Monitoring of graduating and recently graduated countries

The Committee for Development Policy (CDP) monitors the development progress of countries graduating from the LDC category (annually) or that have recently graduated (annually for three years; and in the subsequent two CDP triennial reviews).  The monitoring exercise enables the CDP to alert the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) to any signs of deterioration in the development progress of the countries concerned. The CDP considers a set of indicators and other relevant country-specific information. Countries are invited to report to the CDP on the preparation and implementation of their transition strategy.*

Example of monitoring timeline for a country recommended for graduation in 2024, graduating December 2027

The guidelines on reporting requirements for a smooth transition from the least developed country category endorsed by ECOSOC, made recommendations on reporting, including for the CDP to hold consultations with the governments of the recently graduated countries. 

Since 2021, the CDP is enhancing the monitoring to make it responsive to emerging crises and to better link monitoring to specific support, including possible extensions of the preparatory period. The Enhanced Monitoring Mechanism (EMM) is organized around three axes:

• Improved annual monitoring
• Crisis response process
• Strengthened support

The EMM has been implemented in stages. The CDP will review the lessons learned of its implementation in 2025 and may adapt the procedures. Monitoring under the EMM includes regular consultation meetings between the CDP and countries concerned (graduating and graduated countries, as well as countries for whom the decision on graduation has been deferred by ECOSOC).

1. Improved annual monitoring

The CDP’s monitoring is undertaken under the leadership of a country rapporteur appointed from among the CDP members.  Every year, the government is invited to submit a report on the development and implementation of its smooth transition strategy. The consultations between CDP and the governments of countries concerned include the UN Resident Coordinator (RC), members of Inter-Agency Task Force on graduation (IATF) and other relevant organizations as additional participants. The CDP then produces a monitoring report, which currently includes assessments of the macro-economic situation, performance against the LDC indicators and supplementary graduation indicators; identification of data gaps; assessments of productive capacity, country-specific risks and impacts of external shocks (such as COVID-19); and other relevant issues such as progress in trade negotiations or action on the issues that justified a longer than standard preparatory period or the extension of the period.

2. Crisis Response Process (CRP)

The CRP is a complement to the annual regular monitoring and is applied only when needed. It can be triggered by a request from the Government. The CDP may, if certain crisis indicators or thresholds are met, suggest that the government consider making the request. Once the CRP is triggered, the CDP prepares a brief assessment on the nature of the crisis and the potential impact on graduation and suggests a course of action. It shares the report with the Government, the UN Resident Coordinator and ECOSOC.

3. Strengthened support

The annual regular monitoring reports and, where applicable, the CRP assessments, include observations on the provision and needs for additional graduation support. Such support might include an extension of the preparatory period. If necessary, CDP will alert OHRLLS to utilize its convening power to mobilize the existing crisis management of the United Nations. Governments may consider addressing relevant findings of the monitoring process in their Smooth Transition Strategies.

Monitoring reports on graduating and graduated countries can be found on the CDP website at https://bit.ly/LDC-monitoring. 

*There is no single format for a smooth transition strategy. Some countries have integrated transition measures into their national development plans rather than having standalone smooth transition strategies, in which case they can report on the integration process.