Least Developed Countries
Coordination Unit (LDCCU) Office of the Executive Secretary
UNESCAP
Workshop for National Focal Points on the Implementation of BPOA for LDCs, New York, 17-21 May 2004
OHRLLS
Presentation on Role & Activities of Regional Organizations
& Commissions in the Implementation of BPOA for LDCs
Prepared by: Aynul HasanChief, LDC Coordination Unit
FORMAT REASONS FOR VULNERABLE
ECONOMIES
ROLE OF REGIONAL COMMISSIONS IN BPOA
WORK PROGRAMME & ACTIVITIES OF UNESCAP FOR LDCs
REASONS FOR VULNERABLE ECONOMIES (LDCs, LLDCs & SIDS)
If left alone can all countries, particularly the vulnerable ones (LDCs, LLDCs, SIDS) be able to converge towards similar per capita income?
LUCAS’ GROWTH MODEL (JEP;2000)
LUCAS MADE SOME “PROPHETIC PROGNOSTICATIONS”
•DUE TO TECHNOLOGICAL DIFFUSION ALL ECONOMIES WILL JOIN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
•INCOME GROWTH WILL CONVERGE
•INCOME INEQUALITY BETWEEN NATIONS WILL DISAPPEAR
“If you are reading this (article) in the year 2100 ... I ask you: Who else told you what the macroeconomics of your country would look like, in advance, with such accuracy and economy?”
LUCAS' INCOME PATHS FOR A SELECTED HYPOTHETICAL ECONOMIES (1800-2000)
-
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
Year 1850 1900 1950 2000
Country A Country B Country C Country D
Country A Growth Rate = 2.0%Country B Growth Rate = 4.5%
Country C Growth Rate = 7.0%Country D Growth Rate = 9.5%
LUCAS’ GROWTH MODEL
-WE HOPE LUCAS’ OPTIMISTIC FORECAST BECOMES REALITY SOONER THAN LATER BUT THE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE IS JUST THE OPPOSITE
-PER CAPITA INCOME GAP HAS DIVERGED FROM 19 TIMES IN 1985 TO 24 TIMES IN 2000 (WORLD DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS, 2003)
-MODERN ECONOMIC GROWTH IS NOT RANDOMLY DISTRIBUTED AMONG THE POOR COUNTRIES.
ADDITIONAL VULNARABILITIES OF SIDS
0.20
32.71
12.21
14.33
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Pacific LDCs Asian LDCs Africa LDCs World LDCs
Average Population of Various LDC Groupings (in millions)
$1,099
$569
$342
$456
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
Pacific LDCs Asian LDCs Africa LDCs W orld LDCs
Per Capita Gross National Income of Various LDC Groupings (in US$)
64.9
45.1
34.9
39.6
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Pacific LDCs Asian LDCs Africa LDCs W orld LDCs
Human Asset Index (HAI) of Various LDC Groupings
53.4
39.5
48.3 47.4
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Pacific LDCs Asian LDCs Africa LDCs World LDCs
Economic Vulnerability Index (EVI) of Various LDC Groupings
Criteria used in determining the least developed country status: A comparison
Resources Mobilization in the Implementation of POA for LDCs for the decade 2001-2010
•Key Issues• Due to low PCGDP and relative high PCC the saving rates are very low in LDCs• Brussels POA 2001-2010 calls for LDCs
7 % GDP growth and Investments rates of 25% of GDP
LUCAS’ GROWTH MODEL
- STRUCTURAL IMPEDIMENTS SUCH AS:-LAND MASS-SIZE OF THE POPULATION-NATURAL RESOURCES-HUMAN CAPITAL ASSETS-GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION-ENVIRONMENT
Role of Regional Commissions in the implementation of BPOA
NEED FOR REGIONAL REVIEWS
Country level Review & Monitoring
Global
Big Country (Bangladesh)
Small Country (Tuvalu)
Regional Reviews
Role of Regional Commissions in BPOA
Mandates in BPOA
““The relevant UN regional economic commissions should continue to ensure that the needs & problems of the LDCs are addressed as part of their ongoing work … Attention should be given to any need for strengthening capacities of the regional commissions in undertaking subregional & regional follow-up activities.” (para 107)
Role of Regional Commissions in BPOA
Mandates in BPOA
“…regional economic commissions should undertake, in close coordination with global-level and country-level follow-up process… periodic subregional and regional monitoring and review of progress in the implementation of BPOA. They should offer an opportunity for LDCs… to exchange experiences and seek solutions to common development problems …” (BPOA, para 105)”
UNESCAP Institutional FrameworkLDC Coordination Unit
Executive Secretary
Deputy Executive Secretary
LDC Coordination Unit/MDG Centre
UNIS
Programme of Work Programme Support
Poverty and Development UNESCAP Pacific Operations CentreStatisticsTrade and InvestmentTransport and TourismEnvironment and Sustainable DevelopmentInfo., Com. and Space TechnologyEmerging Social Issues
Programme ManagementAdministrative Services
UNESCAPWORK PROGRAMME
Thematic Work Programme
Poverty Reduction
Emerging SocialIssues
Managing Globalization
Poverty and DevelopmentUNESCAP Pacific Operations Centre
Statistics
Trade & InvestmentTransport & TourismEnvironment & Sustainable DevelopmentInfo., Com. and Space Technology
Emerging Social Issues
UNESCAPConference Structure &
Legislative BodiesCOMMISSION
Legislative Bodies
Committees &Sub-Committees
Special Body for LDCs & LLDCs (meet every 2nd Year- 2003)Special Body for SIDS (meet every 2nd Year- 2004)
PovertyGlobalizationEmerging Social Issues
UNESCAPLegislative Bodies
Special Body for LDCs & LLDCs
Special Body 2001
Special Body 2003
Adopted the Regional Action Plan for the 3rd LDC BPOA
Adopted the Regional Action Plan for the Almaty Programme of Action
Least Developed (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan,Cambodia, Kiribati, Lao PDR,
Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Timor Leste and Vanuatu
Afghanistan, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Bhutan,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Lao PDR, Mongolia,
Nepal, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan,
Uzbekistan
14 Asia-Pacific
50 worldwideLDCs
30 worldwide
12 Asia-Pacific
LLDCs
•4 LDCs are alsoLLDCs
•5 LDCs are alsoPICs
UNESCAP’s FRAMEWORK OFIMPLEMENTATION OF BPOA
Implementation Freamework(Resolution…
Regional Review & Monitoring
Exchange of Views &
Knowledge
CapacityBuilding
Timor-LesteCambodiaMyanmar
Advisory Services Training Workshops (WTO, ICT, Poverty reduction, statistics
Needs Assessment
Annual Economic SurveysBiennial Regional MDG ReportsPeriodic LDC Series, Development Papers
EGM on Challenges facing LDCs (Sep 2003)Regular Working Group Meeting
FUTURE REGIONAL LEVEL LDC ACTIVITIES
1. LDC PANEL DISCUSSION AT THE 60th COMMISSION, Shanghai, April 2004 (jointly organized by UNESCAP & OHRLLS)
“Achieving the MDGs in the LDCs through Regional Development Cooperation”
Key Conclusions Establish a MDG Fund for the LDCs
Establish a facility at ESCAP to carry out feasibility studies in the LDCs for possible foreign direct investment
Establish a human resources development bank for common use by the LDCs
by commitment (percentage)
Commitment 115
Commitment 314Commitment 4
30
Commitment 515
Commitment 613
Commitment 29
Commitment 74
Activities implemented in line with theProgramme of Action for the LDCs
by countries (percentage)
Maldives5%
Myanmar13% Kiribati
2%
Cambodia17%
Bhutan5%
Bangladesh14%Samoa
5%
Nepal14%
Lao People's Democratic
Republic16%
Afghanistan0%
Vanuatu5%
Solomon Islands2%
Tuvalu2%
Activities implemented in line with Programme of Action for the LDCs
FUTURE REGIONAL LEVEL LDC ACTIVITIES
1. SIDE EVENT DURING THE SUB COMMITTEE ON POVERTY REDUCTION,
Bangkok, 29 June 2004
“Implementing partnerships for development in LDCs of Asia and the Pacific”
2. SIDE EVENT DURING THE SUB COMMITTEE ON TRADE & INVESTMENT, Bangkok,
October 2004
“Asia-Pacific LDC Position on Doha Development Agenda”
FUTURE REGIONAL LEVEL LDC ACTIVITIES
3. SPECIAL BODY FOR LDCs AND LLDCsBangkok, 29 April 2005
Mid-term review of BPOA for Asia-Pacific LDCs
Asia-Pacific LDC Position on Doha Development Agenda
Possible recommendations
•Establish clear communication channels with member countries.
•Ensure that needs of countries are taken into account in the preparation of work programme and projects.
•Assess the level of our technical assistance and advise countries of its availability.
•Allocate appropriate financial and staff resources to activities in these countries.
•Provide support for technical and economic cooperation among developing countries.
•Ensure that the cost of implementing activities does not affect delivery of activities to selected countries.
LDCCU NEEDS YOUR COOPERATION & SUPPORT TO
WORK FOR LDCs
UNESCAP
THANK YOU