DPoA & SDGs

INTRODUCTION

The Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2031–2022 (DPoA) introduces a new generation of strengthened commitments grounded in the principle of leaving no one behind. The programme reaffirms the need to scale up global support to the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). It also consolidates the actions needed to ensure that countries graduating from the LDC category do not face any abrupt reversal of their development gains.

The DPoA’s implementation will coincide with the Decade of Action to deliver the 2030 Agenda. Consequently, the success of the DPoA’s implementation will contribute to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, especially its global vision of transforming the lives of those who are the farthest behind.

The DPoA is structured around six key focus areas designed to accelerate the attainment of the 17 Goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

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END POVERTY IN ALL ITS FORMS EVERYWHERE:

The commitments in the DPoA aim to scale up the fight against poverty. LDCs and their partners commit to establishing and strengthening social protection systems that protect the poorest and most vulnerable (paragraphs 39, 40, 41, 53, 54 and 201). This includes the provision of direct support in the form of cash, food, or other essentials to at least 350 million people living in extreme poverty in LDCs, as well as the provision of technical assistance to establish national risk information systems (paras. 208 and 215). As a result, it is expected that the vulnerability of the least developed countries will be reduced, while their adaptive capacity and resilience is enhanced.

END HUNGER, ACHIEVE FOOD SECURITY AND IMPROVED NUTRITION AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE:

Addressing food insecurity through renewed and strengthened commitments is at the core of the DPoA. Acknowledging that hunger and malnutrition are the result of poverty and disruptions in food production and distribution, the DPoA recognizes that food insecurity and its magnitude, complexity and multidimensional nature in the least developed countries, calls for an array of responses. The DPoA aims to strengthen food systems in LDCs to make food more available, affordable, and accessible (paras. 24, 60 and 63). They will also enhance funding to create tailored solutions for specific problems in the LDCs, especially for those in vulnerable situations (para. 112). The UN Secretary-General (UNSG) has prepared a report exploring the feasibility of a system of food stockholding for the LDCs on a regional and subregional basis (A/77/291). The recommendations of the Secretary- General include the creation of a food import financing facility, a credit guarantee facility and a special food reserve system.

ENSURE HEALTHY LIVES AND PROMOTE WELL-BEING FOR ALL AT ALL AGES

Health is a critical component of sustainable development. The DPoA commits to supporting LDCs to strengthen integrated and inclusive national health systems – as well as the design, implementation and access to modern health infrastructure that is accessible to all members of the population (paras. 24,25,26, 53, 57 and 62). The DPoA also commits to developing skilled professionals; providing support to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines; strengthening inclusive social protection systems and health care information systems; improving essential integrated health-care services; and achieving universal health coverage (e.g. paras. 59, 60, 62 and 207).

ENSURE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE QUALITY EDUCATION AND PROMOTE LIFELONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

LDCs still face challenges in ensuring universal access to inclusive, equitable and quality education. Seeking to bridge global education gaps, the DPoA commits to undertaking feasibility studies to explore the possibility of establishing an online university or other equivalent platforms for LDCs (para. 52). The DPoA aims to achieve universal access to inclusive and quality education, eliminate the gender gap in enrolment and completion, and ensure access to lifelong digital learning opportunities. (paras. 61, 66, and 68). Supporting LDCs in the development of skills that are consistent with the demands of national and global job markets is also underscored as one of the DPoA’s education commitments (para. 68).

ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS

Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women is essential to sustainable development. The DPoA fully recognises this, committing to expand women’s access to education, health services, economic opportunities and social protection; ensure women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in leadership; and to foster the enjoyment of human rights by women (paras. 22, 47, 54, 85, 145 and 230). Moreover, the DPoA aims to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, as well as the elimination of all forms of violence against women in the public and private spheres (para. 55).

ENSURE AVAILABILITY AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION FOR ALL

Access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation services remains very low in LDCs. As such, the Doha Programme of Action aims to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water and access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all in LDCs by 2030 – with particular emphasis on women and girls (paras. 34, 47 and 70). This also includes the provision of adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene services, which include menstrual hygiene and services for schools, health facilities and other public spaces (paras. 70, 71 and 193).

ENSURE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, SUSTAINABLE, AND MODERN ENERGY FOR ALL

Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy is essential to achieve structural transformation. The DPoA recognises and identifies challenges at the levels of generation, transmission and utilization of energy (paras. 112, 132, 136, 137 and 138). To overcome these challenges, the DPoA commits to the sharing of best practices, business models, and policy support to boost energy capabilities (para. 145). In addition, it aims to double financing from all sources in support of clean and renewable energy and to support the implementation of the Least Developed Countries’ Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiative for Sustainable Development (paras. 140, 141, 142 and 148).

PROMOTE SUSTAINED, INCLUSIVE, AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH, FULL AND PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT, AND DECENT WORK FOR ALL

Overcoming the structural challenges of LDCs by transforming their economies is indispensable to achieve meaningful and sustainable economic growth. In order to achieve this, the DPoA commits to supporting the LDCs to move away from low value economic activities towards higher value-added sectors; achieve more effective integration into global value chains; build productive capacities; diversify their export matrix; and gain a greater share in the emerging digital economy (paras. 107, 124,127 and 129). Further aims include supporting LDCs and graduating countries to achieve at least 7 per cent GDP growth per annum, as well as in the implementation of the WTO (World Trade Organization) Agreement on Trade Facilitation (paras. 185 and 236).

BUILD RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE, PROMOTE INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIALIZATION AND FOSTER INNOVATION

Infrastructure investment and equitable access to infrastructure services are falling far behind actual needs. Seeking to reverse this, the DPoA intends to provide enhanced funding for developing innovative solutions in response to specific problems in LDCs, including in the areas of agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure development, disaster risk reduction, and environmental protection (para. 112). The commitments of the DPoA also include the provision of financial and technical support to leverage the power of science, technology, and innovation (STI) to promote of sustainable development in the LDCs and to help in bridging the STI divide (paras. 102, 106, 110 and 112).

REDUCE INEQUALITY WITHIN AND AMONG COUNTRIES

The inequalities between least developed countries and the rest of the world (and between LDCs) are rising. To prevent this, the DPoA commits to supporting LDCs in formulating comprehensive national regulatory frameworks, effective policies, and to develop quality infrastructure and inclusive digital ecosystems (para. 99). In other dimensions of inequality, the DPoA commits to enhancing the participation and leadership of women, as well as promoting inclusive access to basic social and protection services, especially for migrants, refugee children, and young people (paras. 76 and 106). Harnessing the potential of youth through their involvement in policymaking is critical to the DPoA (para. 67).

MAKE CITIES AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS INCLUSIVE, SAFE, RESILIENT, AND SUSTAINABLE

Ensuring access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and basic services is a key target of the DPoA. To support LDCs in this endeavour, donors have committed to providing support to LDCs in strengthening government housing agencies and ensuring improved access to land, affordable housing, basic services, and upgraded slums (paras. 72 and 227). Advancing the resilience of critical infrastructure in urban settings by leveraging public-private partnerships and sharing good practices among LDCs (paras. 73, 112, 134) are all committed in the DPoA.

ENSURE SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION PATTERNS

Sustainable patterns of consumption and production play a key role in accelerating the transition towards low-emission energy systems (para. 138). To advance this goal, the DPoA reaffirms the commitment to support LDCs to scale up the development, deployment, and sustainable utilization of emerging technologies for the achievement of the SDGs (paras. 102, 112, 138). The plan of action will also leverage the potential of public procurement practices to unlock opportunities for expanding the resources that LDCs can channel towards implementing the 2030 Agenda (para. 238).

TAKE URGENT ACTION TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS

The DPoA aims to ensure that LDCs are more resilient and sustainable in the face of the worsening impacts of climate change. To achieve this, the Doha Programme of Action commits to increasing capacity-building in adaptation planning and early warning systems by providing an Enhanced Resilience Building Mechanism (paras. 213 and 215). The DPoA also commits to strengthening Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) in LDCs through training programmes and by increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of funding to climate- related multilateral funds (paras. 112, 201, 214 and 226). Moreover, the DPoA aims to support and reinforce the existing comprehensive multi-hazard early warning systems, as well as the comprehensive multi-hazard crisis mitigation and resilience-building measures for LDCs.

CONSERVE AND SUSTAINABLY USE THE OCEANS, SEAS AND MARINE RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Our ocean, the world’s largest ecosystem, is endangered. The DPoA recognizes and targets this threat, committing to provide financial and technical assistance for the LDCs to develop and implement national strategies for the sustainable use, preservation, protection and restoration of the natural resources and the sustainable management of marine biodiversity and ecosystems, based on the best scientific evidence available (paras. 63, 201, 219 and 232).

PROTECT, RESTORE, AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE USE OF TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS, SUSTAINABLY MANAGE FORESTS, COMBAT DESERTIFICATION, AND HALT AND REVERSE LAND DEGRADATION AND HALT BIODIVERSITY LOSS

Flourishing life on land is the foundation for our life on this planet. The DPoA recognizes this, committing to support LDCs so they can take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, loss of territory, halt biodiversity loss, and prevent the extinction of threatened species (paras. 112, 201 and 219). The DPoA also commits to provide enhanced funding for developing innovative solutions including in the areas of environmental protection and climate resilience (paras. 63 and 232)

PROMOTE PEACEFUL AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL AND BUILD EFFECTIVE, ACCOUNTABLE, AND INCLUSIVE INSTITUTIONS AT ALL LEVELS

The transformative agenda contained in the DPoA rests on the commitments to build transparent and accountable institutions based on the respect for human rights, gender equality and in strengthening efforts to fight corruption. (paras 85, 153 and 245). Advancing this vision, the DPoA commits to ensuring the participation of women at all levels, areas, and stages of decision making (para. 90). The role of technology in advancing better government services and digital solutions is also acknowledged, envisioning actions that bring innovation to e-government services (para. 86).

STRENGTHEN THE MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION AND REVITALIZE THE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The DPoA is the result of the global community’s willingness to strengthen the means of implementation of the 2030 Agenda. It reaffirms the desire to integrate the LDCs into the global economy and the multilateral trade system (paras. 176 and 177). It recommits to meeting and exceeding the LDC-specific ODA targets of 0.15 to 0.2% of GNI (para. 250). To support a smooth transition from the LDC category and protect development gains, the DPoA also seeks to reinforce the Sustainable Graduation Support Facility (iGRAD). To ensure fairness, it calls for the implementation of investment promotion regimes for the LDCs and to facilitate technology transfers and promote research and development (paras. 110, 176 and 261). The DPoA also calls to study the feasibility of creating an investment support centre to deliver more financing for sustainable development to the LDCs. Enhancing international tax cooperation and increasing climate finance for adaptation and resilience are also DPoA actions to achieve SDG 17 by 2030. Lastly, it aims to significantly increase the availability of high-quality, timely, reliable, and disaggregated data (para. 286).