Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) have called for global support to strengthen their capacities for monitoring and reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to statement released to the media by the Zambia First Secretary for Press and Public Relations
Permanent Mission at the UN Mr Chibaula Silwamba, Permanent Secretary in charge of Policy Analysis and Coordination at Cabinet Office of the Republic of Zambia, Bernard Kamphasa, made the call when he spoke on behalf of the 32 LLDCs at the on-going Ministerial segment of the High Level Political Forum sessions on Countries in Special Situations under the Theme: “Ensuring that no one is left behind” at UN Headquarters in New York.
The Permanent Secretary said the LLDCs, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) deserve special attention from the international community in their pursuit of sustainable development. He said the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the LLDCs could not be attained without enhanced global partnerships for development, in the context of SDG 17, that embrace all key facets of means of implementation, including adequate provisions of financial resources, public and private, facilitation of free trade, the development and transfer of reliable, affordable and modern technology on mutually agreed and beneficial terms, capacity-building assistance and development of enabling institutional and policy environments. “The LLDCs Group reiterates the need to assist the most vulnerable countries, including landlocked developing countries, in building and strengthening our national capacities for data collection and analysis. Our capacities for monitoring and reporting on the SDGs need to be strengthened and that the process be aligned with the monitoring and reporting of other development frameworks, including the Vienna Programme of Action,” Mr. Kamphasa said. “The LLDCs suffer unique geographical disadvantages, combined with other new and emerging challenges, which have ultimately impaired our capacities to deliver sufficient economic and social development.”
He said LLDCs face constraints in accessing Sea routes, isolation from world markets, border and transit procedures, inefficient logistics systems and inadequate infrastructure a well as disproportionately high trade and transport costs. He said these challenges were further compounded by emerging challenges such as climate change, commodity price volatility, disasters and other external shocks.
“The LLDC Group recognizes the special significance of the 2016 session of the HLPF, being the first such meeting since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015,” Mr. Kamphasa said. “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda have further enhanced the efficacy of the Vienna Programme of Action in addressing the special challenges and needs of LLDCs, specifically under Sustainable Development Goals seven (7), nine (9) and 10 which make specific reference to the LLDCs.” Mr. Kamphasa emphasised the Group of LLDCs’ call for coherence in the follow up processes of the Agenda 2030 and the Vienna Programme of Action, taking advantage of their synergies and convergences with other global processes, to maximise the sustainable developmental outcomes for the Group’s members.
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