Held below the theme Driving Progress By way of Partnerships, the four-day discussion board often called LLDC3, introduced collectively Heads of State, senior UN officers, improvement companions, and personal sector leaders to sort out persistent challenges confronted by LLDCs, together with excessive commerce prices, insufficient infrastructure, and vulnerability to local weather change.
Anchored by the Awaza Programme of Motion for 2024–2034, which was adopted by the UN Common Meeting final yr, the brand new ‘Awaza Declaration’ outlines a unified technique throughout 5 precedence areas:
- Structural financial transformation;
- Commerce and regional integration;
- Transport and infrastructure;
- Local weather change adaptation and catastrophe threat discount; and
- Mobilizing finance and partnerships.
“The Awaza Declaration marks a turning level. It’s a blueprint for motion, not simply phrases,” stated Below Secretary-Common Rabab Fatima.
“With focused investments in infrastructure, commerce facilitation, and local weather resilience, we are able to unlock the potential of LLDCs and guarantee nobody is left behind.”
Ms. Fatima, who additionally serves because the UN Excessive Consultant for the Least Developed International locations, Landlocked Creating International locations, and Small Island Creating States (UN-OHRLLS), stated the convention can be remembered as a defining second within the LLDC journey, ushering in a brand new period of daring partnerships and decisive motion.
“It’s this spirit…of solidarity, partnership, and shared function that can carry us ahead. A future the place we’re not divided by geography, however related by way of concepts, commerce and innovation,” she stated.
“Allow us to make the promise of ‘land-linked’ not solely a phrase however a brand new lifestyle…the UN stands able to help this decade of supply,” she added.
A name for funding and inclusion
The Declaration requires elevated investments from multilateral improvement banks, stronger South-South cooperation, and broader inclusion of LLDC pursuits in international commerce and local weather agendas.
It additionally emphasizes the significance of monitoring implementation and guaranteeing that LLDCs themselves lead the method, coordinated by UN-OHRLLS.
Turkmenistan’s initiatives
As host nation, Turkmenistan offered a number of initiatives aligned with the Convention’s targets, together with the International Atlas for Sustainable Transport Connectivity, the International Hydrogen Power Transition Programme, and the Caspian Environmental Initiative.
“The Awaza Declaration displays our shared imaginative and prescient of partnership and progress,” stated Gurbanguly Mälikgulyýewiç Berdimuhamedow, Nationwide Chief of the Turkmen Folks and Chairman of the Folks’s Council of Turkmenistan.
“Collectively – transit international locations, improvement companions, and the personal sector – we are able to overcome geographical constraints and construct sustainable prosperity for our peoples.”
What’s subsequent?
The Awaza Declaration represents a serious step ahead for LLDCs and a renewed image of world solidarity – turning a geographical drawback right into a shared benefit.
Implementation might be tracked by the UN Common Meeting by way of annual LLDC ministerial conferences.
Key upcoming platforms to advance LLDC priorities embrace:
- The 2025 UN local weather convention in Brazil (COP30);
- The subsequent assembly of the UN Convention on Commerce and Growth (UNCTAD); and
- The 2027 International Mountain Summit in Kyrgyzstan.
A mid-term evaluation of the Awaza Programme of Motion is scheduled for 2030.
Rabab Fatima (on display), Below Secretary-Common and Excessive Consultant for the Least Developed International locations, Landlocked Creating International locations and Small Island Creating States, holds a wrap-up press convention on the Third UN Convention on the Landlocked Creating International locations (LLDC3).
Cooperation begins with neighbours
At a wrap-up press briefing, Aksoltan Ataeva, Everlasting Consultant of Turkmenistan to the United Nations, stated that for his nation, “internet hosting LLDC3 isn’t solely a big political occasion, however it additionally displays Turkmenistan’s international coverage philosophy: to be a bridge, not a barrier.”
UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Dmitry Shlapachenko instructed UN Information the Convention was particularly necessary for the area, bringing collectively a number of Central Asian heads of state.
International partnerships matter – however actual cooperation begins with neighbours.
Mr. Shlapachenko shared an instance cited by the UN Secretary-Common in conferences with Central Asian leaders:
“Earlier than Portugal and Spain joined the European Union, commerce between them was minimal. However as soon as they grew to become a part of the EU, 40 per cent of all items exported by Portugal went to Spain. This actually improved life for [the people of both countries]. I believe it’s crucial to maintain this in thoughts after we speak about Central Asia.”
“There’s nonetheless so much to be carried out right here, however we’re shifting in the best path,” he added.
UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan Sabine Machl famous that UN nation groups in Central Asia recurrently meet to coordinate their work. Uzbekistan, certainly one of solely two double landlocked international locations on the planet (alongside Liechtenstein), faces distinctive challenges – but in addition alternatives.
“Because the United Nations nation staff in Uzbekistan, for the following 5 years, what we wish to do is to harness the demographic dividend by investing within the folks of Uzbekistan,” she stated.
“That’s our one strategic precedence. As a result of Uzbekistan has a really younger inhabitants – 60 per cent of the inhabitants is below 30 years previous.”
In Lesotho, a landlocked African nation, water is a serious alternative. UN Resident Coordinator Amanda Khozi Mukawashi instructed UN Information that the nation desires to share its considerable water and different sources – however wants funding.
“Lesotho has bought water. It’s certainly one of its greatest pure property; numerous water that flows from Lesotho and saves lives in neighboring international locations like Namibia, Botswana, and so forth,” she stated.
“What they’re making an attempt to do is to search for funding, to develop the infrastructure in order that they will produce renewable vitality, hydropower.”
She added that Lesotho might use its wind and photo voltaic sources not only for its personal industrial improvement, however to export right into a area dealing with challenges in each water and vitality.
These and different concepts have been mentioned on the sidelines of the Convention and can proceed to be superior at future boards.
Farewell to Awaza
On Friday, Awaza – nesteled on the shores of the Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland physique of water – bid farewell to its visitors with a ceremonial reducing of the UN and Turkmenistan flags, which had been raised initially of the week.
“Awaza might be remembered as a defining second for the journey of LLDCs – not just for the nice success of the Convention itself, however as the start of a brand new period of bold partnerships and decisive motion,” stated Ms. Fatima, wrapping up the discussion board.
The Third UN Convention on Least Developed International locations opened in Awaza, Turkmenistan on Tuesday, 5 August.
UN Information was on the bottom in Awaza, bringing you all of the highlights and discussions. Discover all our protection right here.
