed
the need for building back better, greener and more equal and confirmed that Denmark would continue
its work for sustainable energy for all.
Mr. Hasan Kleib, Deputy Director General, Regional and National Development Sector, World Intellectual
Property Organization, outlined WIPO’s contributions to the implementation of the IPoA assisting LDCs in

13
integrating intellectual property into their national development policies and strategies. Since 2015, WIPO
had been supporting the Regional Partnership Initiative for Innovation and Technological Capacity
Building for the LDCs in Africa in collaboration with UNECA and provided technical assistance to support
LDCs through further capacity building measures. During the past decade, WIPO helped establish
Technology and Innovation Support Centres in 22 African LDCs to assist the local research and business
community. He outlined that despite some progress, LDCs still had a long way to go towards the effective
use of intellectual property as a tool for development and reasoned that capacity- and institution-building
for science, technology and innovation and intellectual property in LDCs should be among the key
substantive areas of focus for the LDC5 conference. He underlined the continued commitment of WIPO
to assist LDCs in their efforts and ensured intensification of support to promote innovation and to enhance
productive capacity and competitiveness of LDCs.
Ambassador Cheikh Niang, Permanent Representative of Senegal to the UN in New York, noted that
though much of the IPoA agenda remained unfinished, its principles continued to be relevant. He stated
that Senegal made progress in public investments in agriculture and infrastructure, however its economy
was still characterized by structural constraints and a large informal sector. Because of the pandemic
about 28 percent of Senegal’s enterprises had come to a sudden halt and 85 percent of households
suffered a fall in their income. Based on experience with prior epidemics, Senegal had shown a high level
of resilience thanks to the contribution of all parts of society. The government had invested about 7
percent of its GDP to support a national programme of economic resilience that would ensure macro-
economic stability and strengthen the public health system. Senegal would start its COVID-19 vaccine
campaign on 23 February 2021 and would continue until complete eradication of the virus. Ambassador
Niang called for new approaches to be adopted in Doha to reduce ODA dependence of African LDCs and
curb illicit financial flows. A strong partnership should emerge to facilitate public and private investments
in resilient infrastructure and new technologies in LDCs. It was also essential to ensure that LDCs could
more easily access climate change financing and promote the incorporation of disaster risk reduction
management in all development policies.
H.E. Mr. Alexander Chiteme, Minister of National Development Planning of the Republic of Zambia,
highlighted the need to accelerate development efforts so that more LDCs could record progress. He
focused on the progress made by Zambia during the past decade in terms of infrastructure development,
electricity generation, investments in the communications sector with increased internet subscriptions,
financial inclusion, improvements in access to education with increased literary levels, decreases in
maternal mortality and stunting and an increase of households that benefitted from social protection
programmes such as social cash transfers. Despite the progress made, Zambia had not been spared from
the effects of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. He outlined the main lessons learned from the
implementation of the IPoA, which were the need to invest in people and improve human development
indicators, commitment to structural transformation, the potential of climate change to undermine
development gains and therefore the requirement for a decisive and consistent response to climate
change, the need to create an enabling environment for private sector growth, good governance and
addressing developmental inequality. Based on these lessons, he stressed the need to make economic
diversification as well as youth unemployment, skills development, universal health coverage, the

14
economic participation of women and building resilience to climate change priorities in the next
programme of action.
Mr. Demba Moussa Dembele, President of LDC Watch stressed the adverse impact of the COVID-19
pandemic and expressed concerns with respect to the impact of the pandemic on the reliability of data
determining the graduation prospects. He recommended an extended 9-year preparatory period for LDCs
eligible for graduation for the first time, such as Comoros, Djibouti, Senegal, and Zambia, in light of the
pandemic. He supported the request by the LDC Group for an extension of the WTO TRIPS general
transition period for an additional 12-year period after graduation. He stressed the need for structural
transformation and diversification of LDCs economies as well as the need for an open internet, based on
net neutrality as a common good. He called upon the international community to adhere to commitments
on financial flows, trade and technical assistance made to LDCs in 2001 in Brussels and 2011 in Istanbul.
And he called upon the UN and all development partners to ensure timely and equitable access to vaccines
for LDCs, highlighting this as a global responsibility and urged development partners to fulfil the pledge
made of allocating 0.2 percent of their GNP to LDCs. He concluded by recommending providing more
policy space for LDCs in international decision-making, strengthening their ownership and leadership and
providing more space to LDC Watch and other CSOs to enhance their participation in debates on
development issues on all levels.
Mr. Nickson Kasolene, Youth representative, Central Committee member, TEJO (World Esperanto Youth
Organization), stressed the need to solve the health crisis, security issues, improve access to education,
productive employment and decent work as well as fill the gaps with respect to infrastructure, transport,
access to energy and ICT, which continued to hold back the development of many African LDCs. He
underscored that the majority of the population in many African LDCs were made up of young people and
that young people could be agents of change. To ensure that young people were included in policy and
decision-making processes that would define their present and future, it was necessary for governments
to recognise young people as equal partners and relevant stakeholders.

Session 2: Building peaceful, just and inclusive societies – organized in cooperation with OSAA
Session 2 was held on 23 February 2021 and was moderated by Ms. Cristina Duarte, Under Secretary
General and Special Adviser on Africa to the United Nations Secretary-General. The session featured
presentations by H.E. Mr. Eisenhower Mkaka, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Malawi; H.E. Ms. Victoria
Ouédraogo Kibora, Minister of Justice, Human Rights and Civic Participation of Burkina Faso; Ms. Ahunna
Eziakonwa, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa; Dr. Cyril Obi,
Program Director, The African Initiative, Social Sciences Research Council; Mr. Raphael Obonyo, Young
Activist and Public Policy Specialist. H.E. Ms. Marie Chatardová, Ambassador and Permanent
Representative of the Czech Republic to the United Nations in New York, acted as lead discussant and an
interactive discussion followed.
Participants discussed progress made in the areas of governance and building peaceful, just and inclusive
societies recognizing that the theme of the session corresponded with “good governance at all levels”,
which was one of the eight interrelated priority areas of the IPoA.

15
Participants acknowledged that despite the existing challenges, all of which were exacerbated by severe
impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, many LDCs had made some progress in achieving good governance,
rule of law, protection and promotion of human rights, and democratic participation. Against this
background, however, the prevalence of conflict continued to be high in African LDCs and election-related
violent protests and terrorism were on the rise. In many cases, civil unrest was entwined with political
instability, high unemployment, particularly among the youth, radicalization, forced migration, and the
effects of climate change, especially in the form of competition over scarce resources. This situation
resulted in socio-economic disruptions and development setbacks including in pushing populations into
food insecurity not only in conflict affected LDCs but in their sub-regions and the continent at large.
Participants assessed the causes of instability across LDCs. One of the driving factors highlighted in the
session was the unequal and limited access to vital-and-everyday services such as water and sanitation,
education, healthcare and housing, which in turn, amplifies socioeconomic disparities and magnified
perceived hopelessness towards addressing poverty and marginalization, therefore eroding trust and the
social contract between citizens and their governments. The COVID-19 pandemic had put additional
pressure on governments’ capacity to deliver basic services to their citizens.
Participants shared country experiences in building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies as well as
initiatives by international organizations to support these efforts both at the national and regional levels.
It was reiterated that countries’ constitutions and laws explicitly prohibit all forms of discrimination,
including those that are based on race, ethnic groups, gender, and religions. Building on these premises,
LDCs have formulated strategies aimed at strengthening governance institutions to promote the rule of
law and ensuring access to justice, while guaranteeing equality and non-discrimination. Where conflict
erupted, LDCs designed reintegration programmes that rested on restoring state authority along with
provision of basic public services and support to communities to build livelihoods. In support of national
and regional efforts, development partners of LDCs had also rolled out strategies, plans and projects.
These focused on national as well as regional cooperation to promote complementarity as well as
synergies of activities, partnerships and innovations, and mobilize expertise and financial resources for
implementation.
Participants felt that policymakers should enhance their understanding of real or perceived exclusion and
lack of representation with a view to make policy-processes more inclusive of youth and other important
stakeholders. In this regard, it was recommended to promote a new social compact based on bridging
unequal access to resources, justice and economic opportunities to build greater resilience and drive
social transformation.
Participants agreed that one of the core elements of this social contract was improved and equal public
service delivery. There was a need to build social legitimacy to consolidate political legitimacy with the
aim of building resilient societies.
There was also a consensus that ensuring improved and equal access to public services by all requires
inclusiveness through the whole programmatic cycle – from planning and budgeting to monitoring and
accountability. This would require building and strengthening of inclusive institutions, where civil society,

16
women, youth, minorities and people with disabilities and all other important and relevant stakeholders,
have opportunities to make their voices heard.
Participants shared the view that along with equal access to public service, structural transformation of
the economies of LDCs, decent employment generation, access and use of technologies, including those
needed for the production of vaccines, were also essential ingredients to building conducive environment
for peace and security in LDCs. Related to this, participants noted that local level and individual youth-led
socially and economically profitable initiatives needed to be promoted since they provided opportunities
to improve their lives and their communities.
The importance of increasing transparency in public service delivery as well as equitable access to
functioning, impartial and responsive grievance redress mechanisms and distribution across the continent
was noted as a critical step in efforts to prevent instability and conflict.
They also acknowledged the importance of adequate domestic and regional mediation and conflict
resolution mechanisms/frameworks and reiterated the needs to build synergies among these institutional
tools.
Participants stressed the need for more responsive leadership, good governance, effective justice and
peace institutions and social investments in the youth and vulnerable populations by prioritizing
education and research-based knowledge production as key drivers of social justice, food security, health
security, human capital expansion and technological innovation which will enable LDCs to accelerate their
drive towards sustainable development.
Participants noted the importance of further strengthening capacities in systematizing prevention-
orientation in planning and delivery of development outcomes and in further integrating socio-economic
analysis into political engagement strategies in LDCs.
There was a need to promote young people’s inclusion in the peace and security agenda. Governments
must create inclusive spaces and platforms for young leaders to learn from and share practical knowledge
and skills with experienced professionals.
Further, participants recognized the critical need of building partnerships, with LDCs being in the driving
seat. They also concurred that building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies could not happen without
the effective participation and voice of LDCs in global governance and reiterated calls for reforms in the
global governance architecture. The attainment of such reforms is precedent to a truly just and inclusive
global community.

IV. Session 3: Rethinking structural transformation in African LDCs in the era of technological
advancement and innovation
Session 3 was held on 23 February 2021 and was moderated by Ms. Maria Torres Macho, UN Resident
Coordinator in Malawi. The session featured presentations by the Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus
Chilima, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi and Minister of Economic Planning and Development
and Public Sector Reforms; Mr. Mario Pezzini, Director, OECD Development Centre; Ms. Doreen Bogdan-
Martin, Director, International Telecommunication Union (ITU); Mr. Ken Shawa, Senior Economist,
17
Regional Office for Africa, International Labour Organization (ILO), Ms. Naria Santa Lucia, General
Manager Digital Inclusion and Community Engagement, Microsoft Philanthropies; Ms. Boutheina
Guermazi, Director of Digital Development Department of the Infrastructure Practice Group, World Bank
Group. Mr. Farrukh Alimdjanov, Industrial Development Officer within the Innovation and Digitalization
Division at the UNIDO Department of Digitalization, Technology and Agri-Business, acted as lead
discussant and an interactive discussion followed.
Participants focused on the important role of technological advancement and innovation as enablers for
structural transformation to build back better after the pandemic and to achieve the SDGs. This was crucial
for African LDCs as these countries relied on a limited export base, dominated by export of low value
primary agricultural or natural resource-based products.
Participants called for countries to re-invigorate their manufacturing sector through the use of new
technologies and by ensuring strong and forward-looking linkages with, for example, agriculture and
mining sectors by promoting value addition. Technology could be a passport to development if fully
integrated in relevant sectors. Digital tools could make agricultural activities more productive and support
manufacturing and services to be more connected. Agro-industrialisation policies were recommended as
they had the potential to reallocate resources from labour-intensive and less productive activities towards
more capital and technology-intensive ones that were more efficient. The need for digital connectivity
and digital platforms to support the structural transformation and employment creation for communities,
youth, and women was also underscored.
The COVID-19 pandemic had created a political momentum for accelerating digital transformation with
digital as the new paradigm for development. To sustain this, public and private institutions had to play
an important role. The session recommended building new and upgraded partnerships between the
public and the private sector. The private sector should be engaged in co-designing and supporting
projects using data-driven approaches. This type of investment could have catalytic effects on projects
that governments could scale up.
Participants stressed the need to invest in (digital) education and skills development to close the digital
divide between rural and urban areas as well as women and men and increase human capacity and labour
productivity so that LDCs will be able to reap the benefits of digital transformation. While digital literacy
was a first step, digital fluency and life-long-learning systems would be required, especially in local
environments that provided the required knowledge and adaptation possibilities for entrepreneurs.
In addition, the need to tackle challenges of affordable broadband connectivity was underscored. This
could be done through appropriate policies and regulation, alternative funding models, infrastructure
sharing, and creating the right conditions for private sector investment, amongst others. Also, existing
technologies needed to be adapted to local needs.
Participants recommended the adoption of a comprehensive approach that looked at digital
transformation in a holistic manner as having the potential to raise growth per capita, by 1.5 percent per
year, and reduce poverty headcount by 0.7 per cent per year. For this to happen, the individual challenges
of African LDCs had to be addressed, including the digital infrastructure, broadband access, availability,

18
safety and affordability, skills, entrepreneurship, inclusion, data protection, protection of intellectual
property rights and cybersecurity.

V. Session 4: Mobilizing resources for sustainable development in African LDCs

Session 4 was held on 24 February 2021 and was moderated by Mr. Anders Berlin, Senior Adviser, UN
Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). The keynote address was delivered by Ms. Susanna Moorehead,
Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Chair, OECD. The session featured presentations by Honorable
Felix Mlusu, Minister of Finance, Malawi; Honorable Augustus J. Flomo, Deputy Minister for Economic
Management, Ministry of Finance Liberia; Ms. Rola Dashti, Executive Secretary, UN Economic and Social
Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA); Ms. Preeti Sinha, Executive Secretary, UN Capital
Development Fund (UNCDF); Mr. Theophilus Jong Yungong, Head of Programmes, African Forum and
Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD); Mr. Admassu Tadesse, Group MD and President
Emeritus, Trade and Development Bank (TDB); Dr. Sarah Ssewanyana, Executive Director, Economic Policy
Research Centre (EPRC), Uganda. An interactive discussion followed.
The discussion acknowledged the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the already vulnerable and
fragile LDC economies. It was noted that SDGs were off-track, but now they were going backwards, with
the huge funding gap widening further. For example, tax revenues and remittances have declined and FDI
flows have collapsed, while international trade had also been severely affected. At the same time access
to borrowing had also become harder and illicit financial flows are still prevalent in many African LDCs.
Most speakers called for stronger collective political will and effective partnerships across all sectors and
across all borders, including the private sector, to build back better and greener for women, children and
men. The need to break down silos was reiterated to implement solutions that have been discussed for a
long time. For all sources of finance, a stronger case for investment in LDCs needed to be made, including
a rethinking of the risk appetite.
It was flagged that tax revenues in African LDCs were low, partly due to their large informal sector. Thus,
innovative ways for mobilizing domestic resources were needed. For example, Malawi was incentivizing
the informal sector to bring them into the formal sector for tax purposes, for example through credit-
financing facilities that could be accessed through SME associations or cooperatives.
The need to be strategic to support revenue generation was also flagged, including broadening the tax
base to sectors not adequately contributing to tax revenue, for example natural resource extraction as
well as reducing tax evasion. In this respect the need for capacity building as well as resources for the
implementation of reforms were highlighted, as well as the availability of support, for example through
tax inspectors without borders.
It was also suggested that the government could promote national solidarity funds, that brought together
the richest people in the country to create a fund that was targeted towards creating opportunity for the
poor.
At the same time the need to improve efficiency of spending of public resources was mentioned, including
balancing of social services with economic infrastructure and addressing inequality through inclusive

19
spending. Fiscal sustainability of social programmes should be ensured, creating opportunities and not
dependencies. The key role of financial sector reforms was flagged, including the development of
adequate payment infrastructure.
Speakers informed that ODA to LDCs has declined between 2011 and 2019 and total ODA is not expected
to increase. It was noted that DAC donors in addition to their bilateral ODA also contribute through
multilateral channels, including support to COVAX.
Thus, the need to prioritize ODA to LDCs as well as to enhance effectiveness of ODA was flagged. This
would include better coordination among development partners and alignment of aid with national
priorities, including through budget support or sector wide support. The issuance of new Special Drawing
Rights (SDRs), combined with a redistribution mechanism targeting SDGs was recommended.
Furthermore, the important role of South-South cooperation was highlighted.
It was mentioned that in many LDCs the debt to GDP ratio was increasing and the composition of debt
changed towards less concessional sources. Thus, responsible borrowing for productive use and
responsible lending, not overburdening countries was recommended. This would include investment in
revenue generating infrastructure and other capital investments that could support the long-term debt
servicing.
Most speakers welcomed the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) to enhance fiscal space and
called for its extension. In addition, the need for debt restructuring mechanisms to ensure long-term debt
sustainability, was flagged, including debt for SDG or climate swaps. It was also highlighted that the
international financial architecture needed to take LDC interests into account.
Speakers recommended that ODA needed to be combined with other sources of financing, making ODA
more catalytic. However, obstacles to blended finance mentioned, included limited fiscal space for co-
financing as well as small sizes of potential projects.
It was suggested that donors, LDCs, and institutional investors collectively work on a blended finance
initiative to fund SDG in LDCs. Furthermore, the need to aggregate deals to reach minimum sizes required
by finance providers, the need to develop pipelines of projects in LDCs and guarantees to reduce risks
were discussed. A global roadshow was suggested to expose the LDCs to institutional investors to
showcase their return potential.
There was agreement that governments needed to create enabling environments for the private sector
to invest in risky markets and create employment for youth. The need for risk mitigation strategies
including guarantees, to enhance finance for local companies including SMEs was highlighted. The role of
public-private partnerships was also discussed.
The Trade and Development Bankwas mentioned as an example combining public and private capital. The
importance of understanding the requirements of private institutional investors, like pension funds from
within and outside Africa was underscored. TDB created opportunities to co-finance investment, including
for trade (vaccines, fertilizer). It attracted risk adjusted bankable business, due to enhanced credibility.
The sharing of experiences of different financial institutions was also recommended.

20
Several speakers focused on the need to enhance financing for green solutions from all sources, including
innovative solutions like bonds for biodiversity. It was recommended to extend development
effectiveness principles to climate finance and to consider externalities of financing decisions. It was
flagged that a green transformation could create income and thus resources for increased investment.
It was mentioned that to address fiscal risks emanating from natural disasters, Malawi was investing in
risk transfer financing instruments, including sovereign insurance.

VI. Session 5: Enhancing External Trade, building and maintaining resilient infrastructure and
promoting regional integration in African LDCs
Session 5 was held on 24 February 2021 and was moderated by Ms. Giovanie Biha, Deputy Special
Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS). The
session featured presentations by Honorable Dr. Thabiso Paul Molapo, Minister of Trade and Industry,
Lesotho; Ms. Isabelle Durant, Acting Secretary General, United Nations Conference on Trade and
Development (UNCTAD); Honorable Mr. Sosten Gwengwe, Minister of Trade, MP, Malawi; Mr. Ratnakar
Adhikari, Executive Director for the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF); Ms. Emily Mburu-Ndoria,
Director of Trade in Services and IP,African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat (AfCFTA); Mr. Taufiqur
Rahman, Head, LDC Unit, Development Division, World Trade Organisation (WTO); Ms. Louise Wigget,
Chief Executive Officer, Global Trade Solution. An interactive discussion followed.
The Session discussed enhancing external trade for African LDCs, infrastructure development and the role
of regional integration of the ARRM on the Implementation of the IPoA.
Panelists acknowledged the critical importance of international trade for LDCs to achieve the SDGs. It was
also recognized that the share of LDCs in global trade had not seen any discernible improvement over the
last decade - the share of LDCs in Africa in world merchandise exports had declined from 0.69 per cent in
2011 to 0.57 per cent in 2019. African LDCs represented half of commercial services exports of the LDC
Group.
It was highlighted that trade agreements and arrangements had enabled African LDCs to participate in the
global and regional value chains resulting in industrialization in certain economic sectors. Thousands of
jobs had been created and maintained. The recently launched African Continental Free Trade Area
(AfCFTA) provided additional market access opportunities. AfCFTA was expected to spur an accelerated
industrialisation through diversified productive capacities in line with the attainment of broader Agenda
2063 goals. This would present significant opportunities for accelerated economic expansion that would
yield real benefits to LDCs and would mobilise greater domestic and foreign investments.
Speakers also highlighted that COVID-19 restrictions and measures had slowed down economic activities
and caused disruptions to production networks, supply chains and consumer spending. In addition, there
were challenges pertaining to LDCs’ undiversified export products and markets.
Participants acknowledged that infrastructure remained a key constraint and challenge for LDCs in Africa.
Investment in infrastructure could serve as a foundation for economic development and growth. Building
sustainable infrastructure would help ensure delivery of development benefits over a long term. It was

21
recommended that LDC governments develop policies geared towards diversification and build
infrastructure that was required to support industrialisation, including agriculture, mainly focused on
production of high value products and agro-processing, manufacturing, services (tourism, creative
industries) and technology and innovation.
Participants shared that achieving regional integration for Africa required hard infrastructure (ports,
roads, railways and telecommunications), soft infrastructure (regulations, customs, business
environment) and increased breadth and depth of integration (market access, trade and integration
beyond trade). The role of the private sector in mobilising resources for infrastructure development was
emphasised. There was a need to empower Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to increase
their share of trade as LDCs strive to penetrate the African market by supplying goods and services to the
rest of the continent.
It was suggested that greater gains would also be realized through trade facilitation instruments, by
reducing nontariff barriers and improving hard and soft infrastructure at the borders. These measures
would reduce red tape, lower compliance costs for traders, and ultimately make it easier for African
businesses to create regional value chains and integrate into global supply chains.
To ensure that Aid for Trade flows had a more impactful role, sectors and value chains with the greatest
potential for poverty reduction and inclusiveness needed to be strengthened, including greater
streamlining of the gender dimension in Aid for Trade support. Donor coordination, through mechanisms
such as the EIF, should be further exploited for targeted assistance and resource mobilization towards
common priorities in the LDCs.

VII. Session 6: Social and human development in the African LDCs: reducing inequality and
advancing wellbeing and opportunities – organized in cooperation with UNDP
Session 6 was held on 25 February 2021 and was moderated by Mr. Mansour Ndiaye, Head of Inclusive
Growth, UNDP. The session featured an opening statement by Honourable Ms. Patricia Kaliati, Minister
of Gender Community Development and Social Welfare of Malawi and presentations by H.E. Ms. Paula
Ingabire, Minister of Information and Communications Technology of Rwanda, H.E. Mr. Alexander
Chiteme, Minister of National Development and Planning of Zambia, Mr. Raymond Gilpin, Chief, Strategy
Analysis and Research Team, UNDP Africa Bureau, Mr. Joël Anani, Regional Director for Africa,
International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) and Mr. Haroon Bhorat, Director of
Development Policy Research Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa. An interactive discussion
followed.
Participants acknowledged the backsliding of millions in Africa into extreme poverty, due to the direct -
and especially indirect - effects of COVID-19. Poverty had risen for the first time in 20 years, and 100
million Africans who could previously afford energy were no longer able to. The impact had been felt
especially by women and girls, who had lost jobs and left school at very high rates. Gender-based violence,
rape and marriage and pregnancy rates for girls under the age of 18 had risen during the pandemic,
stressing the importance of measures towards eliminating violence against women, ensuring sexual and
reproductive health and promote human rights and gender equality.

22
A key theme raised by the participants included social protection, safety nets and other support measures
to provide people (especially youth, women, and girls) with the appropriate training and opportunities for
innovation that could help individuals and communities develop. Despite the positive examples of
expansion of cash transfer programs in African LDCs, participants agreed that much remained to be done.
This combined with the bleak employment outlook across Sub-Saharan Africa by 2100 (35 percent of all
individuals of working age globally will be in Sub-Saharan Africa), demonstrated the need to find more
integrated solutions for employment creation.
Participants highlighted the importance of digital connectivity to everything from supporting youth
innovation and service provision, to financial inclusion and blended learning (while recognizing that some
students had not had access to even radio broadcast learning during COVID-19 lockdowns). Rwanda
reported using robots for disinfecting spaces in airports, taking 30 minutes compared to 6 hours required
by humans, showing how much more time health professionals could spend on their patients with the
appropriate technology to support them. However, there was much work to be done as the largest
proportion of unconnected people globally lived in Sub-Saharan African. Investments in digital
connectivity and its supporting infrastructure were necessary to make progress in these areas.
Structural transformation that addressed human, natural, and financial capital in an integrated manner
was key to building back better after COVID-19. In moving from agriculture to production, countries
should examine their capabilities and build from there as for example with growing cocoa and expanding
to processing chocolate. Projects like the Observatory of Economic Complexity4 , which analysed
international trade data to advise countries on where to focus their efforts, could be an innovative
approach to supporting LDCs planning and trading systems. Participants concluded that investments in
human capital, especially in women and youth were key to tackling the inequalities that limited access to
justice, financial services and social services required to move out of poverty.

VIII. Session 7: Building sustainable, inclusive and resilient food systems in African LDCs – organized
in cooperation with FAO
Session 7 was held on 24 February 2021 and was moderated by Mr. Abebe Haile-Gabriele, Assistant
Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN
(FAO). A keynote address was delivered by Dr. Máximo Torero, FAO Chief Economist. It featured
presentations by H.E. Ato Oumer Hussein, Minister of Agriculture of Ethiopia; H.E. Lobin Lowe, Minister
of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development of Malawi; H.E. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja, Minister
of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries of Uganda; Ms. Sara Mbago-Bhunu, Director, East and
Southern Africa Division, International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), Ms. Elizabeth Nsimadala,
President, Pan Africa Farmers Organization (PAFO). An interactive discussion followed. Ms. Agnes
Kalibata, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for 2021 Food Systems Summit, provided concluding
remarks.

4
See www.oec.world

23
Participants shared the unique challenges and opportunities, in light of COVID-19, which exacerbated food
insecurity in many LDCs, citing multiple factors such as climate change, conflict and economic downturns.
Africa was off track to achieve the goal of ending hunger by 2025 and by 2030 as stipulated in the African
Union (AU) Malabo Declaration and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The prevalence of
undernourishment (PoU) in Sub-Saharan Africa has been on the rise in the past 5 years, reaching 22.0
percent in 2019 (up from 21.2 percent in 2015). There were 235 million undernourished people in Sub-
Saharan Africa in 2019, an increase of 15.6 percent compared to 2015.
Priority areas for the response to and recovery from COVID-19 discussed included reliable data that
allowed for a better understanding of vulnerability, for targeted interventions and decision making, the
development and implementation of trade and food safety standards, boosting smallholder resilience for
recovery and the prevention of the next zoonotic pandemic.
Participants called upon stakeholders to work together to promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient
food systems that could transform food supply in African LDCs by providing equal access to land, markets,
financial services, technology, education, training and information, and infrastructure. At the global level,
large-scale investments in research, innovation, technology, and infrastructure were required. Inclusive
food systems had to shaped by local contexts by including the status of specific populations, economic
structures, cultural norms and tailored food system policies that could create opportunities for
marginalized people, giving them a voice in research and policy- and program-design processes.
Participants stressed the need for infrastructure investments along the entire food value chain such as in
improved food storage and preservation capacities, improved processing technologies and agricultural
production and markets. Territorial approaches, such as agro-industry parks and incubators could, for
example cost-efficiently provide rural areas with services and support development of the middle
segments of the agri-food value chain.
An inclusive, sustainable, and resilient agri-food system approach needed to encompass a wide range of
public and private actors, as their interdependent activities and institutions were all responsible for
success. The ultimate objective was a contribution to a broad-based improvement of welfare for a society,
for both current and future generations and with less adverse impacts on the environment.
Participants shared best practices and success stories in producing surplus despite all the challenges,
which include but not limited to, empowerment and financial inclusion of smallholder producers, family
famers, youth and women as well as small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs), promotion of
investment, digital innovation value chain development and value addition, strengthening the governance
or land tenure.
For countries to take advantage of the growing market opportunities through the African Continental Free
Trade Area, participants encouraged countries to further share challenges and solutions through the
national dialogues organized in preparation for the United Nations Food Systems Summit to be held
September 2021.

24
IX. Session 8: Building climate resilience and accelerating the energy transition in African LDCs
Session 8 was held on Friday, 26 February 2021, and was moderated by Ms. Heidi Schroderus-Fox,
Director, UN-OHRLLS. The session featured presentations by the Honourable Newton Kambala, Minister
of Energy, Government of Malawi; Mr. Francesco La Camera, Director-General, The International
Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); Mr. Mustapha Bakkoury, President & CEO of the Moroccan Agency
for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), Co-lead for Coalition for Sustainable Energy Access; Ms. Cecilia Njenga,
Head South Africa Office, UNEP; Mr. Eric Wanless, Project Manager, Green and Inclusive Energy,
Rockefeller Foundation; and Mr. Amjad Abbashar, Head of UNDDR's Regional Office for Africa.
Honourable Jean Kapata, MP, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Republic of Zambia, Honourable
Mohapi Mohapinyane, Minister of Energy and Meteorology, Kingdom of Lesotho, The Honourable Nancy
Tembo, M.P., Minister of Forest and Natural Resources, Malawi and Mr. Brian Dean, Sustainable Energy
for All (SEforAll) acted as lead discussants. An interactive discussion followed.

Participants discussed the high degree of vulnerability facing African LDCs and concrete recommendations
were put forward by speakers to support LDCs to build resilience to climate change, natural disasters and
support the energy transition.
All LDCs had been putting in place their first National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) to pave the way for tackling
medium- and long-term adaptation needs. In this context, strengthening the ability of LDCs to access
climate finance was of key importance. The international community should scale up support towards
improving coordination and simplifying modalities for accessing climate finance and requisite
conditionalities to meaningfully implement NAPs.
Actions to drive the green pandemic recovery required the mobilisation of the informal sector which
constituted 80 percent of the labour market in Africa. This required developing NDC implementing
investment tools by integrating communal cooperatives as a critical financial instrument for climate action
to ensure informal sector financing instruments could be leveraged to drive the green pandemic recovery.
LDCs should prioritize human capital youth-investment and structurally guide youth to continually
improve, refine and adapt their skills, talents, energy, and creativity towards finding purpose in
enterprises that upscale a circular/green economy and nature-based solutions. LDCs must ensure national
and international climate finances reach down to local communities and involve them in planning and
implementing for building climate resilience at the local level where climate impacts were most felt.
Establishing strong meaningful local, bilateral and multi-lateral partnerships for finance and technology
transfer and actively engaging the local communities in the planning and implementation of the
adaptative capacities were key.
The discussion noted the need for direct access to climate finance by LDCs, mainstreamed into the global
financial system. Local Climate Adaptive Living Facilities led by the LDCs could be part of the way forward
to secure funding by the Green Climate Fund and other sources that could be delivered through national
systems but report globally. The newly established International Municipal Investment Fund, which was
a private sector fund devoted to investing in developing country cities, to provide long-term infrastructure

25
finance to free up some of the sub-sovereign space, would also contribute to creating the investment
ecosystem needed in LDCs.
Efforts must be enhanced to support all African LDCs to build human assets, diversify their economies,
build resilience to present and future shocks, and to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda as well as the
Africa Agenda 2063.
The United Nations system should support enhanced policy coherence on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) in African LDCs. Many stakeholders did not grasp the DRR concept
even though DRR related projects and activities were implemented. This highlights the need for sector-
wide awareness of DRR, as well as identification of DRR activities within ministerial budgets. National
Statistics Offices (NSO) should support planning the production and centralization of data and information
related to risk assessments and indicators.
Participants shared how increased energy access can be achieved by using renewable energy. Africa was
endowed with renewable energy resources and could meet nearly a quarter of its energy needs from
indigenous and clean resources. Renewable energy could be a game-changer in Africa’s development
path. African LDCs could not achieve this transformation on their own. Coordinated efforts from the global
community would need to underpin efforts to close the access gap. IRENA’s Climate Investment Platform
was facilitating the creation of a pipeline of bankable projects and implemented 97 projects worth over
38 billion in Africa to date.
Participants noted while there was some progress towards improving energy efficiency and expanding
access to electricity globally, significant deficits were increasingly concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Climate change had impacted energy security in countries which relied heavily on hydro power generated
electricity due to reduced water levels in reservoirs resulting in rationing power supply to communities.
Speakers shared examples of energy efficiency solutions including nature-based solutions that were
critical to both improving energy access and energy transition.
There was a call for a unified UN led support system with special programmes for regions to support the
LDCs in addressing climate change and energy shortages. Speakers also recognised the important role the
Technology Bank for LDCs could play in facilitating the transfer of technology.
The Coalition for Sustainable Energy Access for LDCs and Other Developing Countries, announced at the
last UN Climate Action Summit, intended to facilitate the linkages between existing initiatives and
institutions and beneficiary countries to support and mobilize partner institutions and accelerate the
implementation of energy access projects including in the LDCs.
It was recommended that climate adaptation and sustainable energy should therefore be one of the
central thematic topics of the new 10-year programme of action for the LDCs to be adopted at LDC5.

X. High-level Closing Session

The closing session was held on Friday 26 February. It was chaired by the Right Honourable Dr. Saulos
Klaus Chilima, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi and Minister of Economic Planning and

26
Development and Public Sector Reforms. The outcome document of the Africa Regional Review was
adopted. Presentations of the main conclusions and recommendations from the side events held during
the week were made.
The Hon. Ulemu Msungama, Minister of Youth of Malawi summarized the highlights from the side event
on Youth SDG Accelerators in Least Developed Countries, which was co-organized by the Government of
Malawi with the United Nations in Malawi and included an exhibition. Key messages included the need
for Governments to meaningfully engage and empower young people and provide a conducive
environment for the youth to participate at all levels of decision making, including through platforms that
help strengthen and maintain engagement, social contact and trust with young people. He also stressed
the need to prepare young people for the digital age, and awareness on the importance of preserving the
environment and climate change challenges was identified. Governments and international agencies
should take into consideration youth employment the development of skills and gender empowerment,
in regional and international development agendas.
Mr. Joshua Setipa, Managing Director, UN Technology Bank for the LDCs flagged the lessons learned from
a side event on Empowering LDCs through science, technology and innovation. The key policy messages
expressed by the panelists included the need to enhance research and development capacity in LDCs to
facilitate the commercialization of innovations. It was also flagged that STI should be integrated into
national development plans and that partnerships and coordination across the ecosystem were crucial. It
was also mentioned that digital transformation and ICT connectivity were critical to stimulate
competitiveness and facilitate the export of value-added products from LDCs. It was recommended to
increase investment in STI and R&D through collaboration between the private sector and academia to
enhance innovation and competitiveness, to facilitate technology transfer to LDCs and promote
awareness of intellectual property rights to protect innovations from LDCs and to provide financial and
in-kind resources to the Technology Bank to continue supporting LDCs to enhance science, technology
and innovation capacity.
Ms. Preeti Sinha, Executive Secretary, UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) reported on the solutions
suggested during a side event on the Impacts of COVID-19 on SMEs in LDCs and the role of blended finance
in supporting a resilient recovery. It was recommended to invest in people and organizations with relevant
knowledge, who could find investment opportunities and understand the world of SMEs and to bundle
the capital solution with capacity building and business development services, as SMEs needed assistance
with skills such as accounting and uptake of digital tools. The importance of the development of vibrant
domestic capital markets and financial intermediaries, that could help reduce risks and facilitate access to
credit for SMEs was also highlighted. Think holistically and focus on aggregation. In times of crisis there
was a need to move quickly –look at what was out there and put money into those existing vehicles or
initiatives that aimed to scale blended finance for LDCs. Furthermore, it was suggested to foster
competition in the financial market to drive more capital to SMEs and to remove capital constraints for
international investors, including fintech companies and other innovative private sector enterprises.
In her Closing Remarks, Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, Under-Secretary-General and High
Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island

27
Developing States, Secretary-General of the LDC5 Conference highlighted the need to transform the
digital divide into a digital bridge and to make sure an ecosystem for digital transformation was in place,
that went beyond improving productive capacity and could give a voice to people and create an innovative
partnership. She also flagged the great untapped potential in e-commerce and opportunities for LDCs to
integrate into regional and global value chains.
Furthermore, she stressed that mitigation and adaptation to climate change needed to be taken more
seriously by all actors and that LDCs needed to put their resources into action and prioritize inclusive and
sustainable development for all their citizens. She called for better access to external finance for LDCs,
including ODA but also innovative finance, and the need for long-term solutions to unsustainable debt
levels; as well as the need to work more closely with the private sector, through channeling private finance
into sustainable development action that contributes to job creation. She called for enhanced attention
to enterprises run by women and the inclusion of youth in the preparatory process for LDC 5.
Hon. Mohapi Mohapinyane, Minister of Energy and Meteorology of Lesotho delivered a Vote of Thanks
to the government of Malawi, OHRLLS and ECA for the excellent preparations for the meeting. He
mentioned that the meeting indicated the keen interest in LDC issues and wide efforts being made to find
solutions to LDCs challenges in pursuit of a dynamic, action-oriented and transformative new programme
of action.
The Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi and Minister of
Economic Planning and Development and Public Sector Reforms in his closing remarks flagged that COVID-
19 had worsened LDCs vulnerabilities, including those from climate change, which may prolong their
recovery and amplified the need to find innovative ways to build back better, cleaner and stronger. He
also highlighted that strong institutions and systems including rule of law, human rights and justice were
fundamental pillars of sustainable development.
He flagged the importance of enhancing intra-African trade through the African Continental Free Trade
Agreement and efforts of integrating LDCs into the multilateral trade system through enhanced transport
infrastructure networks and improved productive capacity of LDCs economies, supported by initiatives
under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and Aid for Trade, among others. He also stressed that it was
not only important to expand external resources but that it was essential to lower the cost of remittances
and to allow for an expansion in domestic resource mobilization by diversifying the resource pool to
private financing.
He concluded by looking forward to an ambitious outcome of the Fifth United Nations Conference on
LDCs, in Doha, Qatar, in January 2022 and expressing his expectation that a new Programme of Action
would provide concrete guidance on how to achieve truly sustainable development and a better future
for the people of LDCs.

28
XI. Side Events

A. “Youth are SDG Accelerators in Least Developed Countries” organized by the Government of
Malawi with support of UN Malawi

The side event themed “Youth are Suitable Development Goals Accelerators in Least Developed
Countries” was co-hosted by the Government of Malawi and the United Nations in Malawi, on Tuesday,
23 February 2021 with the main objective to showcase inspiring and innovative initiatives presently
championed by the youth in Malawi. The event showed how they were helping to transform communities
and provided a platform for sharing ideas on how to achieve sustainable development in LDCs by 2030.
The Side Event also intended to influence policy makers participating in the African Regional Review
Meeting to focus their attention on youth as SDG accelerators in their preparation for the LDC5
Conference.
The key messages that the youth themselves had delivered for the LDC Governments’ attention and
consideration, included the following:
i. LDCs were not going to achieve sustainable development if the majority of their population,
including the youth, were left out of national development processes.
ii. Governments should meaningfully engage young people and provide a conducive environment
for the youth to participate at all levels of decision making.
iii. Governments should put in place deliberate systems and platforms that help strengthen and
maintain engagement, social contact, dialogue and trust with young people. This should include
treating the youth not only as beneficiaries but key partners in development by taking on board
their ideas on matters concerning socio-economic development.
iv. There should be provision for enough opportunities and the necessary incentives to effectively
develop the potential of the youth through capital financing, linkages to markets both locally and
internationally, and exposing the youth to fully exploit their potential.
v. The need for LDCs to reform education systems to allow for the development of skills and talents
that are consistent with the demands of the job market. That should include preparing the young
people for the digital age; and awareness on the importance of conserving the environment as
we fight against climate change challenges.
Honorable Ulemu Msungama, M.P., Minister of Youth and Sports of Malawi, underscored that in the face
of no action, LDCs risked a broken social fabric and an exodus of youth elsewhere in search of
opportunities. He stressed the crucial importance of Governments’ strategic partnership with the youth
in leveraging their innovation, creative ideas, and resourcefulness. He called on African LDC governments
and international development agencies to take into consideration youth employment, skills
development, and gender empowerment as top priorities in all national, regional and international
development agenda.

29
B. “Empowering LDCs through Science, Technology and Innovation – Lessons Learned” organized
by the UN Technology Bank

On 24 February 2021, a side event was held organized by the Technology Bank for Least Developed
Countries in collaboration the Government of Malawi, Government of Turkey and the UN Economic
Commission for Africa. 5Around 100 participants attended the event meeting via Zoom.
In his opening remarks H.E. Mr. Gospel Kazako, Minister of Information, Malawi highlighted the
contribution of Information Technology and Communication (ICT) as an important tool for integration and
full participation in the more modern global economy for development and to the attainment of the
sustainable development goals (SDGs). He noted that LDCs could not afford to miss the numerous
advantages of ICT. He also outlined how Malawi had incorporated ICT development in the National
development frameworks including the Malawi 2063 plan to improve competitiveness to access markets
and the Malawi Medium Term Strategy - Malawi Growth and Development Strategies (MDGS3) where
transport and ICT infrastructure were prioritized as enablers for achieving SDGs. Minister noted that
COVID19 has demonstrated the importance of ICT through online education and eCommerce including
spill-over effects in other sectors such as transportation, manufacturing and services that have socio-
economic impact on Malawi. Minister also highlighted the progress of Malawi on ICT development
including, the digital migration project, operationalization of access to information Act of 2016, the
national broadband fibre project and rural connectivity project to name a few.
Mr. Setipa, Managing Director of the United Nations Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries
provided an overview of the activities of the Technology Bank since 2018 and lessons learned. He noted
that the core driving principle of the Technology Bank was to design programmes that compliment rather
than duplicate, that leveraged existing initiatives of partners within and outside the UN system and listen
to governments and other stakeholders and reflecting their national priorities. Some of the activities
included conducting Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs); enhancing research capacity in utilisation of
satellite technologies for climate change mitigation and disaster management; biotechnology and
industrial design in LDCs. Mr Setipa also outlined how the Bank supported LDCs in the establishment and
strengthening of Academies of science which played a very critical role of advising governments on STI
policy development and implementation. In responding to COVID-19, the Technology Bank together with
the UNDP, UNCTAD and WHO launched the Tech Access Partnership (TAP), to strengthen developing and
least developed countries’ manufacturing capacities of essential COVID-19 related equipment, medical
diagnostic kits, and medical devices. Mr. Setipa highlighted that the Technology Bank relied 100% on extra
budgetary sources and is not part of the UN regular budget, therefore, appealed to member States and
development partners to provide resources to the Technology Bank to continue contributing to the
enhancement of Science, Technology and Innovation in LDCs.

5
The featured speakers and background documents can be found at the following link:
https://www.un.org/technologybank/events/empowering-ldcs-through-science-technology-and-innovation.

30
Prof. Hasan Mandal, President of The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, on behalf
of the government of Turkey noted that priority in international development and cooperation should be
given to LDCs through empowerment based on research and development (R&D) and innovation. He
further noted that the impact of COVID-19 pandemic would require stronger support from science,
technology and innovation through technology-based collaboration and co-production for sustainable
and inclusive clean and renewable solutions. Prof Mandal noted that Turkey increased support to LDCs
during the COVID-19 pandemic with bilateral scientific and technological cooperation with Afghanistan,
Burundi, Ethiopia, Sudan and Sierra Leone. He highlighted the importance of enhancing research and
development eco-system to attain sustainable development. He further noted that Turkey provided
financial support to the Technology Bank in the amount of USD 2 million annually.
H.E. Dr. Elioda Tumwesigye, Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Uganda noted the
contribution of digital transform and needed to embrace local and indigenous technologies for sustainable
development. He outlined the activities undertaken with support from the Technology Bank that included,
a workshop on strengthening National Academies of Science in Least Developed Countries; conducting a
Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) in collaboration with UNCTAD; a training in climate change risk
management and mitigation in collaboration with UNITAR; the establishment of Innovation Hub in
partnership with UNDP, Private Sector, Academia and Civil Society; lastly, the SDG Impact Accelerator
(SDGia), a global accelerator launched by Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UNDP for impact
entrepreneurs to find innovative solutions in digital agriculture. The Minister underlined the support in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic where the Technology Bank, through the Tech Access Partnership,
assisted the Ministry of Health to develop their Country Roadmap, a guiding framework for the
government and in-country partners to evaluate country needs and capacities, and designed a strategy to
promote local production.
The Minister reflected on some key lesson learned that included, the role of the Technology Needs
Assessment (TNA) report was informing the revision of the STI Policy and the Technology Action Plans
(TAPs) and key interventions in the Agro-industrialisation programme. On the sustainability of the
Technology Bank, the Minister called on member States and in particular development partners to provide
in-kind and/or financial support to the Technology Bank as the focal point on Science, Technology and
Innovation for the Least Developed Countries within the United Nations, towards the attainment of the
Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr. Solomon Benor, Director General for Science and Research Affairs Ministry of Science and Higher
Education (MoSHe), Ethiopia highlighted the importance of access to knowledge, culture and research.
He further noted that collaboration with the Technology Bank contributed to the review of the STI Policy
in Ethiopia including engagement with the private sector. Dr Benor indicated that Ethiopia has prioritized
agriculture, manufacturing and tourism towards the achievement of the national development goals in
line with African Union Agenda 2063. He expressed appreciation for the role of Technology Bank in open
science and supporting the Ethiopian Academy of Science. On key lessons he noted the importance of
prioritizing integration of ICT in national development progamme and increasing access to technologies.

31
Dr. Victor Konde, Scientific Affairs Officer, UN Economic Commission for Africa provided an overview of
the role of partnerships and the role of STI in Agenda 2063 by transforming economies in manufacturing,
industrialization, value addition and modern agriculture. Dr. Konde highlighted the need for increased
investment in R&D and strengthening of intellectual property rights across the continent as knowledge is
exported from Africa without protection. He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic amplified the role of
science, technology and innovation and the importance of partnerships and collaboration between the
centres of excellence across the African Continent. On the lesson learned, he emphasized that LDCs should
focus on partnerships amongst countries and institutions such as academies of sciences to promote STI
and be sustainable and resilient to inform policy formulation. In building forward LDCs must be supported
in accessing and acquiring technologies including use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in nano and health
technologies.
On the importance of access to knowledge, information, technology, and know-how and to support the
LDCs in improving their scientific and innovative capacity needed for their structural transformation, Prof
Mandal highlighted the importance of integrating stakeholder across competent research institutions and
private sector in the ecosystem. The stakeholders would promote human resources development and
knowledge and design new tools and technology-based solutions that have social, economic and
environmental impact for sustainable development in LDCs.
In addressing the question on what strategy should be put in place to strengthen the link between
academia (universities, research center) the private sector and governments in LDCs to help structural
transformation, Mr. Setipa highlighted that innovation centers were established within academic
institutions. He also highlighted that technology transfer offices were usually linked with academic
research institutions where knowledge, skills, creativity and new concepts are developed. Therefore, an
ecosystem must be developed that includes resources mobilization for the innovations that will drive
transformational impact. To enable LDCs with limited resources, they could promote collaboration
between private sector and academia to mobilise resources for R&D and innovations that will facilitate
competitiveness of LDCs.
On the role of cooperation and collaboration between research institutions and the private sector, to
promote research and development and innovation in the field of science and technology, Dr. Benor noted
that it was crucial to strengthen collaborations among Research institutions, Universities, and the
Academic ecosystem. Moreover, he emphasized that access to open science and e-journals were critical
to enhance the quality and visibility of local journals to be included in scientific indexing databases.
On the impact of COVID-19 to the African Continent and what should be priorities for Building Back Better
for LDCs by leveraging on Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Konde noted two major lessons,
investment in science technology and innovation research increased and mobilization of local institutions
to provide testing centers across the continent increased. On the negative, the spill over effects have been
on the closure of borders, industries, schools, and tourism sector resulting in job losses. To build back
better forward and greener, he stressed that local institutions must build capacity to anticipate future
problems such mobilizing resources for climate change action and adaptation by using STI to enable
economies to build back better.

32
In responding to what is the role of STI in stimulating exports from LDCs, Mr. Setipa highlighted that
technology is critical to enhancing export competitiveness. The African Continental Free Trade Agreement
(AfCFTA) was cited that has included technology as an enabler for trade such as in Trade Facilitation. He
reminded participants that during COVID-19, traditional supply chains were disrupted, and trade was
facilitated through online platforms, from large suppliers to small, medium size business, to access export
markets.
In their closing remarks, panelists emphasized the importance of science technology and innovation to
development in building productive capacities and promoting structural transformation. They also
affirmed the importance of collaboration between scientific research institutions, private sector and
academia to cultivate innovation and enhance sustainable capacity development. To build back better the
panelists stressed the importance of investing in R&D and innovation to prepare for future pandemics.
Panelists also concurred that STI and ICT infrastructure was insufficient for LDCs to meet the SDGs and the
impact of COVID-19 has reversed the gains that LDCs had made toward graduating from LDC status and
achieving the SDGs. They also concluded that support to the Technology Bank is critical to empower LDCs
through science, technology and innovation and called on member States and development partner to
provide financial and in-kind support to the Technology Bank.
The main policy messages emerging from the side event included the following:
i. Science Technology and Innovation is critical for development and achievement of sustainable
development
ii. Capacity development is critical for building productive capacities and structural transformation
iii. Enhance research and development capacity in LDCs to facilitate commercialization of
innovations
iv. STI should be integrated in national development plans and through partnerships and
coordination across the ecosystem.
v. Sustainable development requires R&D and innovation from basic sciences to engineering as well
as in the social sciences and humanities.
vi. Digital transformation and ICT connectivity are critical to stimulate competitiveness and facilitate
export of value-added products from LDCs.
vii. Increase investment in STI and R&D through collaboration between private sector and academia
to enhance innovation and competitiveness.
viii. Facilitate technology transfer to LDCs and promote awareness of intellectual property rights for
protection of innovations from LDCs.

C. “Impacts of COVID-19 on SMEs in LDCs and the role of blended finance in supporting a resilient
recovery” organized by UNCDF

On February 24, the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) hosted an event on the “Impacts of COVID-
19 on SMEs in LDCs and the role of blended finance in supporting a resilient recovery”. During her keynote
address, Preeti Sinha, Executive Secretary, UNCDF, described that aspirations were for the ‘C’ – the
Capital at UNCDF – to be highly catalytic in mobilizing public and private finance to deliver scalable

33
development impact for the LDCs. With its focus on innovation and testing new approaches to bring
capital to the last mile, UNCDF wanted to push the boundaries in engaging capital markets and mobilizing
international and domestic private capital to sustainable investment opportunities in the world’s frontier
and pre-frontier markets. Moreover, Ms. Sinha called for concrete solutions that make finance work
better for the LDCs to leave no one behind, including a commitment by global stakeholders to establishing
a dedicated blended finance de-risking facility focused on providing catalytic capital to SMEs and small
investment projects that help unlock further commercial and semi-commercial investment.
The event provided insights from UNCDF’s Blended Finance in the Least Developed Countries 2020:
Supporting a Resilient Covid-19 Recovery report, including an update on the deployment of blended
finance in LDCs with a particular focus on Africa, as well as an analysis of its potential role in helping LDCs
recover from the COVID-19 crisis. UNCDF presented an Action Agenda for unlocking capital during the
next programme of action for LDCs, including with a special focus on SME finance.
The session also highlighted impacts of COVID-19 on SMEs and the need for additional SME finance.
Evidence was presented from the UNCDF LDC SME pulse survey,6 which encompassed more than 20
business sectors, featuring over 2,300 SMEs, spanning all 46 LDCs. The survey data was being used to
identify specific policy recommendations and provided a platform for small business leaders in last mile
markets to have a voice.
The two presentations were followed by a panel of experts who discussed how blended finance could
contribute to enhancing access to capital for SMEs in African LDCs. The discussion highlighted challenges,
solutions and concrete recommendations for blended finance and SME finance in LDCs.
Joan Larrea (Chief Executive Officer, Convergence Blended Finance) explained that blended finance was
happening more frequently in other places than LDCs as it was very hard to attract private sector
investments in LDCs. There was a problem of scale, as LDC investments were generally small ticket sizes,
whereas many investors are looking for large investments.
Idrissa Diabira (Directeur général, L’Agence de Développement et d’Encadrement des Petites et
Moyennes Entreprises (ADEPME), Sénégal) highlighted the lack of knowledge among investors about
these economies amidst insufficient local presence. Lack of formalization of SMEs also prevents access to
finance.
Jean-Philippe de Schrevel (Founder and Managing Partner, Bamboo Capital Partners) discussed risks,
arguing that in many circumstances there were real and perceived risks, but there was also a use of
outdated risk and financial data, due to lack of availability of information. He also shared insights that
private investors and governments often suffered from siloed thinking about one geography or one sector,
instead of looking for aggregated opportunities, for example through a fund or other portfolio
approaches, that could help to alleviate some of the existing risks.

6
See “The State of Small Businesses in the LDCs: Taking the Pulse of SMEs in the LDC Markets During COVID-19”

34
Fabrizio Cometto (Deputy Head, Least Developed Country Investment Platform, UNCDF) shared insights
around the need for better information to increase SME finance to determine the risk profile of SMEs.
Moreover, domestic banks resist investing in SMEs as they preferred putting their capital into low-risk
loans, often for larger enterprises and projects, and into very low-risk T-bills.
Stephen Obiro (Head of Advocacy, Communications & Partnerships, Federation of Kenya Employers,
Business Africa representative) highlighted the need for more policy dialogue to look at policy and
regulatory constraints for private sector investments to give more confidence to investors.
The panellists discussed a combination of solutions to address these challenges:
- Use ODA strategically to catalyze additional resources through demonstration effects and blended
finance structures.
- Aggregate investments using fund structures, adopting a portfolio approach and bond issuance.
- Invest in people and organizations that know this space and are present on the ground, who can find
investment opportunities and understand the world of SMEs.
- Use an investment continuum approach: find promising businesses that need capital to grow and use
a combination of instruments, including grants, technical assistance (TA), catalytic risk capital, and
blended finance depending on the maturity level of SMEs. For example, mechanisms such as UNCDF’s
BRIDGE Facility which provides early-stage catalytic risk capital for SMEs and small projects, and the
blended finance BUILD Fund managed by Bamboo Capital Partners, which provides capital for LDC-
based SMEs, could be further scaled up to meet LDC demand.
- Bundle the capital solution with capacity development and business development services. SMEs
need assistance with skills such as accounting and uptake of digital tools.
- Support the development of vibrant domestic capital markets and financial intermediaries. This can
help reduce risks and facilitate access to credit for SMEs.
Finally, the session led to the proposal of several concrete recommendations:
- Organize a global roadshow to introduce LDCs and investment opportunities to global capital markets.
LDC Ministers can be champions in discussing how to turn the blended finance component into reality.
- Increase information and transparency about blended finance and SME finance. The more
information available, the better able investors are to price the deals, and the less blending is needed.
Increased transparency will also provide additional important information on impact to drive more
interest across stakeholders.
- Walk the talk on blended finance – there is need for more patient risk tolerant capital. For example,
donor ODA contributions can often not be used in a revolving manner – however, if donors were able
to change their regulations so that grants can become revolving instruments, this can lead to
multiplier effects and more efficient and better use of scarce ODA resources.

35
- Think holistically and focus on aggregation. In times of crisis, there is an urgent need to move quickly,
look at what already exists and invest in these existing vehicles or initiatives that aim to scale blended
finance for LDCs.
- Foster competition in the financial market to drive more capital to SMEs - remove capital constraints
for international investors and support innovative investors outside of banks, including fintech
companies and other innovative private sector enterprises.
- Support formalization of small businesses by making formalization less costly and complex and create
incentives for formalization.
UNCDF stands ready to be a champion for LDCs in turning these recommendations into reality and looks
forward to working with partners and stakeholders in all sectors to take this agenda forward.

36
XII. ANNEX I: Political Declaration

A. Introduction

1. We, Ministers and representatives of the African least developed countries (LDCs) and Haiti
participating in the Africa Regional Review Meeting in preparation of the Fifth United Nations Conference
on LDCs (LDC5), are gathered in Lilongwe, Malawi from 22-26 February 2021 to undertake a
comprehensive appraisal of the implementation of the Programme of Action by the least developed
countries and their development partners, share best practices and lessons learned and identify obstacles
and constraints encountered as well as actions and initiatives needed to overcome them; to identify
effective international and domestic policies in the light of the outcome of the appraisal as well as new
and emerging challenges and opportunities and the means to address them; to reaffirm the global
commitment to addressing the special needs of the LDCs made at the major United Nations conferences
and summits, including in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda,
the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework; and to mobilize additional international support
measures and action, in addition to domestic resources, in favour of the LDCs and, in this regard, to
formulate and adopt a renewed partnership between the LDCs and their development partners, including
the private sector, civil society and governments at all levels. In the context of Africa, we reaffirm our
commitment to the goals and aspirations of the African Union Agenda 2063.
2. We welcome the participation at this meeting of a number of development partners and while
appreciating their ongoing support, strongly call upon them for renewed and strengthened global
partnerships for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in African LDCs and Haiti. We collectively
committed ourselves to finding lasting solutions to the complex and mutually exacerbating structural
challenges and problems faced by LDCs, who constitute the poorest and most vulnerable countries of the
world.
3. We are concerned that the impact of COVID-19 has further jeopardized the limited progress
towards achieving the goals of the IPoA as outlined in the 2020 report of the Secretary General on the
implementation of the IPoA and the ECA report on the implementation of the IPoA in African LDCs. COVID-
19 has made the vulnerabilities of African LDCs and Haiti, including their structural challenges more
pronounced, and it is expected that they will be further impacted in the long-term owing to the fragility
of their health-care systems, limited coverage of their social protection systems, limited financial and
other resources and high levels of debt and illicit financial flows and vulnerability to external shocks.
Besides slower growth, the pandemic is expected to reverse gains achieved in African LDCs and Haiti in
recent years particularly in areas of gender equality, poverty eradication and reductions in income
inequality, education, and employment, thereby jeopardizing prospects for the attainment of Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. We recognize that African LDCs and Haiti have made good progress
in raising per capita spending on primary education which has contributed to increased primary enrolment
and completion rates and improved gender parity in primary and secondary schools. Furthermore, they
have been notably successful in politically empowering women through increased representation in
national parliaments and local government, as appropriate. They have also reduced export concentration
by diversifying their primary commodity exports.
4. While half of the 6 LDCs that have graduated from the category so far are from Africa, namely
Botswana, Cabo Verde and Equatorial Guinea, we are concerned that the slow and uneven development
in African LDCs and Haiti results in limited progress to meet the graduation criteria, against the target of

37
the Istanbul Programme of Action, which specified that half the number of LDCs should qualify for
graduation.
5. We recognize that African LDCs and Haiti represent an enormous human and natural resource
potential, with its population structure and youth optimism; coupled with the African Continental Free
Trade Area (AfCFTA), provides opportunities for LDCs to participate in world economic growth, welfare,
prosperity and food and energy security, and that they have made considerable efforts in implementing
the commitments of the IPoA. Therefore, a successful, renewed and strengthened global partnership that
effectively addresses the special needs of African LDCs and Haiti will contribute to peace, prosperity and
sustainable development for all. Further strengthening of our collective actions towards enabling LDCs’
young populations and women will more effectively contribute to equitable and inclusive development,
poverty eradication, job creation and social justice. We recognize that Youth from African LDCs and Haiti
constitute an essential partner and resource for the achievement of the goals of the IPoA. We recommend
the meaningful inclusion of youth’s voices at all levels of the preparatory process, aiming at the inclusion
of the challenges impacting young people, as well as their innovative solutions for a strengthened inter-
generational partnership.
6. We therefore underline the need for revisiting the current system of support for the LDCs in the
lead-up to the Fifth United Nations Conference on LDCs, 23-27 January 2022 in Doha with a view to
ensuring that the international support measures provide the levels of assistance necessary for the African
LDCs and Haiti to address the structural barriers to development that they face and overcome their
vulnerabilities. It is thus crucial that a new Programme of Action will not only support the required
acceleration of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda as well as the Agenda 2063, but also, strengthen
African LDCs and Haiti’s systems and policy frameworks to more effectively integrate and fairly compete
in the global economy and eventually move towards convergence with other more developed economies.

B. Call for Action

7. We call upon our development partners to provide enhanced support to LDCs to achieve the
overarching goal, set out in the Istanbul Programme of Action, of enabling half of them to meet the criteria
for graduation by removing structural constraints through eradication of poverty and the achievement of
accelerated, sustained, inclusive and equitable growth and sustainable development. Especially with the
setbacks in development progress through COVID-19, this requires effective and sound national
government policies and commitments, enhanced global support and appropriate mechanisms at all
levels. We also call for genuine solidarity with the aspirations expressed by LDCs during this meeting with
a view to fostering and strengthening new partnerships for achieving SDGs and Agenda 2063 in LDCs.
7bis. We recognize that, the principle of country ownership and leadership remains crucial in order to
accelerate progress towards sustainable development, and we recommit to take the lead in formulating,
implementing, following up and reviewing our own coherent economic and development policies,
strategies and plans. We call upon the international community to fulfil its commitment to give special
attention to the least developed countries in the implementation of the next programme of action.
8. We recall the “Statement dated 28 April 2020 of the Group of LDCs on the coronavirus disease
(COVID-19): burgeoning challenges and a global stimulus package for the least developed countries”
contained in document A/74/843. We reiterate our call for a global stimulus package for the least
developed countries to be funded and implemented with immediate effect to address the impacts of
COVID-19 which includes, among others, emergency public health package including PPEs, ventilators,
tele-health and telemedicine facilities; support for social protection systems; development and

38
dissemination of robust information, education and communication campaigns to demystify myths and
fears surrounding COVID-19 vaccines; education support for students in the form of digital equipment, as
well as educational radio and television programmes; fulfilment of ODA commitments of 0.15-0.20 per
cent at the earliest with grants-based ODA; full debt cancellation of all multilateral, bilateral and
commercial debts owed by LDCs and the debt standstill with immediate effect until the decision of the
debt cancellation; richer countries could apportion some of their SDRs to multilateral institutions to pay
for debt payment cancellation for LDCs; lifting trade barriers and scaling up aid for trade; and additional
allocations, including increased special drawing right allocations for LDCs to the tune of $50 billion.
9. Furthermore, in the medium- to long-term, the stimulus package includes ensuring an adequate,
affordable and rapid supply of vaccines/immunization and antiviral drugs related to COVID-19; providing
technology, technical know-how and free license to manufacture antiviral drugs and vaccines; launching
stimulus packages to stabilize the agricultural sector with seed distribution and fertilizer programmes and
subsidies; taking into account structural constraints and longer-term investment requirements for the
implementation of the SDGs in the debt sustainability framework for LDCs; launching a renewed and
revitalized equitable global trade framework to promote export earnings of LDCs; promoting the use of
digital transfers of remittances and reduce remittance transaction fees; enhancing the quality, availability
and affordability of the Internet and other online-related facilities, especially in rural areas; and providing
countries graduating from the LDC category with continued and scaled up international assistance to
support export sectors in order to avoid the reversal of development gains.
10. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthen our healthcare
systems by meeting the African Union Abuja Declaration of 2001 target of allocating at least 15% of our
annual budget and urge development partners to scale up support in this sector. Specifically, we call the
development partners to support access to equipment like Personal protective equipment (PPE),
sanitization and other protective measures for frontline workers, provide sufficient number of ventilators,
and other supplementary equipment as well as an uninterrupted supply of essential medicines and
equitable and affordable access to vaccines and medication.
11. We reaffirm that achieving gender equality, empowering all women and girls, and the full
realization of the human rights of all people are essential to achieving sustained, inclusive and equitable
economic growth and sustainable development. We reiterate the need for gender mainstreaming,
including targeted actions and investments in the formulation and implementation of all financial,
economic, environmental, and social policies. We also recognize the need of ensuring full, equal, and
meaningful participation in decision-making as well as equal access to leadership and representation for
all women at all levels and in all spheres of society, as well as strengthening their voice, while ensuring a
safe and enabling environment for them and taking action to eliminate any barriers in this regard.
12. We recognize the importance of building productive capacity as a critical enabler for the
development and graduation of the LDCs and reducing the dependence on exports of few and primarily
raw commodities. We emphasize that the development of physical infrastructure is an important
prerequisite to reach the IPoA target and SDG 8.1 of 7 per cent economic growth and sustainable
development, and that significant amounts of investment and technology are essential, including through
public-private partnerships, innovative financing, regional integration and appropriate institutions and
regulation, to bridge the existing savings-investment gap in the LDCs. In this regard, we will strengthen
the underlying investment climate, with enhanced support provided by the development partners and
international financial institutions, including by improving predictability, governance, and transparency,
as well as in procurement practices and policies.

39
13. We recognize that LDCs face key challenges with respect to their economic structure. We will
therefore further strengthen our efforts to accelerate capital accumulation, knowledge development,
technology acquisition, and employment creation, including for low-skilled labor, especially women, for
the expansion of higher-value-addition and competitiveness, including in high-productivity services, like
ICTs, tourism and financial services. In this regard, we commit to spending at least 1 per cent of GDP on
Research and Development, as called for during the 2006 Khartoum Decision of the Executive Council of
the African Union and to implement the AU Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024
(STISA-2024).
14. We recognise the need to provide the rapidly growing youth population in LDCs with education,
training, job opportunities and prospects for a decent life. Addressing the increased challenges from the
COVID-19 crisis for young women and men in LDCs will require expanding existing cash transfers schemes,
in-kind support and other transfers to vulnerable households and workers including in the informal
economy; developing comprehensive national plans for a job-rich recovery, with close coordination across
government agencies, reliable labour market information to facilitate monitoring of progress, and social
dialogue to ensure accountability; reshaping skills development systems and addressing key skills gaps
due to changes in demand and the digital revolution and capacity development for youth to develop and
implement sustainable business.
15. We recognize that technology plays a crucial role in the promotion of inclusive development and
the achievement of the SDGs as well as Agenda 2063 for the African LDCs and Haiti. The critical importance
of technology for development has been made even clearer by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has further
amplified the need to address and close the digital and technological divide. We call upon the
international community to come up with specific measures which support the transfer of technology to
enable LDCs to reap the benefits of frontier technologies for achieving SDGs, including through access to
and adapting modern technologies, technological know-how, infrastructure, and necessary logistics. We
call on the development partners to consider the provision of concessional start-up finance for least
developed countries’ businesses, which invest in new technologies.
16. We welcome the new targets adopted by the Broadband Commission for Sustainable
Development in 2018, in support of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, within the context of
the new challenges of a digital world. The Commission called for, inter alia, by 2025, Broadband-Internet
user penetration should reach 35% in LDCs; all countries should have a funded national broadband plan
or strategy, or include broadband in their universal access and services definition; entry-level broadband
services should be made affordable in developing countries, at less than 2% of monthly gross national
income per capita; 60% of youth and adults should have achieved at least a minimum level of proficiency
in sustainable digital skills; and, 40% of the world's population should be using digital financial services.
We call upon the development partners, the private sector, international organisations, and other
relevant stakeholders to contribute to the achievement of these targets as well as those of the Secretary
General roadmap for digital cooperation and those of the Smart Africa Alliance, especially since digital
technology has become a necessity in all socio-economic sectors, including remote learning, during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
17. We note that while access to electricity in African LDCs and Haiti increased significantly wide
disparities persist across countries. We express our concern that that without urgent and enhanced
action, LDCs will not be able to reach the international target on energy. Closing the energy gap will
require increased investment in off-grid, mini-grid, decentralized grid-connected solutions to reach
remote populations, fostering investments for renewables and clean cooking fuels, climate-proofing
existing hydro generation systems and rehabilitation of degraded watershed areas, improving technology

40
transfer, using new business models such as pay-as-you-go and, enhancing regional integration. We call
upon development partners to enhance financial and technical cooperation and assistance for generation
and distribution of sustainable energy as well as enhancing energy efficiency. We welcome the launch of
the Coalition on Sustainable Energy Access for the Least Developed Countries at the Secretary-General’s
Climate Action Summit, led by Morocco and Ethiopia, aiming at responding to the vital needs of the global
population, particularly those located in remote areas of the LDCs, in terms of electricity access, clean
cooking, clean water supply, irrigation, cooling and heating with the ambition of "leaving no one behind”.
We call upon development partners to provide necessary support to this coalition and request the
Secretary-General to undertake necessary measures for the implementation of the Coalition and the LDC
REEEI (the LDCs Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiative for Sustainable Development).
18. We welcome the specific initiatives presented under the nine action areas at the Climate Action
Summit, which have high potentials to curb greenhouse gas emissions and increased global action on
adaptation and resilience. We reaffirm our commitment to address climate change in accordance with
our capabilities and national circumstances. We recall the LDC Initiative for Effective Adaptation and
Resilience (LIFE-AR), which steps up the climate ambition of LDCs with its vision to deliver climate-resilient
development pathways by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050, which complements the LDC work
programme under the UNFCCC in providing strategic direction for supporting the LDCs in addressing
climate change. We call for multi-stakeholder partnerships that will bring together government, private
sector, civil society, academia and communities focusing on integrated adaptation, mitigation and
resilience planning at national and local levels. We recognize the importance of youth-led initiatives to
counterbalance the existing negative effects of climate change and the necessity to support such
initiatives while establishing strong institutions and clear regulatory frameworks for environmental
accountability.
19. We reiterate the critical role of the National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) under the UNFCCC and Paris
Agreement in addressing adaptation needs in the LDCs and underscore the importance of supporting all
LDCs in producing their first NAP by end of 2021; implementing their priority adaptation needs in the NAPS
under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as well as other sources; and developing indicators for measuring
progress on adaptation on the ground in LDCs. The allocation of 50% of adaptation funding under the GCF
to the LDCs, SIDS and vulnerable countries in Africa should be fully implemented, to supplement dedicated
funds for addressing the climate crisis by LDCs, for example the LDC Fund established by the UNFCCC. The
LDCs face great capacity constraints in accessing these funds. We call upon the developed countries to
operationalize the Green Climate Fund fully and in a timely manner, with the goal of mobilizing $100
billion per year by 2020, promoting and facilitating low carbon and resilient-building projects in the LDCs
and addressing the needs of people adversely impacted by climate changes and extreme weather events.
20. We underline that given the impact of the food crisis on food security in African LDCs, there is a
need for the international community to increase funding for short-term food emergencies. We call for
accelerated and aligned actions including adequate investment in physical infrastructure, scientific and
technological development, research and agricultural extension services in the LDCs, incorporation of
producers from LDCs in regional and global value chains, supported by all stakeholders and countries,
including more integrated support from the United Nations and the international community to free our
world from poverty, inequalities, hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms. We recall the
commitment made by African leaders to allocate at least 10 per cent of public expenditure to agriculture
and to ensure its efficiency and effectiveness. We also call for establishing a regional and global system of
food stockholding in dealing with humanitarian food emergencies in African LDCs.

41
21. We stress the urgency of facilitating access to credit, technology and skills to support agricultural
development and building up inclusive value chains that support smallholder farmers and private sector
development to create the synergies between nutrition, poverty reduction and the structural
transformation of the economies of the African LDCs and Haiti.
22. We note with great concern that LDCs suffer disproportionately high human and economic losses
owing to climate changes and disasters; acknowledge that the compounded impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on systems already stressed by the climate crisis demonstrate the complex and systemic nature
of disaster risk and that hazards can combine with each other to cause cascading impacts. We recognise
the urgency of implementing the Sendai Framework and the Paris Agreement as an integral part of the
2030 Agenda and that prevention, disaster risk reduction and resilience-building are central to a country’s
sustainable development strategies and investment, to reduce poverty and inequalities, and protect the
human, economic and natural capital. We acknowledge that financing for disaster risk reduction presents
a considerable challenge to the implementation of national and local disaster risk reduction strategies in
the LDCs and call for all public and private, domestic and international investment, as well as bilateral and
multilateral support, to be risk informed and aligned with national and local disaster risk reduction
strategies. We further acknowledge that available climate finance under the GCF (and other funds)
remains a major challenge for many LDCs to access efficiently and effectively owing to many capacity
issues and complexity of access modalities and call for simplified access procedures and enhanced efforts
to ensure LDCs are able to develop bankable projects that lead to measurable resilience on the ground.
23. In order to build back better and enhance preparedness for future disasters we reaffirm our
invitation to the General Assembly (in A/RES/72/231) to decide on the establishment of a “comprehensive
multi-stakeholder resilience-building mechanism for LDCs”, leveraging the existing measures and
initiatives. In this regard, we request the Secretary-General and the General Assembly of the United
Nations to undertake necessary measures to improve resilience building for LDCs which would help them
to build and strengthen their national adaptation and mitigation capacity, provide technical support to
prepare project documents to access and utilize available climate funds and critical technologies; provide
risk insurance and guarantees for weather insurance and derivates; and draw together bilateral initiatives
and support by multilateral institutions, private sector, NGOs and foundations, building on existing
regional and international initiatives. We encourage investments and partnerships to strengthen
understanding of climate risk and more broadly systemic risk and its application in decision-making in the
LDCs, including through disaster risk reduction education, comprehensive risk management, building
academic and scientific capacity, utilization of frontier technologies, and supporting traditional,
indigenous and local knowledge and practices.
24. We are concerned that the LDCs are disproportionally affected by the collapse of value chains and
declining commodity prices due to COVID-19, after their share in world merchandise exports deteriorated
in five successive years. As the African LDCs and Haiti have highly concentrated exports with a heavy
reliance on few products we will target diversification of our economies as a key part of our development
strategies, including through the implementation of the AfCFTA. In this context, there is also need to step
up investments in green recovery to enhance growth, create decent jobs and accelerate intra-regional
trade through the effective implementation of the AfCFTA.
25. We reaffirm our determination to complete the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) and call upon
the members of the World Trade Organization to strongly commit to addressing the marginalization of
LDCs in international trade and to improve their effective and equitable participation in the multilateral
trading system. We also call upon the members to fully and faithfully implement all the LDC-specific
provisions contained in the World Trade Organization agreements, ministerial decisions and declarations,

42
including the LDC decisions taken in Bali and Nairobi Ministerial Conferences, as well as decisions adopted
in the regular work of the WTO. We further call upon the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference to deliver
concrete outcomes in favor of the LDCs. We invite the WTO secretariat to undertake a comprehensive
study on the lack of progress in achieving SDG 17.11 and to make specific recommendations on the way
forward to achieve this SDG by 2030.
26. We welcome the entry into force of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which will
address high trade costs incurred by African LDCs and Haiti and facilitate the integration of these countries
in regional and global value chains. We call upon the development and trading partners to provide
targeted assistance and support to African LDCs and Haiti to help them build sustainable capacity to
implement their commitments under the TFA, in accordance with Articles 13 and 21.
27. We also call on developed country Members to provide preferential market access and rules of
origin to all business to consumer goods and services that are exported from LDCs with special preference
to those using an e-commerce platform directly from suppliers in LDCs. In this regard, we look forward to
intensified and concerted action of the G20 countries to enhance the ability of LDCs to more fully engage
in digital trade, as committed in the G20 Summit in Germany in 2017 and further call on relevant
organizations to enhance support including, capacity-building to assist LDCs to address gaps in legal and
regulatory frameworks and develop digital skills.
28. We recognize that the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement
(AfCFTA), which started on 1 January 2021, is expected to boost intra-African trade expansion by 15-25
per cent by 2040, stimulate sustained economic growth (increasing GDP by 1-3 per cent) and foster
inclusive development. The success of AfCFTA, however, hinges on improved financial integration, trade
facilitation, conducive trade policies, regulations and mechanisms as well as reliable and responsive
infrastructure.
29. We recognize that domestic resource mobilization is key for achieving the SDGs and Agenda 2063
but was seriously impacted by COVID-19. We commit to enhance efforts towards taxation, savings
mobilization and financial inclusion, aiming at reducing inequalities. We stress the importance of
conducive international regulatory frameworks and transparency as well as national and regional financial
institutions, including development banks in this respect. We call for enhanced international tax
cooperation to avoid base erosion and profit shifting and welcome support through initiatives including
Tax inspectors without borders.
30. We are concerned about the decline in bilateral ODA to LDCs during 2020, when it is most needed.
We reiterate our call upon donor countries to fulfill their ODA commitments in the Istanbul Programme
of Action and strive to provide 0.25 per cent of their gross national income by 2030 or at least 50 per cent
of net official development assistance to the LDCs. We also call upon them to ensure quality and
effectiveness of aid, especially through predictability and accountability, use of recipient country’s system
and elimination of tied aid. We call upon the development partners to provide enhanced financial and
technical support to the LDCs, in line with their priorities, including for project preparation and capacity
building for project development.
31. We recognize that while official development assistance must remain central and play a catalytic
role, there is a need to tap additional resources, including through innovative financing mechanisms which
are based on new partnerships between countries at different levels of development as well as public and
private actors, in line with the characteristics of each country and sector. We stress that the innovative
sources of financing, including blended finance, should be additional, substantial, predictable, with
preferential rates especially tailored to LDCs and disbursed in a manner that respects the priorities and

43
special needs of the LDCs and does not unduly burden them. We furthermore stress that it will be critical
that blended finance approaches address currency exchange risks, ticket size and risk tolerance among
others. Furthermore, we call for new financial instruments that harness the potential of digital innovations
for the financing of the SDGs, including e.g. digital financing platforms, innovative digital services, Micro-
Small and Medium- sized Enterprises (MSMEs) digitization and domestic resource mobilization. We also
call for a dedicated financing mechanism that delivers catalytic investment capital for SMEs and small
investment projects in African LDCs and Haiti to mobilize sustainable private investments that advance
the SDGs and act as a crisis facility to mitigate the effects of COVID-19.
32. We are concerned about the high and rising levels of illicit financial flows from African LDCs, which
are estimated to amount to more than USD 588 billion over the period 1980-2018 and commit to enhance
efforts to curtail illicit financial flows at all levels, enhance disclosure practices and promote transparency
in financial information. We commit to promote policies and programmes, including the involvement of
civil society organizations to track and bring back any illicit capital outflows. This needs to be
complimented by measures to prevent the transfer abroad of stolen assets and assistance in their
recovery and return.
33. We commit to redouble efforts to substantially reduce illicit financial flows by 2030, with a view
to eventually eliminating them, including by combating tax evasion and corruption through strengthened
national regulation and increased international cooperation, in line with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda,
and the strengthening of international cooperation to combat illicit financial flows. We encourage efforts
to strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and the identification of good practices for the
return of stolen assets in support of sustainable development.
34. We are concerned that since 2012 but exacerbated by COVID-19 the external debt stock and debt
service of many African LDCs has drastically increased, resulting in 4 African LDCs being in debt distress as
of November 2020 and additional 10 African LDCs and Haiti at high risk of debt distress. We acknowledge
the efforts of the global community to deal with the financial impacts of the pandemic, including the Debt
Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI), which is open to LDCs, but recognise their limitations in terms of scope
and participation of creditors as they do not cancel any debt. We call upon development partners to take
effective measures to reduce unsustainable debt levels owed by LDCs, including through debt cancellation
and restructuring of existing high debt. We call for improved debt management and responsible lending
and borrowing, including by providing financing on more concessional terms by official creditors and
ensuring that lending practices are fully in line with sustainable financing practices. We call on bilateral
and multilateral development partners to use new instruments like debt swaps and state-contingent
lending, taking into account risks beyond the control of government like natural disasters and climate
risks. We also call for technical assistance and capacity building for LDCs to strengthen their debt
management.
35. We call upon development partners, Multilateral Development Banks and the IMF to introduce
new and comprehensive debt relief initiatives for African LDCs and Haiti in this respect. We also call upon
creditors, both public and private, for additional effective measures to facilitate financing of our economic
development, including access to grants and concessional resources for investment in critically needed
infrastructure and development projects to avoid further indebtedness. The debt sustainability
framework for LDCs should systematically take into account their structural constraints and longer-term
investment requirements for the implementation of the SDGs.
36. We recognize the critical importance of the work of the Technology Bank for LDCs in improving
LDCs’ scientific research and innovation base, promote networking among researchers and research

44
institutions, help LDCs access and utilize critical technologies, and draw together bilateral initiatives and
support by multilateral institutions and the private sector, and to implement projects contributing to the
use of STI for economic development in LDCs. We take note with appreciation of the contributions made
to the Bank by the host country Turkey and other countries and call upon all members, especially donor
countries and other development partners to make substantive contributions to the Bank for its effective
functioning. We also call upon member States to raise awareness on the activities of the Technology Bank
in their countries and to collaborate with the Technology Bank to ensure that technology is used as a
critical tool for development. We therefore support the UN Technology Bank as the focal point for LDCs
to strengthen their science, technology and innovation capacity towards building sustainable productive
capacities and promoting structural economic transformation.
37. We are concerned that COVID-19 accelerated the decline of FDI to African LDCs and Haiti, which
remains heavily concentrated in the extractive industries. We underline the need for undertaking
necessary measures to further accelerate FDI to LDCs in areas where it contributes to achieving the SDGs,
including measures to reduce risks. We welcome the decision contained in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda
and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to adopt and implement investment promotion
regimes for LDCs and the offer to provide financial and technical support for project preparation and
contract negotiation, advisory support in investment-related dispute resolution, access to information on
investment facilities and risk insurance and guarantees, such as through the Multilateral Investment
Guarantee Agency. In this regard, we take note with appreciation of the initiatives undertaken by UN-
OHRLLS aiming at providing legal and technical support to LDCs in investment-related negotiations and
dispute settlement through the Investment Support Programme, implemented by the International
Development Law Organization (IDLO) and at improving the capacity of the investment promotion
agencies of LDCs to attract, diversify and retain FDI and derive maximum benefit from it. We take note
with appreciation of the Capacity Development Programme for the investment promotion agencies of
LDCs, developed by UN-OHRLLS jointly with UNCTAD, UNIDO, ILO, EIF and WAIPA; and call for financial
support to this programme.
38. We recall the SDG target 17.5 which decides to “adopt and implement investment promotion
regimes for LDCs” and express deep concern at the lack of progress in its implementation. We call upon
Member States to establish “an international investment support center for the LDCs” under the auspices
of the United Nations to provide a one-stop arrangement to help stimulate foreign direct investment in
the least developed countries, which can make available the following interrelated and mutually
reinforcing services, as already agreed upon in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda: (a) an information
depository for investment facilities in the LDCs; (b) provision of technical support to assist the LDCs in
preparing project documents and negotiating complex large-scale contracts; (c) provision of advisory
support in dispute resolution; and (d) risk insurance and guarantees in close collaboration with the
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development.
39. We call on the international community to support the adoption of sustainability reporting by
companies from African LDCs and Haiti through capacity building so as to improve the private sector
contribution to sustainable development, while enhancing firms’ competitiveness and their ability to
participate in global value chains.
40. We recognize the contributions of migrants in mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in
both their countries of origin and destination, and note with concern the significant socioeconomic
consequences that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on migrant workers and refugees from least
developed countries, including those in the low wage informal economy as well as the effects that the

45
projected significant decline in remittances will have on the millions of people that depend heavily on
them, and strongly urge partner countries to start taking action, specifically with respect to reducing to
less than 3 per cent the transaction costs of migrant remittances by 2030, and to facilitate the orderly,
safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of
planned and well-managed migration policies.
41. We underline that North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation is vital to the LDCs,
noting that South-South cooperation is not a substitute but a complement to North-South cooperation,
particularly in regard to technical assistance, 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, we call upon the countries of the South to further
strengthen their support provided to the LDCs in all these areas in a predictable manner along the lines of
the outcome document of the Second High-Level United Nations Conference on South-South
Cooperation.
42. We will implement our commitments under various regional and international conventions,
especially the Agenda 2063 to improve governance, ensure human rights and promote peace and security.
Strengthening the rule of law, enforcing property rights, combating corruption, building strong
institutions, fostering social cohesion and enhancing accountability in public service delivery are all
essential to improving governance and thereby sustainable development. We express deep concern that
LDCs are hugely underrepresented in the decision-making processes of the global financial architecture.
This needs to be addressed for the legitimacy and effectiveness of the global financial system. We call
upon the international community to broadening and strengthening the voice and participation of LDCs
in international economic decision-making and norm-setting and global economic governance.
43. We recognize that peace and security is a condition sine qua non for growth and sustainable
development. Enhanced efforts are required to help build durable peace and sustainable development in
LDCs. We call upon the international community, including the United Nations, to extend support of the
international community, for strengthening national, sub-regional and continental efforts aimed at peace-
building, including capacity for conflict mediation, resolution and management and post-conflict
consolidation. We also recognize the importance of the participation of women and youth in the design,
implementation and evaluation of peace-building processes. Special support should be provided to post-
conflict countries to enable them to achieve a smooth transition from relief to development.
44. We acknowledge that ensuring equal access to vital services plays a crucial role in reducing
disparities and promoting trust in public institutions and can therefore have significant implications for
development, peace and security across the continent. In this regard, we reaffirm our commitment to
place social inclusion and transparency in the use of public resources at the center of our agenda,
particularly as we embark on building back better in the post-COVID-19 scenario. We appeal to on all
actors to subscribe to the UN Secretary-General’s call for a Global Ceasefire and we call upon the
international community to support the implementation of the African Union Master Roadmap of
Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa in order to create enabling conditions for social and economic
cohesion and resilience.
45. We recognize the importance of supporting Agenda 2063 and its first 10-year implementation
plan (2014–2023) and acknowledges the programme of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development,
both of which are integral to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and underscore in this regard
the importance of a coherent and coordinated implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda.

46
46. We request the OHRLLS and UNECA to extend necessary support to the LDCs in the
implementation and monitoring of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development as well as the new programme of action through coordination with various United Nations
entities, raising global awareness, mobilizing international support and resources in favor of the LDCs,
building multi-stakeholder partnerships and reaching out to all stakeholders, including by establishing
partnerships with civil society and the private sector, to enhance support for the three groups of countries.
In this regard, we strongly urge the Secretary-General and the Member States to strengthen the OHRLLS
to enable it to provide substantive support to LDCs in their pursuit to meaningfully engage in the
intergovernmental discussions and implement the programme of action for LDCs and the 2030 Agenda.

C. Vote of thanks

47. We express our profound gratitude to the people and the Government of the Republic Malawi for
organizing this meeting. We express our gratitude to the Governments of Turkey and Qatar for their
generous contributions to the successful organization of the meeting. We note with appreciation the
substantive support of the Office of the High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS, in collaboration
with the Economic Commission for Africa, the Office of the Resident Coordinator in Malawi, the United
Nations Development Programme, the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa and the Food and
Agricultural Organization (FAO). We also note with appreciation the active participation and substantive
contributions of development partners and the UN system, as well as other international and regional
organizations. We also express our thanks to parliamentarians as well as the representatives of the Private
Sector, Civil Society, youth and other stakeholders.

47
XIII. Annex II: List of Participants

A. Member States

AFRICAN LDCs and Haiti

1. Malawi, Republic of (Host Country)
 His Excellency Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, President of Malawi
 Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, Vice President and Minister of Economic Planning and
Development and Public Sector Reforms
 Honourable Mr. Lobin Lowe, Minister of Agriculture
 Honourable Mr. Felix Mlusu, Minister of Finance
 Honourable Mr. Eisenhower Mkaka, Minister of Foreign Affairs
 Honourable Ms. Patricia Kaliati, Minister of Gender Community Development and Social Welfare
 Honourable Ms Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, Minister of Health
 Honourable Mr. Newton Kambala, Minister of Energy
 Honourable Mr. Sosten Gwengwe, Minister of Trade
 Honourable Ms. Nancy Tembo, Minister, Forestry and Natural Resources
 Honourable Mr. Roy Kachale Banda, Minister of Industry
 Honourable Mr. Gospel Kazako, Minister of Information
 Mr. Zangazanga Chikhosi, Secretary of the President and Cabinet, Office of President and Cabinet
 Mr. Winford Masanjala, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and Public
Sector Reforms
 Mr. Luckie Sikwese, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Ms. Christina Zakeyo, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Trade
 Mr. Peter Kelvin Simbani, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Industry
 Ms. Roselyn Makhumula, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social
Welfare
 Mr. Charles Mwansambo, Secretary for Health, Malawi, Ministry of Health Malawi
 Ms. Erica Maganga, Secretary for Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture
 Mr. Isaac Katopola, Principal Secretary (Administration), Ministry of Gender, Community Development and
Social Welfare
 H.E. Mr. Thomas Munthali, Director General, National Planning Commission of Malawi
 Mr. Elijah Wanda, Director General, National Commission for Science and Technology
 H.E. Mr. Perks Ligoya, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Malawi to the UN, New York
 H.E Mr. Robert Salama, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Malawi to the UN, Geneva
 H.E. Mr. Agrina Mussa, High Commissioner, Malawi High Commission to Kenya
 H.E. Mr. Michael Kamphambe Nkhoma, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Malawi to Germany
 H.E. Mr. Brian Bowler, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Malawi to Brazil
 H.E. Mr. David Calude Pierre, Head of Mission, African Union Southern Africa Regional Office
 Mr. Jollam, Banda, Director of Planning, Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and Public Sector
Reforms
 Mr. Hamisi Twabi, Senior Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Defense, Malawi
 Mr. Prince Kapondagaga, Chief of Staff, Office of President and Cabinet
 Ms. Grace Bona Njala, Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
48
 Mr. Harvey Chiguluma, Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Mr. Francis Mphatso Mponda, Director of Americas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malawi
 Mr. MacDonald Mwale, Director Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance
 Mr. Clement Kumbemba, Director, Ministry of Trade
 Ms. Kate Langwe, Director, Ministry of Health
 Mr. Clement Phangaphanga, Director, Ministry of Industry
 Mr. Wiskes Nkombezi, Director of SMEs and Cooperatives, Ministry of Industry
 Mr. Cassius Chiwambo, Director of Energy Affairs, Ministry of Energy
 Mr. Storn Kabuluzi, Director of Preventive Health Services, Ministry of Health
 Ms. Yanira Ntupanyama, Executive Director, Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources
 Ms. Tawonga Mbale-Luka, Director, Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources
 Ms. Gertrude Kambauwa, Director, Department of Land Resources Conservation, Ministry of Agriculture
 Mr. Jerome Chim'gonda-Nkhoma (PhD), Director of Agriculture Extension Services, Ministry of Agriculture
 Ms. Dina Gumulira, Director, Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare
 Ms. Clotilda Sawasawa, Director, Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare
 Mr. Chikumbutso Mtumodzi, Director of information, Ministry of information
 Mr. Grant Kankhulungo, Director of External Services, National Intelligence Services
 Mr. Symon Maliko, Director of Administration, Ministry of Defense
 Ms. Grace Kumchulesi, Director for Development Planning, National Planning Commission of Malawi
 Mr. Stanley Longwe, Executive Assistant to the Vice president, Office of Vice President and Ministry of
Economic Planning, Development and Public Sector Reforms
 Mr. Shaun Kampondeni, Director of Media, Office of President and Cabinet
 Ms. Hilda Kabuli, Chief Agricultural Research Statistician, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural
Research Services
 Mr. Sipho Billiat, Development Planning Manager, National Planning Commission
 Mr. Kenneth Sanga, Deputy High Commissioner, Malawi High Commission to Kenya
 Mr. Abels Mkandawire, Acting Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Mr. Adwell Zembele, Deputy Director of Economic Planning, Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and
Development
 Ms. Hilaria Chibwana, Deputy Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Mr. Bertrand Khanyizira, Deputy Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Mr. Chikumbutso Kutengule, Deputy Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Ms. Faith Kazembe-Mwalubunju, Deputy Director Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Ms. Catherine Zamaere, Deputy Director, Americas, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Mr. Mufwa Munthali, Deputy Director (Foreign Trade), Ministry of Trade
 Mr. Fumbani Sichinga, Deputy Director, Ministry of Health
 Mr. Silas Sindi, Deputy Director, Industry, Ministry of Industry
 Mr. Joseph Kalowekamo, Deputy Director of Energy Affairs, Ministry of Energy
 Mr. Khumbolawo Lungu, Acting Deputy Director of Energy Affairs, Ministry of Energy
 Mr. Patrick Silungwe, Deputy Director of Energy Affairs, Ministry of Energy
 Mr. Readwell Musopole, Deputy Director of Planning, Ministry of Agriculture
 Ms. Shamiso Najira, Deputy Director of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources
 Mr. Benon Yassin, Deputy Director of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources
 Mr. Laurent Kansinjiro, Deputy Director of Social Welfare, Ministry of Gender, Community Development and
Social Welfare

49
 Ms. Alice Mkandawire, Deputy Director of Gender Affairs, Ministry of Gender, Community Development &
Social Welfare
 Mr. Justin Hamela, Deputy Director of Child Affairs, Ministry of Gender Community Development and Social
Welfare
 Mr. Gideon Kachingwe, Deputy Director, Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare
 Mr. Arthur Chipenda, Deputy Director, Ministry of Information
 Mr. Elias Ellias Tsokalida, Assistant Director Americas Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Ms. Suzgo Mandala, Assistant Director, Americas Bilateral, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Mr. Cornwell Chisale, Assistant Director of Energy Affairs, Ministry of Energy
 Mr. Saidi Banda, Assistant Director of Energy Affairs, Ministry of Energy
 Mr. Stephen Mmodzi, Counsellor, Malawi Mission, Switzerland
 Mr. Esau Mwambira, Under-Secretary, Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare
 Ms. Irene, Nyang'wa, Under-Secretary, Ministry of Homeland Security
 Mr. Brown Vitsitsi, Under Secretary, Minister of Information
 Mr. Rodwell Chizumila, Superintendent of Immigration, Malawi Immigration Department
 Mr. Brain Banda, Press Secretary, Office of President and Cabinet
 Ms. Hope Chavula, Senior Development Planning Specialist, National Planning Commission
 Ms. Myranda Lutempo, Senior Policy Officer, African Union Southern Africa Regional Office
 Ms. Khadija Sungeni Mussa, Programme Advisor, GIZ Energising Development (EnDev) Programme in Malawi
 Mr. Dickson Kazembe, Chief Economist, Ministry of Industry
 Mr. Chimwemwe Khoswe, Chief Economist, Ministry of Agriculture
 Ms. Jayne Nkhono, Chief Economist, Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare
 Mr. Mussa Gama, Chief Economist, Ministry of Defense, Malawi
 Mr. Francis Mukhupa, Principal Economist, Ministry of Defense, Malawi
 Mr. Brian Tamandani Chaima, Principal Economist, Ministry of Economic Planning and
 Mr. Doshanie Kadokera, Principal Economist, Ministry of Agriculture
 Ms. Tamanda Chibwana, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Malawi to UN
 Mr. Allan Jere, Economist, Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and Public Sector Reforms
 Mr. Saweluzika Mwenelupembe, Economist, Department of Economic Planning and Development, Ministry
of Finance
 Mr. Isaac Maviko, Economist, Ministry of Defense, Malawi
 Mr. Everson Jere, Economist, Ministry of Defense, Malawi
 Mr. Simeon Labana, Economist, Ministry of Defense, Malawi
 Ms. Tiyamike Banda, Principal Foreign Service Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Ms. Brenda Bvalani, Principal Trade Officer, Ministry of Trade
 Mr. Yamikani Kadzakumanja, Principal Industrial Development Officer, Ministry of Industry
 Mr. Edgar Madalitso, Samute, Principal Hiring Officer, Ministry of Transport
 Mr. Evans Njewa, Chief Environmental Officer, Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources
 Mr. Patrick Kayo, Senior Programme Officer, Head of Analysis and Planning, Ministry, Office of the President
and Cabinet
 Mr. Tione Andsen, Senior Government Officer, Ministry of Information
 Ms. Judith Msusa, Senior Government Official, Ministry of Youth and Sport
 Ms. Mirriam Chiudza Banda, Foreign Service Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Mr. Innocent Pondani, Foreign Service Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malawi
 Mr. Harrish Shariff, Foreign Service Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Mr. Lutenganio Mwanyongo, Foreign Service Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

50
 Mr. Charles Nkhalamba, Foreign Service Officer-Americas, Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Forestry and
Natural Resources
 Ms. Rejoice Shumba, Public Relations Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Mr. Yamikani Idriss, Environmental Officer, Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources
 Mr. Gerald Mvula, Administrative Officer, Department of Housing
 Mr. Geoffrey Makhola, Protocol Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Mr. Mwai Gidala, Professional Officer, Ministry of Economic Planning and Development and Public Sector
Reforms
 Mr. Kondwani Kamanga, Administrative Officer Ministry of Homeland Security

2. Angola
 Dr. Milton Reis, Secretário de Estado para o Planeamento
 Ms. Andreza Paulino, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Angola to the UN
 Dr. António Pombal, Director da Direcção Nacional para Integração, Cooperação e Negócios
 Dr. Luís Epalanga, Director da Director Nacional de Estudos e Planeamento
 Dr. Tombwele Pedro, Consultor do Gabinete do Secretario de Estado para o Planeamento
 Dra. Mara de Almeida, Consultora do Gabinete do Secretario de Estado para o Planeamento

3. Benin, Republic of
 Mr. Marc Hermanne Araba, Ambassadeur, Représentant Permanent, Mission Permanente du Benin aux UN
 Mr. Magloire Augustin Aguessy, Directeur Général de la Coordination et du Suivi des Objectifs de
Développement Durable, Ministère du Plan et du Développement
 Mr. Cyriaque Edon, Directeur Général des Politiques de Développement, Ministère d’État du Plan et de
Développement
 H.E. Mr. Nathanael Sokpoekpe, Député, Premier Rapporteur de la commission des affaires extérieures, de la
coopération au développement, de la défense et de la sécurité, Assemblée Nationale
 Ms. Mireille Santos, Chef du Service des Partenariats Economiques, Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie du
Benin
 Mr. Simon Pierre Fandy, Chargé des Activités opérationnelles des Nations Unies à la Directions des
Organisations Internationales/Ministère des Affaires Etrangères et de la Coopération du Bénin, Ministère des
Affaires Etrangères et de la Coopération
 Mr. Romaric Sofonnou, Cadre, Ministere du Plan et du Développement
 Ms. Djaoudath Alidou, Cadre, Ministere du Plan et du Développement
 Mr. Moussa Toko, Cadre, Ministere du Plan et du Développement
 Ms. Dorinali Yalla Boni, Cadre, Ministere du Plan et du Développement
 Mr. Bio Toro Orou Guiwa, Conseiller technique aux relations internationales du Président de l'Assemblée
nationale du Bénin, Assemblée nationale du Bénin

4. Burkina Faso
 H.E. Mr. Eric Tiare, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso to the
UN
 Mr. Mahamadou Bokoum, Deputy Director General of Economics and Planning, Economics and Planning
Branch

51
5. Burundi
 H.E. Ms. Marie Chantal Nijimbere, Minister for Communication, ICT and Media
 Mr. Delphin Ndayemeye, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Burundi to the UN

6. Comoros
 H.E. Mr. Fouady Goulame, Commissaire général au plan, Commissariat Général au Plan
 Mr. Abdourazak Ibrahim Mohamed, Directeur Général de la Planification Stratégique et de la Population,
Point Focal National PMA

7. Chad
 Mr. Hassan Abakar, Parlementaire, Président de la Commission Communication Nouvelles Technologies de
l'Information et de la Communication, Droits Fondamentaux et Libertés de l'Assemblée Nationale du Tchad,
Assemblee Nationale du Tchad
 Mr. Asnal Ngartolna, Economic Counselor, Permanent Mission of Chad to the UN

8. Eritrea
 H.E. Ms. Sophia Tesfamariam, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Eritrea to
the UN
 Mr. Samsom Berhane Asefaw, Director in the Office of the Minister, Ministry of Finance and National
Development
 Mr. Nemariam, Mengistu, Senior Programme Officer, Ministry of Finance and National Development
 Ms. Nadja Micael, Advisor, Permanent Mission of Eritrea to the UN in New York

9. Ethiopia
 H.E. Mr. Ato Oumer Hussein, Minister of Agriculture
 H.E. Mr. Nemera Gebeyehu Mamo, State Minister, Planning and Development Commission
 H.E. Mr. Taye Made, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Ethiopia to the UN
 Mr. Solomon Tesfasilassie Tegegne, Director General, Planning and Development Commission
 Mr. Dawit Yirga, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Mr. Wegayehu Berga, Director Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Mr. Tedla Getiso, Economic Expert, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Mr. Anteneh Senbeta, Economic Expert
 Mr. Adisalem Teklu, Economic and Legal Expert, Permanent Mission of Ethiopia to the UN

10. Gambia
 H.E. Mr. Mambury Njie, Minister, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs
 H.E. Ms. Amie Fabureh, Minister of Agriculture
 H.E. Mr James FP Gomez, Minister, Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources
 Mr. Ousman Sillah, Parliamentarian, National Assembly of The Gambia

52
 Mr. Abdoulie Jallow, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs
 Mr. Alagie Fadera, Director of Development Planning, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs
 H.E. Mr. Lamin Faati, Deputy Permanent Repesentative, Permanent Mission to the UN
 Ms. Isatou Badjie, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of The Gambia to the UN
 Mr. Omar Badjie, Principal Economist, Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment

11. Guinea
 H.E. M. Mamadi Camara, Minister of Economy and Finance
 Mr. Chaikou Yaya Diallo, Conseiller Principal du Ministre, Point Focal PMA, Ministère de la Coopération et de
l'Intégration Africaine
 Mr. Alassane Conte, Counselor, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Guinea to the UN

12. Haiti
 H.E. Mr. Antonio Rodrigue, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Haiti to the
UN
 Mr. Willy Louis, Minister Counselor, Permanent Mission of Haïti to the UN
 Ms. Linouse Vilmenay, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Haïti to the UN

13. Lesotho
 H.E. Mr. Selibe Mochoboroane, Honorable Minister of Development Planning
 H.E. Mr. Thabiso Molapo, Minister of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Trade and Industry
 H.E. Mr. Mohapi, Mohapinyane, Minister, Ministry of Energy and Meteorology
 Hon. Ms. Ntsalla, Mafa, Member of Parliament, National Assembly of Lesotho
 Mr. Tseliso, Kalake, Member of Parliament, National Assembly of Lesotho
 Mr. Sello Tsukulu, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Development Planning
 Mr. Maile Masoebe, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry
 H.E. Mr. Nkopane Monyane, Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission to the UN
 Ms. Limpho Masilo-Motsamai, Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations
 Ms. Mary Motebang, Director of Trade, Ministry of Trade and Industry
 Ms. Mahlape Ramoseme, Director, Ministry of Development Planning
 Mr. Phera Lepati, Director of Planning, Ministry of Trade and Industry
 Mr. Molebatsi Rabolinyane, Director of Standards of Quality, Ministry of Trade and Industry
 Ms. Motulu Molapo, Chief Economist, Ministry of Development Planning
 Mr. Mpeshe Selebalo, Senior Trade Relations Officer, Ministry of Trade and Industry
 Mr. Lesotho Chefa, Economist, Private Sector Competitiveness and Economic Diversification Project under the
Ministry of Trade and Industry

14. Liberia
 H.E Mr. Augustus Jonathan Flomo, Deputy Minister for Economic Management, Ministry of Finance and
Development Planning
 H.E. Mr. Alton Kesselly, Deputy Minister for Planning, Research and Development, Ministry of Education

53
 H.E. Mr. Prosper K Browne, Deputy Minister for Technical Services, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications
 Mr. Israel Choko Davies, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Liberia to
the UN
 Mr. Edward Mulbah, National Executive Director, Liberia Peacebuilding Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs
 Mr. Randall M. Dobayou, Deputy Executive Director, Environmental Protection Agency
 Mr. Gotomo Ruben Anderson, Counselor, Permanent Mission of Liberia to the UN
 Mr. J. Wellington Barchue, LDCs Focal Point, Ministry of Finance and Development Planning
 Mr. C-kor B. Guzeh II, Technical Assistant, Ministry of Mines and Energy

15. Madagascar
 Ms. Vero Andriamiarisoa, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Madagascar to the UN
 Mr. Alfredo Jerry Dominique Ratsimandresy, Counselor, Permanent Mission of Madagascar to the UN
 Ms. Hasina Rafamantanantsoa, Chief of Division in charge of SDG, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

16. Mali
 H.E. Mr. Konfourou Issa, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Mali to the United
Nations
 Mr. Seydou Coulibaly, Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Mr. Sissioko Aboubacar, Advisor, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Mali to the United Nations

17. Mauritania
 Mr. Ely Oudeika, Directeur Général Adjoint des Politiques et Stratégies de Développement, Ministère des
Affaires Économiques et de la Promotion des Secteurs Productifs
 Mr. Boukary Soumare, Second Conseiller, Permanent Mission of Mauritania to the UN

18. Mozambique
 Ms. Olga Munguambe, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Mozambique to the UN, Switzerland
 Ms. Carlota Cherinda, Ministerio dos Negocios Estrangeiros e Cooperacao
 Mr. Paulina Abdala, Desk Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation

19. Niger
 Mr. Assouman Mainassara, Directeur General Du Plan, Ministère Du Plan

20. Rwanda
 H.E. Ms. Paula Ingabire, Minister of Information and Communications Technology
 Mr. Parfait Gasana, Senior Advisor, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Rwanda to the United Nations

21. Senegal

54
 H.E. Mr. Cheikh Niang, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Senegal to the UN
 Mr. Abiboulaye Lo, Directeur de l'Equité territoriale, Ministère du Développement communautaire, de
l'Equité sociale et territoriale
 Mr. El Hadji Mame Youssou Sylla, Chef de Division, Ministère des Affaires étrangères et des Sénégalais de
l'Extérieur
 Ms. Awa Maty Basse, Chef de Division, Ministère de l'économie, du plan et de la coopération
 Mr. Gora Beye, Chef de division, Ministere de l’économie, du Plan et de la Coopération
 Mr. Mamadou Dia, Point Focal National, Ministère de l'Economie du Plan et de la Coopération
 Mr. Diamane Diome, Minister counsellor, Permanent Mission of Senegal to the UN
 Mr. Moustapha Diop, Premier conseiller, Ambassade du Senegal a Addis Abeba
 Mr. Mamadou Voury Diallo, Conseiller en Planification /Ministère de l'Economie du Plan et de la Coopération,
Ministère de l'Economie du Plan et de la Coopération
 Mr. Mamadou Gueye, Counselor, Permanent Mission of Senegal to the UN
 Mr. Lamine LABOU, Senior Programme Officer, Direction de la Prévision et des Etudes Economiques
 Mr. Abdoulaye Dieye, Economiste Expert, CEPOD DGPPE Ministère de l'Economie du Plan et de la Coopération
 Ms. Khadidiatou DIA, Economiste, Ministère de l'Economie du Plan et de la Coopération

22. Sierra Leone

 H.E. Mr. Francis Mustapha Kai-Kai, Minister, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development
 Mr. Peter Nuyaba Kpakra, Development Secretary/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Economic
Development
 H.E. Mr. Alie Kabba, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Sierra Leona to the
UN
 H.E. Mr. Adekunle King, Ambassador of Sierra Leone to Ethiopia
 Mr. Alpha Kapri Bangura, Director, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development
 Ms. Abie Elizabeth Kamara, Deputy Director, Ministry of Planning and Economic Development
 Mr. Alan George, Minister Counsellor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
 Mr. Momoh Sesay, Senior Manager, Central Bank of Sierra Leone

23. Somalia
 Mr. Mohamed Iman Bulle, Ministry of Fishery

24. South Sudan

 H.E. Mr. Akuei B. Malwal, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission to the UN

25. Sudan
 Ms. Hiba Auhaj, Third Secretary, Permanent Mission to the UN

26. Togo
 Mr. Yaovi Attigbé Ihou, Parlementaire, Assemblée Nationale

55
 Mr. Essohanam, Edjeou, Directeur de Cabinet, Ministère de la Planification du Développement et de la
Coopération
 Ms. Djigbodi Aglobo, Directrice de La Coopération Multilatérale, Ministère de la Planification du
Développement et de la Coopération
 Mr. Meheza Kwakou Tamakloe, Chef Service, Ministère de la Planification du Développement et de la
Coopération
 Ms. Rachidatou Bawa, Chef Section, Suivi de L'efficacité de L'aide au Développement, Des Investissements Et
Des Statistiques De L'aide, Ministère de la Planification du Développement et de la Coopération
 Ms. Tchilalou Awesso Epse Kondo, Chef Section, PMA Point focal national, Ministère de la Planification du
Développement et de la Coopération
 Mr. Shafiou Razak, Chargé d'études, Ministère de la Planification du Développement et de la Coopération
 Mr. Kibalou Abete, Macroéconomiste à la Direction générale des études et analyses économiques au Ministère
de l'économie et des finances, Ministère de l'Economie et des Finances
 Ms. Gnon Tchalla, Assistant du Directeur national, ONUDI

27. Uganda
 H.E. Mr. Ssempijja Vincent Frerrio Bamulangaki, Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries
 Mr. Patrick Ocailap, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic
Development, Uganda
 Mr. Joseph Enyimu, Commissioner, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development
 Mr. Joses Tegyeza, Commissioner, Office of the Prime Minister
 H.E. Mr. Philip Odida, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Uganda to the UN
 Ms. Eseza Musekura, Charge d‘Affaires, Uganda High Commission to the Republic of Tanzania
 Mr. Joshua Kalebo, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of Uganda to the UN
 Ms. Sheila Lwamafa Nuwamanya, Senior Economist, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development
 Mr. David Bbosa, Economist, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development
 Mr. Marvin Ssenkungu, Secretariat, Office of the Prime Minister
 Mr. Francis Luwangwa, Technical Advisor, National Planning Authority

28. United Republic of Tanzania

 Mr. Songelael Shilla, Minister Plenipotentiary, Permanent Mission of Tanzania to the UN, New York
 Mr. Honest Kessy, Director, Ministry of Agriculture

29. Zambia
 H.E. Mr. Alexander Chiteme, Minister of National Development Planning
 H.E. Ms. Jean Kapata, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
 Mr. Trevor Kaunda, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of National Development Planning
 Mr. Ndashe, Yumba, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
 Mr. Charles Banda, Director, Ministry of National Development Planning
 Ms. Mwaka Mukubesa, Director, Ministry of National Development Planning
 Ms. Bessie Chelemu, Director, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry
 Ms. Peggy Mlewa, Director, Ministry of Agriculture
 Ms. Jane Mubanga Chinkusu, Director, Science and Technology, Ministry of Higher Education

56
 Mr. Joseph Musonda, Assistant Director, Ministry of National Development Planning
 Mr. Wamupu Akapelwa, Assistant Director (Multilateral Cooperation), Ministry of National Development
Planning
 Ms. Mwila Daka, Assistant Director, Economic Sectors, Ministry of National Development Planning
 Ms. Faith Chellah, Deputy High Commissioner, Zambia High Commission
 Mr. Kosam Chola, Senior Planner, Ministry of National Development Planning
 Ms. Mutinta Kalembwe, Senior Planner, Ministry of National Development Planning
 Ms. Rebecca Ndowa, Principal Planner, Ministry of National Development Planning
 Mr. Tresford Musonda, Principal Planner, Ministry of National Development Planning
 Ms. Chishimba Nkholoma, Principal Planner, Ministry of National Development Planning - Department of
Population and Development
 Ms. Miriam Dalitso Nkhungulu, Principal Planner, Ministry of National Development Planning
 Ms. Sikabele Chikuba, Senior Planner, Ministry of National Development Planning
 Mr. Paul Mumba, Chief Economist, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry
 Ms. Langani Phiri, Principal Economist, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry
 Mr. McPherson Munsanje, Economist, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry
 Ms. Precious Nyirongo, Economist, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry
 Mr. Philip Soko, Economist, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry
 Ms. Harriet Mweene Matipa, Economist, Ministry of Agriculture
 Mr. Yotam Nyirenda, Economist, Ministry of Agriculture
 Ms. Florence Mulenga, Trade and Investment Promotion Officer, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry
 Mr. Sydney Choonga, Trade and Investment Promotions Officer, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry
 Mr. Oscar Sichimba, Counsellor, Economic Affairs, Permanent Mission to the United Nations

Other Member States

Afghanistan
 H.E. Mr. Mohammed Wali Naeemi, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission
of Afghanistan to the UN

Bangladesh
 Ms. Musrat Meh Jabin, Joint Secretary, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance
 Mr. Md Sukur Ali, Joint Secretary, Financial Institutions Division, Ministry of Finance
 Mr. Fahmid Farhan, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN
 Mr. Nirupam Nath, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the UN

Brazil
 H.E. Mr. Ronaldo Costa Filho, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Brazil to the
UN
 Mr. Philip Gough, Minister-Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Brazil to the UN
 Mr. Vinicius Trindade, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of Brazil to the UN

Belgium
- Mr. Tim Bogaert, Head of Unit, Director-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid
- Ms. Isabelle Martijn, Attaché, Director-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid

57
Bulgaria
 Ms. Nadejda Radeva, UN and Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Cambodia
 Ms. Mealea Heng, Second Secretary in Charge of the Fourth Committee, Permanent Mission of Cambodia to
the UN

Canada
 The Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of International Development
 H.E. Mr. Bob Rae, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN
 Ms. Kim Joslin, Deputy Director, Global Affairs Canada
 Mr. François-Philippe Dubé, Senior Analyst, Global Affairs
 Ms. Rebecca Bell, Policy Analyst, Global Affairs Canada
 Mr. Geoff Black, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN
 Mr. Matthew Hall, Special Assistant, Global Affairs Canada
 Ms. Selma Alvarez-Barkham, Protocol Officer, Global Affairs Canada

Chile
 Ms. Alejandra Godoy, Consul of Chile in South Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

China
- Mr. Fangbei He, Head of Political Section of the Chinese Embassy in Malawi, Chinese Embassy in Malawi
- Mr. Jiefeng LIU, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of China to the UN
- Mr. Chang Lu, Third Secretary of the Chinese Embassy in Malawi, Chinese Embassy in Malawi

Czech Republic
 H.E Ms. Marie Chatardova, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Czech
Republic to the UN
 Ms. Eva Anna Kafkova, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the UN

Denmark
 H.E Ms. Trine Rask Thygesen, State Secretary for Development Cooperation
 Ms. Astrid Melchior Olesen, Head of Section, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark
 Ms. Johanne Nedergaard Ørnsholt, Assistant Attaché, Permanent Mission of Denmark to the UN
 Ms. Astrid, Wiborg Jensen, Policy Advisor, Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations

Egypt
 H.E. Mr. Hassan Shawky, Ambassador of the Arab Republic Egypt in Malawi, Embassy of Egypt to Malawi
 Mr. Abdallah Hosny, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Malawi

Finland
 H.E. Ambassador Ms. Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury, Ambassador of Finland in Malawi
 Ms. Emmi Harlahti, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Finland to the UN
 Ms. Venla Voutilainen, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Finland

France
 Mr. Vincent Jechoux, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of France to the UN

58
 Ms. Sophie Goudiaby, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of France to the UN

Germany
 Mr. Holger Illi, Deputy Director Africa Division, German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and
Development (BMZ)
 Mr. Christoph Pohl, Advisor, German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Ghana
 Mr. Nashiru Abdulai, Permanent Representative, Embassy of the Republic of Ghana in Ethiopia
 Mr. Ismail Adam, Assistant Director, Bank of Ghana
 Mr. Kofi Andoh, Deputy Commissioner of Insurance, National Insurance Commission
 Mr. Prosper Diaba, Senior Economic Officer, Ministry of Finance
 Mr. Ben Afenyo Tsikudo, Senior Economics Officer, Ministry of Finance
 Mr. Roland Avenyo-Addico, Assistant Manager, Standards and Compliance, National Pensions Regulatory
Authority, Ghana

Hungary
 Ms. Brigitta Szatmari, Third Secretary, Second Committee Officer, Permanent Mission of Hungary to the UN

India
 Ms. Vidisha Maitra, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India to the UN
 Mr. Siddharth Malik, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of India to the UN

Indonesia
 Mr. Muhamad Purnagunawan, Economic Policy Team Leader, The National Team for The Acceleration of
Poverty Reduction (TNP2K)

Japan
 Ms. Yuko Hanada, Researcher in Economy and Development Cooperation Section, Embassy of Japan in Malawi

Kenya
 Mr. Willy Mbai, Project Facilitator, Ministry of Agriculture

Luxembourg
 Mr. Paul Weber, Desk Officer, Ministère des Affaires étrangères et européennes

Myanmar
 Mr. Htin Linn Maung, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Myanmar to the UN, New York

Nepal
 Ms. Prathma Uprety, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN, New York

Nigeria
 Ms. Omobolanle Adebimp Magbagbeola, Assistant Director, Lagos State, Ministry of the Environment and
Water resources
 Ms. Chinyere Edom, Diplomat, Embassy of Nigeria to Ethiopia

59
Norway
 H.E. Mr. Dag-Inge Ulstein, Minister of International Development
 H.E. Mr. Steinar Egil Hagen, Ambassador of Norway to Malawi
 Mr. Knut Berdal, Specialist Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Food
 Ms. Aida Ghebreselasie, Senior Advisor, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Ms. Hege Fisknes, Senior Advisor, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
 Mr. Sascha Randal, Advisor, Permanent Mission of Norway to the UN

Paraguay
 Mr. David Martinez, Second Committee Expert, Permanent Mission of Paraguay to the United Nations

Portugal
 H.E. Mr. Francisco Andre, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
 Mr. João Lima, Advisor, Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations in New York

Qatar
 H.E. Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar
 H.E. Ms. Alya Al-Thani, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Qatar to the UN, NY
 Mr. Ahmad Saif Al-Kuwari, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of Qatatto the UN, NY

St. Vincent & the Grenadines

 H.E. Mr. Ellsworth John, Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Sweden
 Ms. Eva Christina Andersson, Coordinator/ LibDem/Executive Committee/External Actions, ALDE/LibDem
UK/External Actions
 Ms. Karin Svensson, Senior Advisor, SIDA
 Ms. Michelle Voon, Program Officer, Sweden
 Ms. Hanna Carlsson, Senior Account Manager – Unit of Guarantees and Catalytic Financing for Development,
SIDA

Turkey
 H.E. Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey
 H.E. Mr. Ömer, Gücük, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Turkey
 Ms. Nur Alkis, Head of Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Turkey
 Ms. Gülru Tetik, Second Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Republic of Turkey

United States of America

 Ms. Jen Katchmark, International Trade Specialist, United States Department of Agriculture
 Mr. James Buchanan, International Trade Specialist, United States Department of Agriculture
 Ms. Pauline Simmons, International Economist/Advisor, United States Department of Agriculture

OBSERVERS

60
European Union
 Mr. Koen Doens, Director General, European Commission, Directorate General for International Partnerships
 Ms. Elisabeth Pape, Minister Counselor, EU Delegation to the UN
 Ms. Helge Zeitler, Counsellor, EU Delegation to the UN
 Mr. Martin Bartenschlager, International Relations Officer, European Commission
 Mr. Mariusz Tamborski, Policy Officer
 Ms. Giulia Rizzo, Policy Assistant, European Commission
 Mr. Samuel Nsengiyumva, Advisor, AgriResearch Conference
 Mr. Chris Dijkman Dulkes, Trainee, EU Delegation to the UN

State of Palestine
 H.E. Ms. Hanan Jarrar, Ambassador, Embassy of the State of Palestine, South Africa

B. UN System, IFIs and other IGOs

United Nations -Office of the High Representative for the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS (OHRLLS, co-organizer)
 Ms. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative, Secretary-
General of the LDC5 Conference
 Ms. Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Director, Executive Secretary of the LDC5 Conference
 Mr Sandgadorj Erdenebileg, Chief, Deputy Executive Secretary of the LDC5 Conference
 Mr. Oumar Diallo, Special Assistant to UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative
 Ms. Susanna Wolf, Team Leader, Senior Programme Management Officer, LDC Unit
 Mr. Aniket Ghai, Senior Economic Affairs Officer, LDC Unit
 Mr. Md Abdul Alim, Senor Economic Affairs Officer, LDC Unit
 Ms. Gladys Mutangadura, Senior Programme Officer, LLDC Unit
 Ms. Yuxin Ai, Senior Programme Management Officer, LDC Unit
 Mr. Conor O’Loughlin, Head of Advocacy
 Ms. Margherita Musollino, Economic Affairs Officer, LDC Unit
 Mr. Tomas Gonzalez, Programme Management Officer, LDC Unit
 Mr. Yeshey Dorji, Programme Management Officer, LDC Unit
 Ms. Nnana Mmanyabela Pheto, Economic Affairs Officer, LLDC Unit
 Ms. Miniva Chibuye, Economic Affairs Officer, LDC Unit
 Ms. Erica Carroll-Ogunka, Economic Affairs Officer, LDC Unit
 Ms. Anne Kersting, Associate Expert, LDC Unit
 Mr. Nicholas Ceolin, Associate Expert, Public Information
 Ms. Katariina Saikku, Public Information Intern
 Ms. Yashwinee Chooraman, Intern
 Ms. Marion Pacini, Intern
 Ms. Xuefei Liu, Intern

African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat

 Ms. Emily Mburu-Ndoria, Director

61
African Development Bank
 Mr. Elhadj Bah, Chief Policy Economist

African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)

 Ms. Towela Nyirenda-Jere, Head, Economic Integration
 Mr. Younes Touitha, Expert Technique Infrastructure
 Mr. Vincent Moola, Senior Programme Officer - Trade and Markets Access
 Ms. Lovasoa Christine Razanamahandry, Continental Business Network Technical Coordinator

Arab Maghreb Union

 Mr. Imed Ben Hadj Hamouda, Chef de division, Marocco

Arab Organization for Agricultural Development

 Mr. Abdullahi Kelly, Head of Statistics Unit

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

 Mr. Alessandro Vittadini, Head of Unit

Enhanced Integrated Framework

 Mr. Ratnakar Adhikari, Executive Director
 Ms. Annette Ssemuwemba, Deputy Executive Director
 Mr. Simon Hess, Head, Monitoring and Evaluation
 Mr. Peter Donelan, EIF Coordinator
 Ms. Abha Calindi, Digital Communications Officer

European Investment Bank

 Mr. Carmelo Cocuzza, Head of Unit, Luxemburg

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

 Mr. QU Dongyu, Director-General
 Mr. Laurent Thomas, Deputy Director-General
 Ms. Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General
 Ms. Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General
 Mr. Maximo Torero, Chief Economist
 Ms. Ismahane Elouafi, Chief Scientist
 Mr. Godfrey Magwenzi, Directeur de Cabinet
 Mr. Abebe Haile Gabriel, Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative, Regional Office for Africa
 Ms. Angelica Jacome Daza, Director, Office for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries
(LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)
 Mr. Guangzhou Qu, Director, Liaison Office with the United Nations
 Mr. Hak-Fan Lau, Director, Office of Communications
 Mr. Jean Senahoun, Senior Economist
 Mr. Raschad Al-Khafaji, Special Assistant to the Director-General, Office of the Director-General
 Ms. Dina Rahman, Senior Coordinator, Office of the Director-General
 Mr. Zhe Xiong, Assistant to the Director-General, Office of the Director-General
 Ms. Halka Otto, Senior Liaison Officer

62
 Mr. Lucas Tavares, Senior Liaison Officer
 Ms. Nora Berrahmouni, Senior Forestry Officer
 Ms. Towela Munthali, Senior Communications Officer
 Ms. Er Zoie Jones, Senior Communications Officer
 Ms. Pamela Pozarny, Senior Investment Officer
 Mr. Ndiaga Gueye, Senior Fisheries and Aquaculture Officer
 Mr. Baba Soumare, Regional Manager, ECTAD
 Mr. Matthew Keil, Regional Coordinator, Office of the Director-General
 Mr. Zhijun Chen, FAO Representative in Malawi
 Mr. Etienne Peterschmitt, FAO Representative in Somalia
 Ms. Shibu Rampedi, FAO Representative in The Gambia
 Mr. Dademanao Pissang, FAO Representative
 Mr. Antonio Querido, Country Representative Uganda
 Mr. Gualbert Gbehounou, Country Representative
 Mr. Patrice Talla Takouka, FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa
 Mr. Robert Guei, Sub-Regional coordinator
 Mr. David Phiri, Sub-Regional Coordinator
 Ms. Jocelyn Brown Hall, Deputy Regional Representative
 Mr. James Okoth, Deputy FAO Representative in Malawi
 Ms. Jiani Tian, Coordinator, Office of the Director-General
 Mr. Khaled Eltaweel, Coordinator, Cabinet of the Director General
 Ms. Xiaoruo Jiang, Coordinator, Office of the Director-General
 Ms. Yasaman Matinroshan, Coordinator, Office of the Director-General
 Mr. Henry van Burgsteden, Coordinator, Office of the Director-General
 Ms. Gabriella Piacentini, Deputy Speech Writer, Office of the Director-General.
 Mr. Shen Hong, Liaison Officer
 Ms. Adel Sarkozi, Communications Officer
 Ms. Zoie Jones, Communications Officer
 Mr. Kaz Juhiwara, Partnerships Officer
 Mr. Aimable Uwizeye, Livestock Policy Officer
 Mr. Blaise Ouattara, Food Safety Officer, Ghana
 Ms. Cristina Alderighi, Programme Officer, Italy
 Ms. Shaza Saker, Programme Officer
 Mr. Jacques Conforti, Programme Officer
 Ms. Solandy Rakotondramanga, Programme Officer
 Mr. Ntwali Muderhwa, Programme and Budget Officer
 Mr. Gerard Sylvester, Investment Officer (Digital Agriculture)
 Ms. Claudia Broderick, Administrative Officer
 Ms. Doris Ngirwa Mpesha, Sustainable Development Advisor
 Mr. Kafkas Caprazli, Statistician
 Mr. Mame Ndiobo Diene, Politics and Institutions Expert
 Ms. Alexandra Spinelli, Communications Specialist
 Mr. Andrew Taylor, Communications Specialist
 Ms. Melina Dzowela, Nutrition Specialist
 Mr. Joseph Catanzano, Blue Economist Specialist
 Mr. Tony Nsanganira, Youth Employment in Agri-food Systems Specialist

63
 Mr. Solomon Gelalcha Woyessa, Crop Production Specialist
 Mr. Fauziatu Ahmed, Climate-Smart Agriculture Specialist
 Mr. Oumar Barry, Consultant Expert chargé des projets
 Mr. George Phiri, Assistant
 Ms. Elisa Noetinger, Office Associate
 Ms. Alessandra Benedetti, Photo-Library Team
 Ms. Ms. Yacine Cissé, Chargée de communication
 Ms. Rachel Nandelenga, Communications Consultant
 Mr. Abebe Demissie Banjaw, Communications Consultant
 Ms. Mwangala Nalisa, Consultant
 Ms. Rachel Lopes, Consultant
 Mr. Mankan Kone, Consultant
 Ms. Alushe Hitula, Consultant
 Ms. Lolita De Almeida, Junior Consultant

International Fund for Agricultural Development

 Ms. Sara Mbago-Bhunu, Director, East and Southern Africa Division
 Mr. David Florentin Paqui, Regional Communications Officer for Africa
 Ms Linda Odhiambo, Communications Analyst

International Labor Organization

 Mr. Aurelio Parisotto, Head, Employment and Economic Analyses Unit
 Mr. Ken Shawa, Senior Economist, Regional Office for Africa
 Mr. Massimiliano La Marca, Senior Economist
 Ms. Amber Barth, Senior Programme Officer
 Mr. Dylan Van Tromp, Senior Project Officer

International Monetary Fund

 Mr. Vitaly Kramarenko, Deputy Director, African Department

International Organization for Migration

 Mr. Jeremias Mendes, Head of Office, Eswatini

Inter-Parliamentary Union
 Mr. Alessandro Motter, Senior Advisor
 Ms. Norah Babic, Manager

International Renewable Energy Agency

 Mr. Francesco La Camera, Director-General
 Mr. Zoheir Hamedi, MENA Regional Progamme Officer
 Ms. Sofja Giljova, Associate Profesional
 Ms. Sadia Afreen, Associate Programme Officer

International Telecommunication Union

 Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director
 Ms. Rachel Alwala, Coordination Officer

64
International Trade Centre
 Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director
 Ms. Dorothy Tembo, Deputy Executive Director
 Mr. Matthew Wilson, Chief Advisor
 Ms. Judith Fessehaie, SheTrades Initiative, Policy Lead
 Ms. Riefqah Jappie, ITC Representative to the UN, New York
 Ms. Anne-Katrin Pfister, Senior Programme Officer
 Ms. Claude Manguila, Trade Strategy Advisor
 Mr. Alexander Riveros, Advisor
 Ms. Anahita Vasudevan, Associate Economic Affairs Officer (Policy), SheTrades Initiative
 Ms. Pippa McDougall, International Consultant
 Ms. Emma BEGAG, Consultant
 Ms. Hanan Taifour, Fellow

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

 Ms. Susanna Moorehead, DAC Chair
 Mr. Mario Pezzini, Director, Development Centre
 Ms. Alexa Owen, Principal Adviser to Chair of OECD DAC
 Mr. Bakary Traore, Lead Economist, Development Centre
 Mr. Padilla Luis, Senior Advisor
 Ms. Valentina Bellesi, Junior Policy Analyst

Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States

 Mr. Riccardo Magini, Senior Programme Officer, Belgium

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS

 Mr. Nuha Ceesay, Country Director UNAIDS Malawi

United Nations Capital Development Fund

 Ms. Preeti Sinha, Executive Secretary
 Mr. Anders Berlin, Director
 Mr. Henri Dommel, Director
 Mr. David Jackson, Director, Local Development Finance
 Ms. Tehmina Akhtar, Deputy Director, Local Development Finance
 Mr. Enea Stocco, Head, Ghana
 Ms. Esther Pan Sloane, Head, Partnerships, Policy and Communications
 Mr. Houtan Bassiri, Senior Coordination Advisor (EU Policy and Liaison)
 Mr. Dmitry Pozhidaev, Global Advisor
 Mr. Casper Sonesson, Policy Advisor
 Mr. Edoardo Tancioni, Programme Officer
 Mr. Abhisheik Dhawan, Sustainable Finance and partnerships specialist
 Ms. Laura Sennett, Policy Specialist
 Ms. Omon Ukpoma-Olaiya, Investment Specialist, Rwanda
 Mr. Amadou Sy, RBM & Comms Local Development Practice
 Ms. Leyla M Cuevas Lopez, Analyst
 Ms. Nan Zhang, Programm Analyst

65
 Mr. Paul Martin, RTA ASEAN Pacific
 Ms. Charulata Singal, Investment Specialist
 Mr. David Mikhail, Communications Specialist
 Mr. Warut Promboon, International Consultant, Thailand
 Mr. Casper Sonesson, Policy Advisor, USA
 Mr. Pamela Eser, Advisor

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

 Ms. Isabelle Durant, Acting Secretary-General
 Mr. Paul Akiwumi, Director
 Mr. Rolf Traeger, Chief, LDC Section
 Ms. Chantal Line Carpentier, Chief, UNCTAD New York Office
 Mr. Junior Davis, Head, PARB-ALDC
 Ms. Lisa Borgatti, Economist
 Mr. Giovanni Valensisi, Economist
 Mr. Bruno Antunes, Economic Affairs Officer
 Ms. Matfobhi Riba, Economic Affairs Officer
 Mr. Benjamin Banda, Economic Affairs Officer
 Mr. Raymond Landveld, Economic Affairs Officer
 Ms. Coumba Coulibaly, Programme Management Associate

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

 Ms. Xiaoxia Jia, Programme Officer
 Mr. James Bigila, External Relations Officer

United Nation Development Programme

 Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator
 Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant Secretary-General
 Mr. Haoliang Xu, UN Assistant Secretary-General
 Ms. Faten Bokri, Special Assistant to the Administrator
 Mr. Mansour Ndiaye, Head of Poverty, Inclusive Growth
 Mr. Raymond Gilpin, Chief Economist and Head of Strategy, Regional Bureau for Africa
 Ms. Eunice Kamwendo, Strategic Advisor, Regional Bureau for Africa
 Mr. Shigeki Komatsubara, Resident Representative, Malawi
 Mr. James Wakiaga, Resident Representative, Eritrea
 Ms. Betty Wabunoha, Resident Representative, Lesotho
 Ms. Rokya Ye Dieng, Deputy Representative, Sierra Leone
 Mr. Luca Monge Roffarello, Senior Economist, Sao Tome e Principe
 Mr. Milton Korseh-Hindowa, Economist, Sierra Leone
 Ms. Coleen Zamba, Economic Adviser
 Ms. Etab Al Taki, Senior Programme Specialist, Afghanistan
 Mr. Jose Novais Felix, Senior Programme Officer, Inclusive Growth
 Mr. Ahmad Jamshed Khoshbeen, Programme Analyst, Afghanistan
 Mr. Karim ALI AHMED, Programme Analyst, Environnement & Energie
 Mr. Fawaz Sabri, SDG Finance Expert
 Ms. Mihret Alemu, Economic Analyst

66
 Ms. Herte Gabretsadik, Partnerships
 Ms. Yolanda Ma, Digital Transformation Specialist
 Ms. Margaux Lecardonnel, Parternship specialist
 Mr. Youssouf Salim Abdallah, Coordinateur du Project renforcement du cadre et de l’écosystème du
financement des ODD aux Comores (SDG-Fund), Comores
 Ms. Atupele Mataula, Data Associate
 Ms. Melissa Dalembert, Executive Associate

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
 Mr. Ruhimat Soerakoesoemah, Head, SRO, SEA

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

 H.E. Ms. Rola Dashti, Under-Secretary-General and ESCWA Executive Secretary
 Mr. Tarik Alami, Director, Emerging and Conflict Related Issues Division
 Mr. Karam Karam, Regional Advisor
 Mr. Raja Abou Ezzeddine, Communications Assistant
 Ms. Mya Issa El Khoury, Intern

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa co-organizer

 Ms. Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary
 Mr. Bartholomew Armah, Director
 Ms. Isatou Gaye, Chief of NEPAD
 Ms. Wafa Aidi, Economic Affairs Officer
 Ms. Inderpal Dhiman, Research Officer
 Ms. Sandra Nyaira, Communications Officer
 Mr. Eliam Kadewele, Technical Advisor
 Mr. Mamadou Cisse, Training Officer, IDEP, Senegal

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

 Ms. Phumzile Hlophe, Secretary General, Eswatini National Commission for UNESCO
 Ms. Virginia Ntheketha, Education Specialist, UNESCO, Kenya

United Nation Environment Programme

 Ms. Cecilia Njenga, Head UNEP Office in South Africa
 Mr. Stephen Ndeti, Financial Management Officer
 Ms. Grace Mburu, Administrative Assistant

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

 Mr. Paul Desanker, Manager
 Mr. Motsomi Maletjane, Team Lead, LEG&NAP Unit, Adaptation Division, UNFCCC Secretariat

United Nations Food Systems Summit

 H.E. Ms. Agnes Kalibata, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the 2021 Food Systems Summit, Kenya
 H.E. Mr. Martin Frick, Deputy of the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Food System Summit 2021
 Mr. Adam Gerstenmier, Chief of Staff
 Ms. Catherine Kamau, Special Assistant

67
United Nations Industrial Development Organization
 Mr. Bernardo Calzadilla, Director of Trade, Investment and Innovation Department
 Mr. Victor Djemba, Chief Africa Regional Division
 Ms. Aurelia Patrizia Calabro, UNIDO Representative and Regional Director, Ethiopia
 Mr. Khaled El Mekwad, Regional Representative, South Africa
 Mr. Raymond Tavares, Representative in Cameroon and Central Africa
 Ms. Volatiana Rakotondrazafy, Country Representative
 Ms. Haby Sow Traoré, Country Representative
 Mr. Fakhruddi Azizi, Representative
 Mr. Jean-Claude Plana, Senior Coordinator
 Mr. Farrukh Alimdjanov, Industrial Development Officer
 Ms. Mathilda Marteau, Programme Development Specialist
 Ms. Roxana Vataselu-Jitariu, Project Associate
 Mr. Oliver Authried, Project Associate

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund

 Mr. Rudolf Schwenk, Resident Representative UNICEF Malawi

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

 Ms. Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction
 Mr. Amjad Abbashar, Chief, Regional Office for Africa
 Mr. Marco Toscano Rivalta, Chief, Office in New York
 Mr. Huw Beynon, Liaison Officer
 Ms. Kike Rebecca Lawal, Programme Management Officer
 Ms. Diana Rhaman, Intern

United Nations Office for Project Services

 Ms. Carolina Popovici, Partnerships Specialist
 Ms. Sarah O’Neill, Partnerships Assistant

United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel

 Ms. Giovanie Biha, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel

United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa

 Ms. Cristina Duarte, Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa
 Mr. David Wright, Economic Affairs Officer
 Ms. Juliet Wasswa-Mugambwa, Senior Programme Management Officer
 Mr. Kava Katjomuise, Senior Economic Affairs Officer
 Mr. Utku Teksoz, Programme Management Officer
 Mr. Rumbidzwai Adebayo, Programme Management Officer
 Mr. Ben Idrissa Ouedraogo, Economic Affairs Officer
 Mr. Kei Tagawa, Programme management Officer
 Ms. Rui Xu, Associate Economic Affairs Officer
 Ms. Matilda Moyo, Public Information Officer, Zimbabwe
 Mr. Daniel Malin, Programme Management Officer, USA
 Mr. Francoir Charlier, Public Information Officer

68
 Ms. Beatrice K Pacunega Manano, Chief of Branch
 Mr. Alain Tschudin, Professor and OSAA Consultant, OSAA/WITS, South Africa
 Ms. Maya Sidikou, Consultant
 Mr. Jorge Vazquez Costa, Special Assistant

United Nations Population Fund

 Ms. Angela Baschieri, Population Dynamics Advisor, UNFPA, South Africa
 Mr. Sydney Hushie, Program Specialist, UNFPA South Africa
 Ms. Petal Thomas, Multilateral and Intergovernmental Affairs Specialist
 Ms. Mira Ihalainen,Partnership Advisor

United Nations Resident Coordinators

 Ms. Maria Jose Torres Macho, Resident Coordinator, UN Malawi
 Mr. Zlatan Milisic, Resident Coordinator, UN United Republic of Tanzania
 Ms. Coumba Mar Gadio, Resident Coordinator, UN Zambia
 Mr. Coulibaly Siaka, Coordonnateur Resident, UN Senegal
 Mr. Francois Batalingaya, Resident Coordinator, UN Comoros
 Ms. Louise Aubin, Resident Coordinator, UN Niger
 Ms. Seraphine Wakana, Resident Coordinator, UN, Gambia
 Ms. Sylvia Lopez-Ekra, Resident Coordinator, Morocco
 Mr. Charles Abani, Resident Coordinator, Ghana
 Mr. Fode Ndiaye, Resident Coordinator, Rwanda
 Ms. Nathalie Ndongo-Seh, Resident Coordaintor, UN Kingdom of Eswatini
 Ms. Sylvia Lopez-Ekra, Resident Coordinator, Morocco
 Mr. Bruno Lemarquis, Deputy Special Representative of the SG, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian
Coordinator, Integrated Office of the UN Haiti
 Mr. Nicolas Martin, RCO Bureau Chief, UN Morocco
 Ms. Pauline Magawi, Programme Officer, UN Ethiopia
 Mr. Phillip Pemba, Communications Officer, UN Malawi
 Mr. Chimwemwe Msowoya, Partnerships and Development Finance Officer, UNRCO Malawi
 Mr. Andrea Antonelli, Economist, UN Angola
 Mr. Zinabu Samaro Rekiso, Economist, UN Ethiopia
 Mr. Santiago Goicoechea, Economist
 Ms. Berith Karasch, Peacebuilding Officer, UN Gabon
 Ms. Paul Chitengi, Development Coordination Officer, UN Zambia

United Nations Secretariat - Department of Global Communication

 Ms. Sandra Macharia, Chief of Africa Section, Department of Global Communication

United Nations Secretariat - Office of the President of the General Assembly

 Mr. Volkan Bozkır, President of the General Assembly
 Ms. Sara Al Ahmad, Advisor

United Nations Secretariat - Peacebuilding Support Office

 Ms. Aanchal Bhatia, Innovative Finance Specialist

United Nations Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries

69
 Mr. Joshua Setipa, Managing Director
 Ms. Yesim Baykal, Programme Management Officer
 Mr. Moshe Kao, Programme Management Consultant
 Ms. Malwina Buldys, Digital Communications Specialist
 Ms. Federica Irene Falomi, Associate Programme Management Officer
 Ms. Gülizar Sabuncu, Programme Assistant
 Ms. Ingrid Sekudandi, Executive Assistant
 Ms. Nadima Noory, ICT Assistant

UN-Women
 Ms. Yemi Falayajo, Head of Programmes, UN Women Malawi
 Ms. Clara Anyangwe, Country Representative in Malawi
 Ms. Nnenna Dufils, Programme Specialist
 Ms. Misaki Nakata, Social and Economic Recovery Specialist
 Ms. Clara Nanchinga, Gender in Humanitarian Action Consultant
 Ms. Modesta Emma, Simango, Program Support Consultant

World Bank Group

 Ms. Boutheina Guermazi, Director, Digital Development Global Practice
 Mr. Luigi Lannutti, Blended Finance Officer, IFC
 Ms. Lonkhululeko Magagula, Senior Advisor to the Executive Director, WB
 Ms. Aleksandra Liaplina, Program Lead, IFC
 Ms. Joelle El Sawalhi, Research Analyst, WB
 Mr. Abdoul Salam Bello, AED

World Food Programme

 Ms. Christa Raeder, Representative, Indonesia
 Ms. Masayo Nakamore Rossignoli, Nutrition Analyst
 Mr. Daniel Demissie, Junior Research Assistant

World Health Organization

 Mr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General
 Mr. Werner Obermeyer, Director
 Ms. Tin Tin Sint, Public Health Officer, Office of Director-General
 Mr. Humphrey Karamagi, Senior Technical Officer, Regional Office for Africa
 Ms. Taylor Winkleman, Fellow

World Intellectual Property Organization

 Mr. Hasan Kleib, Deputy Director General, Regional and National Development Sector
 Mr. Marc Séry-Koré, Director, Department for Africa and Least Developed Countries
 Mr. Duong Chi Dung, Director
 Mr. Purejdorj Vaanchig, Senior Counsellor, Division for Least-Developed Countries

World Trade Organization

 Mr. Taufiqur Rahman, Head LDC Unit, Development Division
 Mr. Rainer Lanz, Economic Affairs Officer
 Ms. Daria Shatskova, Legal and Economic Affairs Officer
70
 Mr. Wase Musonge-Ediage, Legal and Economic Affairs Officer

C. Civil Society, Private Sector, Other non-governmental representatives

ACCORD
 Ms. Pravina Makan-Lakha, Chief Operations Officer, South Africa

ACDIEF
 Mr. Koudjovi GADJE, Directeur exécutif

Action for Children in Conflict UK in Kenya

 Mr. John Muiruri Makuno, Executive Director

ADA
 Ms. Laura Foschi, CEO

ADVANS MICROFINANCE NETWORK

 Mr. Samuel Darko, Manager

Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment

 Ms. Rebecca Mukwaya, Research Associate

AFRODAD
 Mr. Yunggong Theophilus Jong, Head of Programmes
 Mr. Jason Rosario Braganza, Executive Director
 Mr. Rangarirai Chikova, Policy Officer
 Mr. Adrian Chikowore, Policy Analyst

APALAC COALITION
 Mr. Jean Claude Kalinganire, Président coordinator

Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association (APRACA)

 Mr. Prasun Kumar Das, Secretary General, Thailand

Association Nigérienne des Scouts de l'Environnement

 -Ms. Fatchima Djibrilla Mme Noura, Présidente

Atlas for Development

 Mr. Hatim El Otmani, President

Aranda.org
 Mr. Angus O’Shea, Founder, USA

Avenue Capital Group

 Mr. John Larkin, Head of Impact Investments PM

71
Borderless Alliance
 Mr. Ziad Hamoui, National President Ghana

BRAC
 Ms. Rasha Natour, Senior Advocacy Manager

Bühler Group
 Mr. Désiré Cédric N’zi, project Finance Lead –MEA, United Arab Emirates

CDC Group, UK
 Ms. Zahra Khan, Investment Executive
 Ms. Emma Hawkins, Investment Manager

Center for Financial Inclusion

 Ms. Deborah Drake, Vice President, Investor Engagement and Research

Center For Global Development

 Mr. Daouda Sembene, Distinguished Nonresident Fellow, Senegal

Center for International Private Enterprise

 Mr. Marc Schleifer, Director of Development and Partnerships

Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) – Bangladesh

 Ms. Tamara Tabassum, Programme Associate
 Mr. Ms. Mursalin Hossain Rabbi, Research Associate
 Ms. Sarag Khan, Senior Research Associate
 Ms. Sania Akter, Programme Associate
 Ms. Najeeba Altaf, Research Intern

Christian Spiritual Youth Ministry

 Mr. Nicodermus Axwessoo Siayi, ED, HUDUMA, Community Based Organization

CIKSAP
 Ms. Monica Opole, Executive Director, Kenya

Citi
 Mr. Jonas Bossau, Client Executive, Luxembourg

COLEACP (Belgium)
 Ms. Isolina Boto, Head of Networks and Alliances

Commission Nationale des Droits de l'Homme et des Libertés COMOROS

 Ms. Sittou Raghadat Mohamed, Présidente

Connective Impact, LLC

 Ms. Joanne Sonenshine, Founder + CEO, USA

72
Conseil National des Organisations de la Société Civile Guinéenne
 Mr. Dansa , KOUROUMA , Président
 Mr. Gabriel Haba, Secrétaire Exécutif

Conseil d'Administration du Réseau des Organisations non gouvernementales pour les Objectifs de
Développement Durable (RODD)
 Ms. Carmen Sinani Oredolla Gaba

Cumilla Debate Federation (Bangladesh)

 Mr. Kazi Nazmul Ahsan, Advisor

Delphos International – FMA Inc.

 Mr. Christian Novak, CEO

Development Initiatives
 Ms. Martha Bekele, Lead Analyst for East Africa

Digital Impact Alliance

- Mr. Nicholas Gates, Associate, Insights and Impact, USA

ECOM Agroindustrial
- Ms. Camila Olmedo, Regional Projects Coordinator

Economic Policy Research Centre (Uganda)

 Ms. Sarah Ssewanyana, Executive Director
 Mr Alon Mwesigwa, Communications Associate
 Mr. Tonny Odokonyero, Senior Programme Officer

EEA
 Mr. Beyene Meka, Senior program officer

EMERGE (Switzerland)
 Ms. Mona Shrestha, CEO

Environmental Concerned Youth Association, (ECOYA)

 Mr. Austin Kunsida, Programs Coordinaror, Malawi

Europe External Programme with Africa

 Mr. Simon Stocker, Director, Belgium

Federation of Environmental and Ecological Diversity for Agricultural Revampment and Human Rights, The
(FEEDAR & HR)
 Mr. Tcharbuahbokengo Nfinn, Director General

FERDI
 Mr. Alassane Drabo, Researcher

73
Festive Events
 Ms. Yordanos Haile Gebrekidan, CEO, Ethiopia

FinMark Trust
 Mr. Bobby Berkowitz, Research Specialist, South Africa

FOCESE
 Ms. Titani Magalasi, Programs manager – Gender and protection, Malawi
 Ms. Elizabeth Mkutumula, Women Issues Advocate, Malawi

Gates Foundation
 Mr. Jim Huang, Associate Strategy Officer, Gates Foundation, USA

Global Education Network Liberia

 H.E. Mr. Hasting Claudius Major, Executive Director

Global Impact Investing Network

 Ms. Katrina Ngo, Senior Manager, Strategic Partnerships

Global Policy Forum

 Ms. Elena Marmo, Programme Officer

Global Trade Solution

 Ms. Louise Wiggett, CEO
 Ms. Marcelle Ross, Brand and Business Development Executive

Grameen Foundation
 Mr. Sohel Ahmed, Managing Director, Bangladesh
 Mr. Alfred Yeboah, Regional Director – Africa, Grameen Foundation - Global non-profit, Ghana

Grant Thornton
 Mr. Michael Chomba, Director, Kenya

GreenGen
 Mr. Jacob Dockser, VP, Ventures

Green Crescent of Congo Démocratic

 Ms. Rose Mayuto Mwadjuma, Présidente de L'O N G green crescent of Congo Démocratic

Hestian Innovation Limited

 Mr. Conor Fox, Director, Ireland

ICMYO & TEJO

 Mr. Nicolas (Nickson) Kasolene, Civil Society / Youth Representative

Impact Shares
 Mr. Ethan Powell, Funder, USA
74
International Chamber of Commerce
 Ms. Valentina Mintah, Executive Board Member

International Federation of Medical Students Association

 Mr. Joel Anani, IFMSA Regional Director for Africa, Togo
 Ms. Ndeye Khady NDIAYE, Partnership officer

International Thorium Energy Committee

 Mr. Kifle Shenkoru, Coordinator, Technology Transfer and International Cooperation, Switzerland

Ikirezi rweru limited (Rwanda)

 Mr. Hagenimana Théophile, Senior Programme Officer

KPMG AZSA LLC (Japan)

 Mr. Daiki Oe, Senior Staff

K&L Gates LLP

 Mr. Anthony Nolan, Partner, K&L Gates LLP, USA

KIDS (SSA) Ltd.

 Mr. Andreas Koall, Director, UK

Kifiya FinTech
 Mr. Munir Duri, CEO, Ethiopia

LDC Watch
 Mr. Demba Moussa DEMBELE, Président

Li-‘Mele Farms
 Mr. Kanono Ramashamole, Director, Lesotho

Management Services International (Pakistan)

 Mr. Muhammad Kaleem UL Fateh, Chief Executive Officer

Masen (Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy)

 Mr. Mustapha Bakkoury, President, Director General of Masen
 Mr. Ali Zerouali, Cooperation and International Development Director
 Ms. Loubna Chraibi, International Cooperation Analyst

Mediterranean Shipping Company (Msc)

 Mr. Anup Singh, Regional Head – Anglophone Africa, Kenya

Microsoft
 Ms. Naria Santa Lucia, General Manager, Digital Inclusion, Microsoft Philanthropies
 Mr. John Frank, Vice President, UN Affairs
 Ms. Courtney Taylor, Business Manager

75
 Ms. Lani Cossette, Chief of Staff
 Mr. Jamal Edwards, Senior Program Manager

Ministère de la santé publique, DRC

 Mr. Blaise Kalenga Munyampala, EPI manager

MNS International Advisors

 Mr. Paul Sacks, Managing Director

MUBUWERT
 Ms. Nayah Tayem, Regional councilor

Oxfam
 Eleanor Maeresera, Development Finance Campaigner

PALM Corps
 Ms. Elsie Fedha, Gender Programme Officer

Pan Africa Farmers Organization (PAFO)

 Ms. Elizabeth Nsimadala, President

Pan African Youth Network for a Culture of the Peace (PAYNCOP)

 Mr. Brusly Clichy LICKIBY, Coordonnateur National Payncop Congo

Plan International, Kenya

 Ms. Elsie Anguzuzu Masava, Regional Youth Engagement Lead

Plateforme Haïtienne de Plaidoyer pour un Développement Alternatif (PAPDA)

 Ms. Camille Chalmers, Directeur Exécutif de la PAPDA

Private Sector Foundation of Lesotho

 Thabo Qhesi, Chief Executive Officer, Mr., Private Sector Foundation of Lesotho

Pole Jeune Pour le Suivi des Politiques d’Emploi dans les Politiques Publiques au Sénégal
 Mr. Ibrahima Fall, Président, Senegal

Power for All (Spain)

 Mr. William Brent, Chief Campaign Officer

RADEM-ONG (Recherche et Action pour un développement Multisectoriel)

 Mr. Jibrill Kasongo, Directeur Adj

Rockefeller Foundation
 Mr Eric Wanless, Director

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)

 Mr. Felix Khembo, Energy Investment Specialist- Malawi

76
 Mr. Justin Locke, Managing Director, USA
 Mr. Edward Borgstein, Principal, Spain
 Mr. Francis Elisha, Director
 Ms. Ruosida Lin, Senior Associate
 Ms. Sakhi Shah, Associate

SAFIN (IFAD)
 Mr. Michael von During, Technical Specialist, Italy

SCOOPS/CREFVEP
 H.E Mr. Sayouba Ouedraogo, Executive Director

SEATINI-Uganda
 Ms. Jane Nalunga, Executive Director

Skoll Foundation
 Mr. Bukola Jejeloye, Principal

Social Science Research Council

 Mr. Cyril Obi, Program Director, USA

Solar Stewards
 Ms. Dana Redden, Founder

Southern Voice
 Ms. Andrea Ordonez, Director
 Mr. Bakang Ntshingane, Programme Officer

Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Research Organization (STIPRO)

 Ms. Bitrina Diyamett, Executive Director, Tanzania

Sustainable Energy for All

 Mr. Brian Dean, Head of Energy Efficiency, Austria

Tata (India)
 Mr. Akshay Malhotra, Manager

TCC Forum (South Africa)

 Mr. Lesetja R T Mogoba, Senior Marketer, Commercialisation

The Woman Boss

 Ms. Awamary Khan, CEO

The Youth Congress

 Mr. Raphael Obonyo, Youth Activist and Public Policy Specialist, Kenya

Third World Network (TWN)

77
 Ms. Mingma Bomzan, Researcher, Nepal

Trade and Development Bank (Southern Africa)

 Mr. Admassu Tadesse, Group MD and President Emeritus
 Ms. Catherine Kimaryo, Chief Strategy Advisor
 Ms. Mary Kamari, Executive, Corporate Affairs & Investor Relations.
 Ms. Anne-Marie Iskandar, Senior Communications Officer

Trade Law Centre (Tralac)

 Ms. Trudi Hartzenberg, Executive Director, South Africa

UN Foundation
 Ms. Mary Jo Kochendorfer, Director of Policy, Digital Impact Alliance
 Ms. Kavita Desai, Advisor on Sustainable Development and Global Policy
 Ms. Monica Palid, Senior Associate, Sustainable Development Initiatives
 Ms. Fareesha Ali, UN Relations & Policy Intern
 Ms. Nina Hadži-Nešić, Consultant

UNITED YOUTH GUILD (CHAD)

 Abdelkerim Abbas Mahamat, International human rights commission volunteer member. Country director
united youth guild, members of youth leader’s ambassador

US-African and European Business Group SL (Nigeria)

 Mr. Ahmed Tiamiyu, Scientific Officer

Visa WCA
 Mr. Fabrice Konan, Senior Director, Kenya
 Ms. Karidja Bamba, Director Government Engagement

WIPGG Nigeria
 Ms. Julie Okeke, Program Initiator

Youth Movement for a Change

 Ms. Blessings Banda, Finance officer & Youth champion on SRHR in Blantyre City (Malawi)

Zambia Social Forum (ZAMSOF)

 Mr. Gershom Kabaso, National Coordinator

Zimbabwe United Nations Association

 H.E. Mr. Tanaka Chiripanyanga, Representative
 Ms. Nicole Cassandra Ngwenya, Regional Programs Officer

Civil Society Organization (Ethiopia)

 Mr. Beyessa Mengistu, Executive Director

78
D. Academia

IPAR Think Tank, Senegal

 Mr. Seydina Sene, Senior Economist IPAR
 Mr. Ibrahima Hathie, Distinguished Fellow

ICCAD
 Mr. Saleemul Huq, Director, Bangladesh

University of Cape Town

 Mr. Haroon Bhorat, Director of Development Policy Research Unit

Think Tank- the Economic and Social Research Foundation

 Mr. Hoseana Bohela Lunogelo, Principal Associate Researcher and former Executive Director of the Economic
and Social Research Foundation

Researchers/Students
 Mr. Bitambile Balthazar Ngoy-Fiama, Directeur Général honoraire de l'Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de
Lubumbashi et Doyen Honoraire de la faculté de Psychologie et des Sciences de l'éducation de l'Université de
Lubumbashi.
 Ms. Tabitha Ilunga, Coordinatrice en premiere ligne, Université de Lubumbashi
 Ms. Tejaswini Vavilala, Policy Research Intern, The New School - Graduate Program of International Affairs
 Ms. Sallie Maso, Scholar, Mzuzu University
 Mr. Gift Machamo, Technical Officer, Mzuzu University
 Mr. Thomas Bello, Senior Assistant Libarian, University of Malawi, Kamuzu College of Nursing
 Ms. Rhoda Lupoka, Senior Program Officer, Malawi
 Ms. Houssenatou Mamadou, University, USA
 Ms. Sylvia Mkenya, Medical Laboratory Technologist, Kibabii University, Kenya
 Ms. Azeb Girmai, Ethiopia
 Mr. Chukwuneke Obele Onyebuchi, Administrative Assistant, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
 Ms. Maha Tarek, Educator, Syria Education Center, Egypt
 Mr. Abdoul Kader Houdou Souley, Student, Univeristé de Niamey, Niger
 Mr. Pieter Janse van Vuuren, Researcher, Cenfri, South Africa
 Mr. Mamadou Cisse, Programme Officer, African Institute for Economic Development and Planning, Senegal
 Ms. Halla Thorsteindóttir, Director, Small Globe Inc., Canada
 Mr. James Mburu, Architect, Tshwane University, South Africa

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK)

 Ms. Melike Ergun, Programme Coordinator

E. Media

Africa Renewal
 Ms. Zippy Musau, Editor

79
Agence France-Presse
 Ms. Raziye Akkoc, Journalist, Turkey

Central Radio 95.8 (Zimbabwe)

 Mr. Shepherd Sekenhamo, Journalist

Anadolu Agency, Turkey

 Ms. Nazli Yuzbasioglu, Correspondent
 Mr. Burak Bir, Correspondent
 Ms. Serife Cetin, Correspondent
 Mr. Gökhan Varan, Diplomatic Correspondent
 Mr. Mehmet Ceylan, Chief Cameraman

Enowemnews
 Mr. Owen Enemari, Editor in Chief

Nation Publications Limited, Malawi

 Mr. James, Chavula, Features Editor
 Mr. Andrew Mtupanyama, Technical Editor

NTV
 Mr. Ozden Erkus, Reporter, Turkey

Reuters
 Mr. Tuvan Gumrukcu, Journalist, Turkey

Sabah Newspaper
 Ms. Betül Usta, Journalist

Turkuvaz Media Group

 Mr. Murat Sekban, Correspondent

Yeni Şafak Newspaper, Turkey

 Ms. Kıymet Sezer Güngör, Journalist

80