Various UN entities provide specific support to the graduation processes of LDCs, in the form of training, workshops, studies and support for the development of smooth transition strategies.
UNDESA in collaboration with the Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS) has developed iGRAD (Sustainable Graduation Support Facility) a country-led, partnership-based, global facility, to assist LDCs move up and out from the category, transition smoothly and achieve sustainable and irreversible graduation.
iGRAD is a contribution of the CDP to the Fifth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC5) and Doha Programme of Action (DPoA). It will be pivotal to fulfil commitments to graduating and graduated LDCs in the new decade of action.
Six main service offering lines (SOLs) are provided under iGRAD:
- Service Offering Line 1 (SOL1): Addressing the loss of existing LDC-specific international support measures (ISMs).
- Service Offering Line 2 (SOL2): Improving the ability of graduating and graduated LDCs to access non-LDC-specific support.
- Service Offering Line 3 (SOL3): Preparing and implementing smooth transition strategy. (see the guidance note on smooth transition strategies here; also in Bengali, French, Lao, Nepali, Portuguese).
- Service Offering Line 4 (SOL4): Assistance in Accessing Financing Transition and Beyond.
- Service Offering Line 5 (SOL5): Facilitating South-South Cooperation, dialogue and sharing country as well as region-specific knowledge and experience.
- Service Offering 6 (SOL6): Ensuring effective participation in the monitoring process of the CDP.
Eligibility to access iGRAD services is tied to meeting the graduation threshold and an official request made to UNDESA and UNOHRLLS.
iGRAD is currently piloted in a number of countries: Vanuatu by UN DESA in collaboration with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to help the country implement its smooth transition strategy; Bangladesh co-led by the government and OECD Development Centre in collaboration with the CDP, UNDESA, UNCTAD, UNIDO and the UN Resident Coordination Office to conduct a production transformation policy review (PTPR); and several countries by the CDP and UNDESA on enhanced monitoring of countries’ preparation and implementation of their smooth transition strategies. Additional pilots are underway in 2022.
