Latest Updates
Expert Group Meeting Charts Path Toward Food Stockholding Mechanism for LDCs
UN-OHRLLS wrapped up a two-day Expert Group Meeting on making the Food Stockholding Mechanism for Least Developed Countries operational, moving forward on a Doha Programme of Action priority aimed at improving food security in the world's most exposed economies.
Read full article →Global Leaders Unite in Doha to Turn LDC Graduation into a Launchpad for Resilience
Qatar and the United Nations co-hosted a senior-level gathering in Doha to kick off delivery of the Doha Action Agenda, with a focus on building strong global partnerships that support least developed countries through stable, lasting graduation.
Read full article →Kyrgyzstan and United Nations Push for Data-Driven Reforms to Cut Trade Costs
A UN workshop in Bishkek, hosted by Kyrgyzstan, explored practical ways for landlocked developing countries to bring down trade and transport costs by grounding policy decisions in solid data and stronger analytical tools.
Read full article →Mongolia Hosts UN-Led Workshop to Strengthen Trade and Transport Policies
On 4–5 December, Mongolia ran a UN-led workshop on using hard evidence to shape trade and transport policy for landlocked developing countries, with particular attention to building the analytical skills needed to develop transit corridors.
Read full article →Incentives-Based Graduation for a Soft Landing
On the closing day of the High-Level Meeting on Sustainable Graduation, delegates shifted from pledges to practical steps. Speakers called for incentive-based strategies that give least developed countries a softer, steadier path out of LDC status.
Read full article →Climate Vulnerabilities of Landlocked Developing Countries
A recent UN-OHRLLS report looks at why the 32 landlocked developing countries bear outsized climate risks despite producing very little of the world's emissions, with serious consequences for farming, water supplies, and economic stability.
Read more →United Nations Marks First International Day for LLDC Awareness
The UN observed the inaugural International Day for Awareness of the Development Needs and Challenges Specific to Landlocked Developing Countries, putting a spotlight on the transit obstacles and high trade costs that hold back LLDC economies.
Read full article →Day Two: Driving Transformation, Trade Integration, and Resilience for LDCs
Day two of the Doha High-Level Meeting tackled how graduating LDCs can sustain their progress, plug into global trade networks, and strengthen institutions to withstand economic and climate disruptions.
Read full article →
Key Milestones
Since 2001, the office has convened five LDC conferences, four SIDS conferences, and three LLDC conferences. Each produced an action plan with concrete targets, shaping how the international community directs funding and attention to these 91 countries.
Major Conferences
LDC5 — Doha, Qatar (2023)
Set out a ten-year plan for LDCs (2022–2031) through the Doha Programme of Action, covering investment, trade, climate, technology, economic transformation, and post-crisis rebuilding.
SIDS4 — Antigua and Barbuda (2024)
Delivered the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), replacing the SAMOA Pathway and broadening the scope to include climate finance and ocean governance.
LLDC3 — Kigali, Rwanda (2024)
The third UN Conference on LLDCs agreed on the Awaza Programme of Action (2024–2034) and its accompanying Political Declaration, taking over from the Vienna Programme.
LDC4 — Istanbul, Turkey (2011)
Produced the Istanbul Programme of Action for LDCs (2011–2020), aiming to bring half of all LDCs to graduation readiness within the decade.
SIDS3 — Apia, Samoa (2014)
Created the SAMOA Pathway, which steered small island development policy through 2024, with a strong emphasis on real, lasting partnerships.
LLDC2 — Vienna, Austria (2014)
Drew up the Vienna Programme of Action for LLDCs (2014–2024), tackling transit policy, infrastructure, trade facilitation, and cross-border cooperation.
Publications & Resources
The Doha Programme of Action for LDCs (2022-2031)
The complete text of the action plan agreed at LDC5, spelling out six priority areas for LDC development over the coming decade.
The Awaza Programme of Action for LLDCs (2024-2034)
A ten-year road map for the 32 landlocked economies, covering transit agreements, transport investment, customs simplification, and cross-border economic ties.
The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (2024-2034)
The ten-year action plan from SIDS4, targeting climate adaptation, ocean health, and stronger economies for small island states.
Multidimensional Vulnerability Index
The MVI offers a detailed way to gauge the structural exposure of SIDS, helping determine which countries qualify for concessional loans and other international support.
LDC Graduations
Moving out of the LDC category is one of the clearest signs of development progress. The UN Committee for Development Policy assesses each country on income, human assets, and economic vulnerability. Since the category was first defined in 1971, these countries have made the transition:
Botswana (1994)
The first country to leave the LDC list, propelled by diamond revenues and disciplined public spending.
Cabo Verde (2007)
Moved up on the strength of steady growth, a growing tourism sector, and better governance scores.
Maldives (2011)
A booming tourism industry pushed per capita income past the threshold, though the country remains highly exposed to climate risks.
Samoa (2014)
Qualified after long-running gains in human development and economic stability.
Equatorial Guinea (2017)
Oil wealth raised per capita income, but wider progress on human development did not keep pace.
Vanuatu (2020)
Completed its transition even after Cyclone Pam struck in 2015, showing strong recovery capacity.
Bhutan (2023)
Crossed the threshold on the back of hydropower income and a carefully planned development strategy.
Angola (2024)
Left LDC status in February 2024 following a long transition period -- the first African country to do so since Botswana three decades earlier.
Sao Tome and Principe (2024)
Became the eighth graduate in December 2024. As a small island state in the Gulf of Guinea, its transition underscored that development gains can cut across country categories.
Upcoming: Bangladesh (2026)
Set for November 2026, making it the biggest economy ever to reach this stage. A request to postpone graduation is before the General Assembly.
Upcoming: Lao PDR (2026)
On track to graduate in November 2026, moving from one of Southeast Asia's poorest economies toward middle-income standing.
Upcoming: Nepal (2026)
Also set for November 2026, having made gains despite the double challenge of being both an LDC and a landlocked developing country.
Timeline of Key Events
A chronological view of the major milestones in UN-OHRLLS history.
UN-OHRLLS Established
The General Assembly passed Resolution 56/227, setting up the Office of the High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS as part of the UN Secretariat. Anwarul K. Chowdhury of Bangladesh took the role as its first head.
Third UN Conference on LDCs (Brussels)
Delegates agreed on the Brussels Programme of Action for LDCs (2001–2010), a ten-year development plan whose implementation needs led directly to the founding of UN-OHRLLS.
Almaty Programme of Action Adopted
Meeting in Almaty, Kazakhstan, governments drew up the first programme specifically for landlocked developing countries, focused on transit transport cooperation and smoother cross-border trade.
Mauritius Strategy for SIDS
An international gathering in Port Louis, Mauritius produced a strategy to push forward the Barbados Programme of Action for small island developing states.
Cheick Sidi Diarra Appointed
Cheick Sidi Diarra of Mali stepped in as the second High Representative, drawing on deep roots in African diplomacy.
Fourth UN Conference on LDCs (Istanbul)
LDC4 agreed on the Istanbul Programme of Action (2011–2020), setting the bold aim of bringing half of all LDCs to graduation readiness by 2020.
Gyan Chandra Acharya Appointed
Gyan Chandra Acharya of Nepal took over as the third High Representative, leading the office through 2016 and steering several major programme talks.
SAMOA Pathway Adopted (Apia)
Meeting in Apia, Samoa, the Third SIDS Conference agreed on the SAMOA Pathway, which set priorities for island nations on climate, oceans, and energy through 2024.
Vienna Programme of Action Adopted
The Second UN Conference on LLDCs in Vienna agreed on a ten-year programme covering transit systems, infrastructure, trade, and cross-border cooperation for landlocked nations.
Fekitamoeloa Katoa 'Utoikamanu Appointed
Fekitamoeloa Katoa 'Utoikamanu of Tonga was named the fourth High Representative, the first woman and the first Pacific Islander in the role.
Courtenay Rattray Appointed
Courtenay Rattray of Jamaica became the fifth High Representative, guiding the office as the COVID-19 pandemic hit vulnerable nations hardest.
LDC5 Part I Convenes (New York)
The opening segment of the Fifth UN Conference on LDCs took place in New York, yielding the Doha Political Declaration and preparing the ground for the full Doha Programme of Action.
Rabab Fatima Appointed
Rabab Fatima of Bangladesh was named Under-Secretary-General and sixth High Representative. She came to the post with wide diplomatic experience, having served as Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the UN.
Doha Programme of Action Adopted (LDC5 Part II)
Meeting in Doha, Qatar, the Fifth UN Conference on LDCs finalized the DPoA for 2022–2031, organized around six priorities: investment and trade, science and technology, structural transformation, climate action, crisis recovery, and partnerships.
Bhutan Graduates from LDC Status
Bhutan wrapped up its transition and officially left LDC status, having shown consistent advances in human development, education, and economic management.
Angola Graduates from LDC Status
After a long transition that started with a CDP recommendation in 2021, Angola graduated -- the first African country to do so since Botswana thirty years earlier.
Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS Adopted (SIDS4)
SIDS4, held in St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda, produced the ABAS -- a successor plan running to 2034 with stronger commitments on climate finance, ocean protection, and economic resilience for island states.
Awaza Programme of Action Adopted (LLDC3, Kigali)
In Kigali, Rwanda, the Third LLDC Conference agreed on the Awaza Programme of Action (2024-2034) and the Awaza Political Declaration, replacing the Vienna Programme with a renewed ten-year plan for the 32 landlocked economies.
Sao Tome and Principe Graduates from LDC Status
Sao Tome and Principe became the eighth country to move out of the LDC category. As a small island developing state in the Gulf of Guinea, its transition illustrated the broader pickup in LDC development gains.
High-Level Meeting on Sustainable Graduation (Doha)
Qatar and the United Nations co-hosted a high-level meeting in Doha aimed at building strong global partnerships for durable LDC graduation, marking the start of concrete delivery under the Doha Action Agenda.
Bangladesh, Lao PDR, Nepal Graduation Wave
The biggest single wave of LDC graduations ever is on the calendar, with Bangladesh, Lao PDR, and Nepal all due to leave LDC status. Bangladesh has asked to postpone; the General Assembly is expected to rule on that request in September 2026.