The “least developed country” (LDC) category was created in 1971 to identify low-income developing countries that encounter significant structural barriers to growth and to articulate international support measures for them. The list undergoes triennial reviews to assess which countries should be included or excluded based on three primary factors: income, human assets and economic and environmental vulnerability.
Sustainable development is critical for Asia-Pacific LDCs to reduce poverty, promote economic growth, and tackle social and environmental challenges. This involves improving access to social protection, education, health care, and other essential services for all, supporting the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and addressing the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events, which can have devastating effects on their economies and communities. With ten of eleven Asia-Pacific LDCs on the path to graduation, smooth transition out of the LDC category is a particular concern for the governments of the region.
The Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2022-2031 articulates a vision and strategy for promoting the sustainable development of LDCs during this decade. The Programme’s main focus is to strengthen the productive capacities and enable their graduation from the LDC category.
11 LDCs members of ESCAP and link to the country's profile
Afghanistan*
Bangladesh
Cambodia
Kiribati**
Lao People’s Democratic Republic*
Myanmar
Nepal*
Solomon Islands**
Timor-Leste**
Tuvalu**
*Also landlocked
**Also small islands
ESCAP’s support
ESCAP provides support to assist LDCs in the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action and assists graduating and graduated LDCs in preparing and implementing smooth transition strategies by providing intergovernmental support; through analysis on economic, social, and environmental data and statistics; through capacity building and technical assistance; and by promoting regional cooperation.
ESCAP's support, by key focus areas of the Doha Programme of Action, includes:
Key focus area I: Investing in people, eradicating poverty and building capacity
Support regional follow-up and review of the Global Food Systems Summit; Develop a risk framework for assessing food system risks; Strengthen policy coherence and impact on sustainable agriculture and agro-ecology for ASEAN LDCs; Provide technical support to enhance social protection systems in line with the Action Plan to Strengthen Regional Cooperation on Social Protection in Asia and the Pacific; Provide technical support on implementation of the outcome document of the Asia-Pacific Fourth Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing; Provide technical support on implementation of the Global Compact for Migration.
Key focus area II: Leveraging the power of science and technology and innovation
Provide research and capacity-building to develop innovative strategies for improving rural digital transport and connectivity for socio-economic resilience.
Key focus area III: Structural transformation
Provide capacity building in economic empowerment of women and enhancing employment opportunities for persons with disabilities; Provide capacity development on deployment of clean cooking solutions with focus on electric cooking.
Key focus area IV: Enhancing international trade of LDCs and regional integration
Provide training and advisory services on cross-border paperless trade implementation; Provide research and guide for digital trade/e-commerce regulatory analysis; Provide capacity building on trade negotiation through Trade Intelligence and Negotiation Adviser - a tool to examine effects of LDC graduation; Provide online tool - Regional Integration and Value Chain Analyser to support LDCs in deepening integration and evidence-based regional integration policy formulation; Provide secretariat support for participation of LDCs in regional transport infrastructure agreements on the Asian Highway Network, Trans-Asian Railway Network and Dry Ports.
Key focus area V: Addressing climate change, environmental degradation, recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and building resilience against future shocks
Strengthen universal health care through promoting affordable and equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics; Provide capacity building on disaster and climate resilience through ESCAP Risk and Resilience Portal and capacity building on gender-responsive and disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction policies and programmes; Provide training on climate finance mobilization and access for LDCs; Provide research and capacity building to develop frameworks to mobilize private finance and to facilitate green low-carbon transition.
Key focus area VI: Mobilizing international solidarity, reinvigorated global partnerships and innovative tools
Provide capacity building on combating tax avoidance and increasing tax compliance; Assist LDCs in developing FDI promotion strategies, including in the digital economy and digital infrastructure; Assist LDCs to prepare for and adjust to graduation, including through transition plans or formulation of 'Smooth Transition Strategies' to enable smooth graduation; Provide technical support and capacity building for policy and data integration.
