By Chisomo Phiri
NEW YORK-(MaraviPost)-In his capacity as a chairperson of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera on Thursday March 17, 2022 reminded the United Nations (UN) member states to continue taking special interest in addressing the needs of LDCs through concrete plans, investments and actions.
He was making the remarks on behalf of the 46 LDCs member states, before the first part of the fifth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) taking place in New York in United States of America.
Chakwera further reminded the conference that poor societies economies have faced more devastation from climate change, COVID-19 pandemic and economic uncertainties.
The Malawi leader also used the opportunity to specifically lobby Malawi’s case as critical in light of social -economic devastation over the past couple of years caused by the global pandemic, Cyclone Idai and Kenneth, Moderate Tropical Storms Ana and Gombe.
The conference has adopted the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) for 2022-2031 period.
This is an intervention that seeks to chart a recovery path for LDCs and facilitate economic growth in line with the UN 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development Goals .
The DPoA will therefore support measures for eradicating poverty, ending hunger and malnutrition, making internet access universal, diversifying economies and exports and trade.
The programme will set a benchmark for official development assistance.
It is believed that through the programme, there will be establishment of an online, an International Investment Support Centre and food stock-holding for enabling LDCS to build back stronger.
Over the past few years, the programme launched the Sustainable Graduation Support Facility that will help the economies of LDCs move into upper brackets of development categories.
