Journal of the Group of 77 - Volume 19/2 (2007) (Summer Edition)

DEADLINE NEARS FOR IMPLEMENTING LDCS BRUSSELS PROGRAMME OF ACTION

UNITED NATIONS, Geneva (G77/IPS) -- Addressing the substantive sessions of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Farhat Ayesha of Pakistan said that as the 2010 deadline draws nearer, there was a need to take stock of the successes and failures in implementing the Brussels Programme of Action aimed at alleviating the problems of the world's 50 least developed countries (LDCs).

"The need for achieving the objectives, goals and target of the Brussels Programme of Action in a timely manner is becoming ever more urgent. This would not be possible without the continued and vigorous commitment of the LDCs and our development partners," she said.

For the full implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action during the remaining period, there is a need for concerted efforts by the LDCs, their development partners, the UN system organizations, international financial and trade institutions, including the Bretton Woods Institutions and the World Trade Organization, Global Environment Fund, civil society, non-governmental organizations and the private sector at all levels.

While thanking the Secretary-General for the new report on LDCs, she said the report, unfortunately, does not sufficiently address the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action in all areas from the perspective of our development partners, including the results achieved by them in the fulfillment of their commitments.

The Brussels Programme of Action is a partnership framework between the LDCs and their development partners, containing time-bound, measurable objectives, goals and targets besides setting out seven specific commitments.

The General Assembly undertook the mid term comprehensive review of the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action on 18-19 September 2006.

During the Review process, the Group had noted with concern that the progress in the implementation of the Programme of Action had been insufficient and uneven.

Hence, very few LDCs will be able to meet the objectives, goals and targets of the Programme of Action if current trends persist.

"We had maintained that full and timely implementation of the seven commitments must be adhered to if the LDCs were to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals."

She said the LDCs have made tremendous efforts to build an enabling national environment for the implementation of the Programme of Action.

The voluntary presentations made by a number of developing countries including four LDCs at the first ECOSOC Annual Ministerial Review on their national development strategies to pursue sustained economic growth and sustainable development further speak of their commitment to fulfill the agreed commitments.

The responsive support from their development partners in terms of fulfilling their commitments made in the BPOA is insufficient and at times completely lacking.

The Group of 77 hopes that the international community will draw upon the results of the mid term review and address the challenges that have been identified by the LDCs themselves as contained in the Cotonou Strategy for the further implementation of the BPOA.

She said this will require the development partners to fully and in a timely manner implement their commitments to LDCs including significant efforts, from donors that have not yet done so, to achieve the ODA target of 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of their gross national product for the LDCs by 2010.

"We also call for the enhancement of the productive capacity of LDCs particularly in agriculture, physical infrastructure and technological development through allocation of increased Aid flows."

"A coordinated action from the UN and its agencies, funds and programmes, we believe, should be able to make an important contribution to this effort aimed at enhancing the support for the least developed countries".