WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/L/649 
29 June 2006 
 
 (06-3136) 
 Original:   English/ 
 French 
 
 
 
MINISTERIAL MEETING OF THE LDCS FOR THE MID-TERM 
COMPREHENSIVE GLOBAL REVIEW OF THE BRUSSELS 
PROGRAMME OF ACTION FOR THE LDCS 
FOR THE DECADE 2001-2010 
 
Cotonou, Benin, 5-8 June 2006  
 
Communication from Benin  
 
 
 The following communication dated 28 June 2006, containing the Cotonou Ministerial 
Declaration and the Cotonou Strategy resulting fro m the above-mentioned meeting has been received 
from the delegation of Benin.   
_______________ 
 
 
COTONOU MINISTERIAL DECLARATION 
 
We, the Ministers and Heads of Delegation of th e Least Developed Count ries participating in 
the Ministerial Conference held in Cotonou, Be nin on 7 and 8 June 2006, to prepare for the 
comprehensive global midterm review of the Progr amme of Action for the Least Developed Countries 
for the Decade 2001-2010 during the sixty-first sessi on of the United Nations General Assembly in 
New York on 18 and 19 September 2006, 
Recalling  the Declaration and Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 
Decade 2001-2010, 
Recalling  also the Millennium Declaration and in  particular the Millennium Development 
Goals aimed at eradicating poverty, 
Further recalling  the outcome of the Ministerial Conference of the Least Developed Countries 
held in Cotonou, Benin, from 5 to 7 August 2002, 
Bearing in mind the Ministerial Declaration of the hi gh-level segment of the Economic and 
Social Council of June 2004, in New York, that rea ffirmed the need to undert ake increased efforts and 
speedy measures with a view to meeting the goals a nd targets of the Brussels Programme of Action in 
a timely manner, 
Recalling  the commitment made by World Leaders in 2005 World Summit to address the 
special needs of the Least Developed Countries, WT/L/649 
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  Aware  of the need to work jointly and in synergy to contribute effectively and efficiently to the 
global fight against poverty and to the promotion of sustainable development, 
Aware also , that Least Developed Countries in conflict and emerging from conflict experience 
difficulties in the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action, 
Have agreed  to the following: 
 
1. We reaffirm  that sustained economic growth, su stainable development and poverty 
eradication are imperative for the improveme nt of living standards of our people. 
2. We reiterate  that the Millennium Development Goals, as well as the other internationally 
agreed development goals, can effectively be  achieved in the Least Developed Countries 
through the timely fulfillment of the seven commitments of the Brussels Programme of 
Action. 
3. We acknowledge the weak implementation of  the Programme of Action for the Least 
Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010 and he nce, we strongly reaffirm the need for 
its full implementation as it provides a fundament al framework of partnership for sustained 
economic growth, sustainable development a nd poverty eradication in our countries. 
4. We note that our national reports on the midter m review, which are the outcome of national 
level dialogues amongst stakeholders on the st ate of implementation of the Brussels 
Programme of Action, reflect the achievement s made and constraints encountered in the 
implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action and the way forward. 
5. We emphasize the need for creating an ove rall enabling environment for national and 
international actions to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development in the Least 
Developed Countries. 
6. We underline that good governance within each  Least Developed Country and at the 
international level is essential to enable the successful implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action. 
7. We recognize that national security and stabilit y are essential for the implementation of the 
Brussels Programme of Action in Least Developed Countries, in particular in those in conflicts and emerging from conf licts and require enhanced in ternational support with the 
view to achieving the goals and targets of the Brussels Programme of Action in a timely 
manner. 
8. We recognize  that while the Least Developed Countries have the primary responsibility for 
their own development, the role of the international community and the multilateral 
institutions is essential in providing them with adequate resources and technical assistance to 
enhance their productive capacities, as well as economic growth, poverty eradication and 
sustainable development. 
9. We acknowledge that the civil society and the priv ate sector must play an important role in 
promoting social and economic development activities in the Least Developed Countries. 
10. We recognize that health issues, particularly  HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, as well as 
other communicable diseases such as the avia n flu pose a grave problem in the Least 
Developed Countries due to insufficient t echnical know-how, human and institutional 
capacity and financial resources, and we urge th e international community to ensure that the  WT/L/649 
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  health needs of the Least Developed Countries are comprehensively addressed in all regional 
and global programmes. 
11. We urge development partners to accelerate e fforts to reduce the increasing vulnerability of 
Least Developed Countries, to preserve th e global environment, reduce the loss of 
biodiversity, limit the adverse impacts of climate change, combat desertification and stem 
land degradation and to build the resilience of the Least Developed Countries to natural 
disasters and their ability to recover from them. 
12. We stress the need for the Committee for Development Policy of the United Nations 
Economic and Social Council to revise the gra duation criteria so as to make the Economic 
Vulnerability Index the sine qua non for graduation overriding all other indices. 
13. We affirm the need for the international co mmunity to render the necessary support to the 
graduating countries with a view to avoiding th e disruption of their development projects and 
programmes and allow them to continue developing. 
14. We emphasize  the need to implement  the commitments made in the 2005 World Summit 
Outcome to address the special needs of the L east Developed Countries. In this regard we 
urge all countries and the United Nations system , including the Bretton Woods Institutions, to 
make concerted efforts and adopt speedy measur es to meet in a timely manner the goals and 
targets of the Brussels Programme of Action. 
15. We reiterate the urgent need for the interna tional community to fulfill the commitments and 
objectives of the Monterrey Consensus with resp ect to official development assistance (ODA) 
for Least Developed Countries and to other financial measures, including increased grant-
based financing and total bilatera l and multilateral debt cancellation. 
16. We recognize  that international trade is vital for th e development of our countries and the 
eradication of poverty and we stress  the importance of enabling the beneficial and meaningful 
integration of the Least Developed Countries into the multilateral trading system, in accordance with the Doha mandate and the outco me of the 2005 Sixth Ministerial Conference 
of the World Trade Organization. 
17. We reaffirm the need to accelerate and facilita te the accession of Least Developed Countries 
to the World Trade Organization, and urge  Members to exercise restraint in seeking 
concessions from acceding Least Developed Countries. 
18. We reaffirm that an effective multilateral sy stem based on relevant international law, 
supported by strong international institutions with the United Nations at the centre, is 
fundamental for the reduction of extreme pove rty and the achievement of sustainable 
development. 
19. We urge the United Nations system to eff ectively implement the outcome of all United 
Nations conferences and summits in a manner th at ensures the achievement of the goals and 
objectives of the Brussels Programme of Action. 
20. We emphasize the need for greater coordina tion and coherence among organizations of the 
United Nations system including Bretton Woods Institutions and other multilateral 
organizations, in mainstreaming the Brussels Pr ogramme of Action in their respective work 
programme and reports so as to ensure the effective implementation of the Brussels 
Programme of Action. WT/L/649 
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  21. We also recognize the importance of furthe ring inter and intra-regional South-South 
cooperation in areas such as trade, health, disast er risk reduction and early warning systems, 
investments, communications, transport and transit infrastructure. 
22. We welcome  the measures taken by developed and developing countries as well as by 
multilateral organisations to promote Sout h-South cooperation a nd call on them to 
substantially enhance their resources and effort s for capacity building and development in the 
Least Developed Countries, including the sharing of best practices in sustainable development 
of Least Developed Countries. 
23. We commend the United Nations Development Programme and, especially the Special Unit 
for South South Cooperation for their financial c ontributions to the organization of meetings 
held in preparation for the mid term revi ew of the Brussels Programme of Action, 
respectively in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 21- 23 February 2006, and in Bangkok, Thailand, 
from 14-15 March 2006, as well as the Ministerial Conference in Cotonou, Benin, from 5-8 June 2006. 
24. We express  appreciation for the efforts of the United Nations Office of the High 
Representative for Least Developed Countries,  Landlocked Developing Countries and Small 
Island Developing States, the United Nations Development Programme, and other relevant 
United Nations agencies, in advancing the im plementation of the Brussels Programme of 
Action. 
25. We commend the Least Developed Countries Coor dination Bureau for its role in coordinating 
positions and activities to facilitate the implem entation of the Brussels Programme of Action 
and for representing the Least Developed Countr ies’ interests and concerns in the United 
Nations system and in all inte rnational and multilateral fora. 
26. We express  gratitude and appreciation to the Govern ment and people of Benin for hosting the 
Least Developed Countries Ministerial Conference and for the facilities made available to ensure its success. 
27. We adopt the Cotonou Strategy for the furthe r Implementation of the Programme of Action 
for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001-2010. 
 
 
_______________ 
  
  WT/L/649 
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  THE COTONOU STRATEGY FOR TH E FURTHER IMPLEMENTATION 
OF THE PROGRAMME OF ACTION FOR THE LDCS 
FOR THE DECADE 2001-2010 
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
 The Ministerial Conference of the least developed countries was held in Cotonou, Benin, 
from 5 to 8 June 2006 to undertake the Mi dterm Comprehensive Global Review of the 
Implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action during the period  2001 to 2005. The 
Conference considered the outcome document of the regional meetings of the African LDCs held in 
Addis Ababa (21-23 February 2006) and of the Asia-Pacific LDCs held in Bangkok (14-15 March 
2006). The meeting also considered the LDCs nati onal review reports, as well as the reports submitted 
by the regional commissions, namely, ECA, ESCAP, ECLAC and ESCWA.   The conference assessed the progress and constrai nts encountered during the first five years 
of implementation, and formulated recommenda tions with a view to ensuring the further 
implementation of the seven commitments of the Brussels Programme of Action. 
  The Ministerial Conference adopted the present Cotonou Strategy for the Midterm Comprehensive Global Review of the Brussels Programme of Action to be held in New York during the 61
st session of the General Assembly on 18 and 19 September 2006. 
II. COMMITMENT 1: FOSTERING A PEOPLE-CENTRED POLICY FRAMEWORK 
1. Achievements 
• Economic growth and macroeconomic perfo rmances have improved in most LDCs, 
particularly those that are oil exporting amongst them. 
2. Challenges 
• Growth has not been sufficient to lead to  a significant reduction in poverty levels; 
• Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, where th ey were adopted, have not been successful 
enough in accelerating growth and reducing poverty and hunger; 
• The limited availability of statistics on LDCs during the period 2001-2005 was 
problematic in providing accurate s ituation of development in LDCs. 
3. Recommendations  
(i) Actions by LDCs 
LDCs should: 
 
• Deepen the consultative process in order to  ensure that national development plans 
address the priorities of the most vulnerable segments of the populations; 
• Design national development strategies that take into consideration the needs of 
populations in remote regions, such as those of Small Island Developing States and mountainous countries so that investments, especial ly in social sectors, are viable in the 
long term; WT/L/649 
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  • Continue to consider decentralisation as an important step towards making policies more 
people-centred; 
• Encourage private investment through appropria te policies. In areas where private sector 
activity is limited or lacking, Govern ments should undertake necessary measures to 
bridge the gap including through public resour ces or in public/private partnership; 
• Develop and adopt appropriate land policies to  address issues related to security of land 
tenure so as to encourage among other thi ngs greater private investment in the 
agribusiness sector. 
• Enhance the quality of growth by identif ying and utilizing new potential for high 
employment and/or export and improve the income distribution. 
(ii) Actions by development partners 
Development partners should: 
• Undertake coherent and coordinated measures to create an enabling external environment 
that will help the LDCs derive benefits fro m globalisation and support them in mitigating 
its negative consequences;  
• Support the national priorities of LDCs thro ugh consultation and di alogue and provide 
adequate and timely financial a nd other support, and also ensure that a country’s efforts to 
strengthen its capacity are not undermined. Their assistance should be transparent and 
channelled through the national budget; 
• Support the efforts of LDCs in strengthening national statistical systems. 
III. COMMITMENT 2: GOOD GOVERNANCE AT NATIONAL AND 
INTERNATIONAL LEVELS 
1. Achievements 
• Most LDCs have made considerable progress, inter alia in the promotion of democracy, 
human rights, the rule of law, transp arency, accountability, and other legal and 
institutional mechanisms. For instance, seventeen African LDCs have acceded to the 
African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).  
2. Challenges 
 Although some achievements have been regist ered in the area of gove rnance there are still 
other challenges, namely : 
• Insufficient resources for governance reforms ; 
• Conflict and lack of internal security in several LDCs ; 
• Influx of refugees and intern ally displaced persons ; 
• Corruption ;  
• Lack of gender equality in decision making in many LDCs;   WT/L/649 
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  • Inadequate governance at the international level. 
3. Recommendations  
(i) Actions by LDCs 
LDCs should: 
• Promote good governance at national and interna tional levels to achieve the goals and 
targets of the BPoA in a timely manner; 
• Improve good governance at local and nationa l levels addressing such dimensions as 
decentralization and gender equality; 
• Utilise regional mechanisms where appropr iate to improve governance reforms; 
• Raise governance awareness, rights and respons ibilities of citizens through education and 
training. 
• Enhance efforts to fight corruption. 
(ii) Action by development partners 
Development partners should: 
• Assist LDCs with financial resources, technical assistance and capacity building in the 
area  of governance ; 
• Give special attention to LDCs emerging from conflict; 
• Continue to assist LDCs where requested in th eir efforts to prevent conflicts and ensure 
internal security; 
• Assist LDCs in their efforts to fight corruption, in particular through the strengthening of 
the capacities of the various institu tions established in this regard; 
• Ensure the full and effective participation of  LDCs in global decision making processes; 
• Work with LDCs to ensure ownership, transparency and mutual accountability in 
development cooperation programmes. 
IV. COMMITMENT 3: BUILDING HUMAN AND INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITIES 
1. Achievements 
• There has been considerable and tangible progress in the area of strengthening human and 
institutional capacities; 
• Significant improvements have been register ed in primary school enrolment rates and 
steady gains were recorded towards elimin ating gender disparity in education; 
• Some health indicators have also improved in some LDCs since 2001. WT/L/649 
Page 8  
 
  2. Challenges 
 Despite improvements, several obstacles con tinue to militate against the full and timely 
implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action:  
• Acute lack of domestic and external res ources hampers LDCs from making substantial 
investments in social infrastructure and social service delivery; 
• The high rate of population growth, coupled w ith inadequate resources and an increasing 
demand for better social infrastructure, poses many challenges for LDCs; 
• Low secondary school enrolment rates; 
• Quality of education is often poor, which is exacerbated by poor teaching standards and 
high rates of attrition stemming from low salaries; 
• Curricula are often inadequate for the labour market; 
• Brain drain continues to be a major challe nge that drags human resources out of LDCs; 
• High infant and mother mortality rates; 
• Access to medication and adequate health infrast ructure is still a major constraint in many 
LDCs;  
• High HIV/AIDS prevalence rate and its social economic impact ; 
• Insufficient resources to fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis; 
• The threat of the avian flu constitutes a new challenge for LDCs; 
• Malnutrition and food insecurity are still a ch ronic problem, especially in African LDCs; 
• Access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities remains too low in particular in 
rural areas. 
3. Recommendations 
(i) Action by LDCs: 
LDCs should: 
• Strengthen initiatives to address gender-relate d gap, low rates of primary school 
completion and transition to secondary school;  
• Improve the quality of education and their capacity to retain teachers through better 
employment conditions, wage incentiv es and adult continuing education;  
• Develop and improve vocational training especi ally in technical fields including in 
special initiatives for the info rmal sector of the economy;  WT/L/649 
 Page 9 
 
 
  • Conceive programmes and policies which better match skills with employment 
opportunities; 
• Adopt policies and promote all initiatives that  create motivation and awareness of skilled 
personnel so that they effectively contribute to the progress of their own country; 
• Continue to make health services more accessi ble and affordable, especially for the rural 
communities;  
• Improve, with the support of development part ners, the access to safe drinking water and 
sanitation facilities, especially in rural areas.  
• Enhance efforts by all stakeholders to implement commitment to combat HIV/AIDS, 
tuberculosis and malaria.  
(ii) Actions by development partners 
Development partners should: 
• Continue to and strengthen their support to LDCs in addressing HIV/AIDS, malaria and 
tuberculosis ; 
• Continue and strengthen their support to LDCs so as to eliminate malnutrition and hunger   
• Provide support to LDCs in their efforts fo r leadership and capacity development with 
special focus on the young people and women ; 
• Help LDCs to address the new threat of avian flu.  
V. COMMITMENT 4: BUILDING PRODUC TIVE CAPACITIES TO MAKE 
GLOBALIZATION WORK FOR LDCS 
1. Achievements 
• Through national, sub-regional and regi onal mechanisms, LDCs have adopted 
cooperation frameworks to expand their physical infrastructures; 
• LDCs have registered some progress in the use of information and communication 
technologies, in particular by improving access to telephone mainlines and mobile phones 
as well as by promoting the use of personal computers and the Internet; 
• During 2001-2005, teledensity and Internet connectivity have almost doubled in the 
LDCs; 
• Reformed regulatory and business environment have attracted marginal increase in the 
flow of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to LDCs; 
• Progress have been made in the area of  food security due to inter alia, the  adaptation and 
dissemination of high-yield varieties, and the intensification of hydro-agricultural 
managements in the LDCs. WT/L/649 
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  2. Challenges 
• The insufficient of well-developed and relia ble social and physical infrastructure 
continues to be one of the major bottlenecks fo r the LDCs in their effort to enhance their 
production capacity and to achieve the objectiv es of the Brussels Programme of action; 
• Inadequate infrastructure, particularly in power generation and transport, poses obstacles 
to greater investment in least developed countries, especially in small islands and 
landlocked LDCs; 
• The lack of technology, national intellectua l property institutions and information 
communication technology (ICT) has deterred LDCs from integrating into and, accruing 
benefits of the process of globalisation; 
• While more than 72% of th e population in LDCs live in  rural areas and depend on 
agriculture for their livelihood, the agricultu ral sector in LDCs is under-capitalized and 
suffers from rudimentary equipment and the use of obsolete technologies and is subject to 
unstable weather conditions difficult to forecast; 
• Land degradation, desertification, adverse ef fects of climate change, climate variability 
and recurrent extreme weather events constitu te obstacles to a viable and sustainable 
agriculture in many LDCs; 
• Access to energy remains difficult in several LDCs; 
• The economic potential of tourism is under-utilized. 
3. Recommendations 
(i) Actions by LDCs 
LDCs should: 
• Make productive capacity and infrastructure clear priorities and provide support to the 
development and the strengthening of critical areas of infrastructure; 
• Strengthen research and development capacity . Technical and training opportunities 
available through national and regional research  institutes and universities should be used. 
Business support services such as the provision of information on foreign markets and of advice on productivity improvements, certifica tion, quality control and human resources 
development are also essential; 
• Establish legal frameworks and develop appropriate intellectua l property strategies for the 
protection of traditional knowledge  and indigenous technology; 
• Prioritise investment from both domestic and international sources to those sectors in 
which they have comparative advantage and that generate employment through, where 
appropriate, public-pri vate partnerships; 
• Improve working conditions and rights of wo rkers through the adoption and the effective 
implementation of labour laws;  WT/L/649 
 Page 11 
 
 
  • Improve, with the support of their development partners, the enabling environment for 
micro, small and medium size enterprises which can play a crucial role in poverty reduction by contributing to ec onomic growth and employment; 
• Strengthen, with the assistance of their deve lopment partners, their productive capacity 
and economic diversification through inter a lia the development of infrastructure and 
promotion of small and medium sized enterprises; 
• Take effective measures to improve access to energy in LDCs; 
• Promote the efficient use of surface water in cluding, inter alia, by ensuring access to 
proper share of water and building dams; 
• Strengthen capacities in order to better involve local populations and other stakeholders in 
the development of tourism. 
(ii) Actions by development partners 
Development partners should: 
• Provide necessary support to the devel opment and improvement of transport 
infrastructure such as port facilities, transit transport routes and fleets as well as ICT to 
facilitate transport operation, especially fo r landlocked LDCs which depend on transit 
countries for access to and from the sea; 
• Assist LDCs, in the development of relia ble, safe, secure and environmentally sound 
infrastructure system by providing both financ ial and technical assistance with a view to 
promoting wider market access, domestic investment as well as attracting foreign direct investment; 
• Assist LDCs to access affordable and envir onmentally sound technologies, including the 
ICT, which are among the prerequisites to th e achievement of sustained economic growth 
and sustainable development and to the fight against poverty; 
• Assist LDCs for the integration of intellect ual property in their National Development 
Strategy; 
• Assist LDCs in strengthening their instituti onal capacity through enhanced participation 
of local enterprises in the transfer of kn owledge, in the transfer, adaptation and 
development of technology; 
• Assist LDCs to introduce safety net programmes for food insecure populations; 
• Assist LDCs in enhancing their domestic cap acity to evaluate and manage projects; 
• Develop and take effective measures for rapid settlement of the energy sector issues 
taking into account the vulnerability of LDCs economies; 
• Countries of the South, within the framework of the South-South cooperation, should also 
render the required assistance to the LDCs in expanding trade opportunities, capacity-
building and debt relief and for the best use of the great potential for economic and technical cooperation existing between LD Cs and other developing countries. WT/L/649 
Page 12  
 
  VI. COMMITMENT 5: ENHANCING THE RO LE OF TRADE IN DEVELOPMENT 
1. Achievements 
• The least developed countries have increased  their participation in the global economy 
through sub-regional, regional and internati onal trade and strengthened their capacities in 
multilateral trade negotiations; 
• Exports from LDCs grew by an average of 10.7 per cent between 2003 and 2004. 
2. Challenges 
• The fluctuating and unstable prices of the agricultural commodities at the world market 
combined with primary commodity dependency are among the major concerns for many LDCs; 
• The lack of capacity of LDCs to add value to their agricultural products deepens the 
negative impacts of lower market prices in their economies; 
• The lack of diversification of their export b asket and a limited number of export markets 
remain a major challenge for the LDCs; 
• Due to supply-side constraints, lack of trade-related capacity, such as negotiation 
capacity, tariff and non-tariff barriers, LDCs are not making full use of preferential market access initiatives; 
• Highly distorting subsidies provided by devel oped countries to their farmers continue to 
hamper LDCs fair participation in the world market;  
• Unfavourable geographical location for sma ll islands and landloc ked LDCs increases 
both export and import costs; 
• Cumbersome documentation requirements a nd bureaucratic impediments raise trade-
related transaction costs and erode co mpetitiveness of exports from many LDCs. 
3. Recommendations 
(i) Actions by LDCs 
LDCs should: 
• Continue to integrate trade into their na tional development plan and poverty reduction 
strategy to promote exports and to reduce poverty; 
• Continue to intensify their efforts, with th e support of development partners, to diversify 
their export basket to address their high dependency on a few commodities; 
• Continue to develop a greater technical capacity  of their trade actors so that obligations 
for complying with the rules of global and regional trading bodies are understood and available trade concessions are fully utilized;  WT/L/649 
 Page 13 
 
 
  • Improve transport and communi cation networks to increase the volume of trade, lower 
costs and improve export delivery times as well as make optimal use of available market 
preferences; 
• Take measures to modernize Custom agenci es and streamline procedures to facilitate 
trade. 
(ii) Action by development partners 
Development partners should: 
• Give special and differential treatment to the LDCs; 
• Provide duty-free and quota-free market access on a lasting basis, for all products 
originating from all LDCs by 2008 or no late r than the start of the implementation period 
of the outcome of the Doha Development Ag enda negotiations in a manner that ensures 
stability, security and predictability; 
• Simplify and harmonize rules of origin to pr omote exports from LDCs and ensure that 
preferential rules of origin applicable to imports from LDCs are transparent and simple, 
and contribute to facilitating market access; 
• Eliminate all trade distorting barriers, includi ng tariff peaks and tariff escalations, high 
subsidies and other non-tariff mech anisms without further delay; 
• Increase financial and technical support aimed at the diversification of LDC economies, 
while providing additional fina ncial and technical assistan ce through appropriate delivery 
mechanisms to meet their implementation obligations, including fulfilling Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) requirements, and 
to assist them in managing their adjustment  processes, including those necessary to face 
the consequences of the termination of the Ag reement on Textile and Clothing. In this 
context work currently undertaken to enhan ce the Integrated Framework and on aid for 
trade should be expedited; 
• Provide transitional support to LDCs as global trade barriers are removed; 
• Respond to the trade capacity-building needs of the LDCs by significantly increasing aid 
for trade-related technical assistance and cap acity building and by continuing the work 
currently undertaken to improve the implem entation of the Integrated Framework for 
trade-related technical assistance; 
• Coordinate their assistance with multilatera l agencies and international financial 
institutions to ensure that LDCs are not s ubject to conditionalities on loans, grants and 
official development assistance that are inc onsistent with their rights and obligations 
under the WTO Agreements; 
• Continue to give attenti on and priority to conclude the ongoing WTO accession 
proceedings as rapidly as possible in favour of those LDCs that are not yet members; 
• Contribute, in the context of revitalizing S outh-South trade, to a better trade performance 
on the part of least developed countries by lo wering trade barriers, reducing tariffs levied 
on exports from least developed countries a nd providing trade preferences, including WT/L/649 
Page 14  
 
  market access preferences, on a non-discrimina tory basis. Efforts should be enhanced to 
promote regional and subregional cooperati on among developing countries especially in 
areas of trade, investment and the development of physical infrastructure; 
• Assist LDCs in the implementation of Common Fund for Commodities-financed 
instruments for commodity price risk management. 
• Negotiations on Rules in the Doha Devel opment Agenda (DDA) negotiations should 
allow necessary flexibility to render the a pplication of the WTO multilateral trade rules 
governing regional trade arrangements more supportive of regional integration efforts 
with and among developing countries and provide  flexibility to the LDCs in adjusting to 
competitive trade regimes; 
VII. COMMITMENT 6: REDUCING VULNERABILITY AND PROTECTING THE 
ENVIRONMENT  
1. Achievements 
• Since 2001, LDCs have increasingly ta ken measures to implement multilateral 
environmental agreements to which they ar e party. Additionally LDCs are striving to 
meet their commitments to these MEAs by incorporating their obligations in their 
national sustainable development pl ans and environmental strategies. 
2. Challenges 
• Poverty eradication in the face of increasing vulnerability of LDCs to natural disasters, 
environmental degradation and global envi ronmental phenomenon continues to be a 
major challenge for LDCs; 
• The ability of LDCs to respond in an effective and timely manner to natural disasters, 
reduce the loss of lives, the destruction of liv elihoods, the destruction of properties and 
infrastructure and the reversal of economic growth is limited or  constrained by the 
increasing intensity and frequency of global environmental phenomena; 
• LDCs continue to face a number of serious  global environmental challenges including 
threats to key biological resources, desertifi cation, land degradation and the impact of 
climate change; 
• There has been an inadequate technology support and capacity building in LDCs with 
regards to energy efficiency and increased use of renewable energy alternatives, integrated water resource management, copi ng with rapid urbanization, industrial and 
domestic waste management and safe use of chemicals. 
3. Recommendations  
(i) Actions by LDCs 
LDCs should: 
• Improve Governance of environmental challe nges by further integrating environmental 
issues into national planning frameworks, ensu ring the effective participation of a broad 
range of stakeholders in implementing e nvironmental action plans, and improving the 
monitoring of environmental policy implementation;  WT/L/649 
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  • Undertake actions to achieve their indus trial development in line with proper 
environmental safeguards; 
• Make maximum use of the funding available to LDC's Parties to the Convention on 
Climate Change through the Least Devel oped Countries Fund (LDCF) of the GEF; 
• Further develop and implement national polici es and strategies for disaster risk reduction; 
• Mainstream the urban agenda in their national policies and development plans. 
(ii) Actions by development partners 
Development partners should:  
• Support LDCs in developing and implementi ng their national disaster risk reduction 
strategies; 
• Support LDCs to enhance their capacity to effectively participate in and benefit from 
regional and international early warning systems and response networks, including 
through satellite-driven technologies; 
• Assist LDCs to invest massively in envi ronmental protection projects in rural areas, 
particularly in dry lands or drought - prone zones and flood-prone zones; 
• Assist the LDCs to fight against the coasta l erosion resulting from the advance of the sea 
on dry land; 
• Give priority to the LDCs in the implemen tation of the GEF land degradation focal area, 
including in building capacities to  prepare eligible projects; 
• Integrate climate variability and climate change risk factors in their project planning and 
assessment in LDCs; 
• Meet their commitments on funding by providing sufficient resources on a predictable 
basis to existing institutional and funding mech anisms to assist LDCs  adapt to the risks 
and impacts of climate change; 
• Ensure the transfer of environmentally s ound technology on preferential terms as well as 
making renewable energy available to LDCs. 
• Assist LDCs with technical and financial me ans to help them cope with unanticipated 
environmental shocks; 
• Assist LDCs in promoting and supporting the sustainable tourism development in natural 
areas with a view to help maintain essentia l ecological processes and conserve natural 
heritage and biodiversity. WT/L/649 
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  VIII.  COMMITMENT 7: MOBILIZING FINANCIAL RESOURCES 
1. Achievements 
• LDCs have made some achievements in the area of domestic resource mobilization through 
improved fiscal policy, financial sector reform s, budgetary and public financial management 
control mechanisms and strengthening and widening of the tax base. 
2. Challenges 
• Least developed countries are unable to finance their investment requirements from 
domestic resources alone owing to the res ource gap resulting from their low per capita 
income, low savings, structural bottle necks and weak financial sectors; 
• Weak financial sectors and lack of access to fi nancial services are some of the constraints 
to the ability of LDCs to mobilize adequa te financial resources domestically and 
internationally; 
• Commitments on Official Development Assistance targets, as contained in the Brussels 
Programme of Action have not been fully implemented; 
• Complexity of procedures and conditi onalities in disbursing aid to LDCs; 
• The weakness of coordination mechanis ms in aid disbursement to LDCs; 
• The external debt overhang in LDCs and debt services continue to be a serious obstacle to 
their socio-economic development and efforts at poverty eradication; 
• Difficult problems remain in HIPCs that have not yet been able to reach their decisions 
points; 
• Foreign direct investment to least developed countries has been miniscule. 
3. Recommendations 
(i) Actions by LDCs 
LDCs should: 
• Continue to strengthen their institutional cap acity to mobilize both domestic and external 
resources; 
• Simplify, harmonize and modernize their tax co llection systems with the view to improve 
their effectiveness, efficiency and equity; 
• Make efforts to align the informal sector with  the formal sector, with a view to taking full 
advantage of the potential contribution of large informal-sector activities to their 
economies; 
• Encourage domestic savings for investment in productive activities; 
• Develop, with the support of their developm ent partners, national strategies to build 
inclusive financial sectors and promote access to microfinance and microcredit;  WT/L/649 
 Page 17 
 
 
  • Build on progress achieved in ensuring that  ODA is used effectively to address their 
development challenges. 
(ii) Actions by development partners 
Donor countries should: 
• Give ODA to all LDCs in the form of grants; 
• Fulfil their commitments, in particular tho se contained in the Brussels Programme of 
Action, to increase ODA flows to least developed countries to the level of 0.20 per cent of 
GNI. Donors who have not achieved that le vel in 2006 should specially undertake 
concrete measures to expeditious ly fulfil their obligations; 
• Further harmonize ODA flows and mechan isms with LDCs national development 
strategies and priorities; 
• Channel ODA through national budget processes; 
• Make further efforts to improve the quality a nd the effectiveness of ai d, including through 
the implementation of the following: 
- respect of the commitment of untied aid as a priority; 
- harmonization and simplification of their procedures; 
- procurement of aid on a more predictable basis with long-term commitments; 
- streamlining aid delivery to ensure the success of national development 
strategies; 
- and reduction of the cost of transaction required in the recipient LDCs 
through better aid coordination. 
• LDCs bilateral and multilateral creditors should take effective debt relief measures in 
particular: 
- the total, speedy and unconditional cance llation of all outstanding debt owed 
by all LDCs;  
- Debt forgiveness has to be provided over and above the regular assistance;  
- Address the structural causes of indebtedness; 
- LDCs benefiting from debt relief measures do not fall back into unsustainable 
debt;  
- Special attention should be given to post-conflict countries.  
• Adopt policies and measures to promote and enha nce flows of direct investment in LDCs; 
• Provide adequate and timely resources to su pport reconstruction efforts and long-term 
recovery in least developed countries em erging from conflict and natural disaster; WT/L/649 
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  • Multilateral financial instituti ons should continue to provide insurance guarantees to 
private-sector investment in least developed countries. The international community should also contribute to an increased flow of investment through co-financing, and 
public-private partnership. Export-import banks  should assume credits and country risks 
to direct more investment in least developed countries. 
IX. IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, EVALUATION AND FOLLOW UP 
MECHANISMS 
 For effective and full implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action, the arrangements 
for the implementation, follow-up, monitoring and revi ew at the national, sub-regional, regional and 
global levels as outlined in the Brussels Programme  of Action should be strengthened. The measures 
at different levels should be c onducted in a coherent and mutua lly supportive manner. The United 
Nations system, in particular the Office of th e High Representative for Least Developed Countries, 
Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Is land Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) should 
undertake necessary measures to follow-up these activities.  
NATIONAL
 LEVEL 
1. Achievements 
• Establishment of focal points for the coordi nation and follow-up of the implementation of 
the Brussels Programme of Action. 
2. challenges 
• Weak human and institutional capacity; 
• Lack of comprehensive data base and poor monitoring and assessment system; 
• Multiplicity of programmes and lack of coherence among them; 
3. Recommendations 
 The following recommendations were made: 
 
(i) Action by LDCs 
LDCs should: 
• Ensure that the goals and targets contained in the Brussels Programme of Action are 
translated into specific m easures within their national development frameworks and 
poverty eradication strategies, including wh ere they exist, Poverty Reduction Strategy 
Papers (PRSPs), Common Country Asse ssment (CCAs), and the United Nations 
Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF); 
• Strengthen the role of national focal points with necessary financial and technical support 
from development partners; 
• Build inclusive and participatory national institutional forums with the assistance of 
development partners to serve as a platform  for systematic follow-up and monitoring of 
the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action.  WT/L/649 
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  (ii) Actions by development partners 
• Assist LDCs in crafting their development frameworks like PRSP, CCA, UNDAF at the 
country level in a coherent manner a nd in line with national priorities; 
• UN Resident Coordinators should provide tec hnical and financial support, and help LDCs 
translate goals and targets of the Brussels Pr ogramme of Action into concrete actions in 
line with national priorities. The Brussels Programme of Action should be a matter of 
priority and focus in the work programmes and reporting of UN Resident Coordinator 
system at the country level; 
• The UN Resident Coordinator should provide ad equate technical and financial support to 
national focal points for the preparation of the national reports on the implementation of 
the Brussels Programme of Action; 
• Assessment and monitoring should be result or iented with special focus on achievements, 
constraints and recommendations for future course of action; 
• Coherence and coordination among the different  UN agencies, BWIs and donor countries 
should be strengthened at the country level; 
• The international community should provide  necessary assistance to LDCs in building 
their statistical capacity, including thro ugh appropriate training, and effective 
international support in this context; 
SUB-REGIONAL AND REGIONAL LEVELS 
 1. Achievements 
 Some sub-regional and regional entities have already adopted some measures to address the 
specific concerns of LDCs: 
• Establishment of LDC Coordination Unit at ESCAP. 
2. Challenges 
 Most of the sub-regional and regional entities are yet to factor the Brussels Programme of 
Action in their programmes. 
• Insufficient infrastructure to support the im plementation of the Brussels Programme of 
Action; 
• Insufficient sub-regional and regional funds in support of the implementation of the 
Brussels Programme of Action. 
3. Recommendations 
 Sub-regional and regional entities should beco me more actively involved and contribute 
effectively to the implementation of the Brussels Pr ogramme of Action. In this regard, the following 
recommendations should be pursued: 
 
• Set up measures to ensure sub-regional a nd regional bodies responses to take better 
account of the needs of LDCs; WT/L/649 
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  • Sub-regional and regional entities that have not yet done so should establish urgently 
specific units within the entities for their r espective LDCs and mainstream the provisions 
of the Brussels Programme of Action in their programme of work; 
• In this regard, the regional economic comm issions should coordina te with other sub-
regional and regional entities on the issues of LDCs; 
• ECA should re-establish urgently a specific unit for the African LDCs; 
• The regional and sub-regional bodies should unde rtake periodic monitoring and review of 
progress in the implementation of the Brussel s Programme of Action. They should offer 
an opportunity for LDCs together with their neighbouring developing countries to 
exchange experiences and seek solutions to common development problems; 
• The role of regional commissions and sub-regi onal and regional financ ial institutions in 
the implementation of the Brussels Programme should be strengthened; 
• The UN Regional Economic Commissions should undertake a tripartite coordination 
between the commissions, regional financial ins titutions and the LDCs on a regular basis; 
• UN Regional Economic Commissions, regional development banks, and other regional 
institutions should play an active advocacy role for the causes of the LDCs. 
GLOBAL
 LEVEL 
Achievements  
 
• Establishment of the Office of the High Representative for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS; 
4. Recommendations 
 The agencies and organizations of the United Nations system, including the Bretton Woods 
Institutions, as well as other relevant multilatera l organizations have a critical role for the 
implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action. As such the following measures are recommended:  
• The agencies and organizations of the UN System, including the Bretton Woods 
Institutions, as well as other relevant multilatera l organizations, should participate fully in 
reviews of the Brussels Programme of Action at all levels; 
• LDCs issues should be given high priority in  all major events as well as programmes of 
the United Nations system organizations; 
• The High Representative should be included in the Committee of the United Nations 
system Chief Executives Board for coordinatio n (CEB) in order to advocate and advance 
the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action; 
• The UN Secretary General should submit repor ts on LDCs in a more analytical and 
action-oriented manner by highlighting critical  areas requiring action by stakeholders and 
by making specific recommendations;  WT/L/649 
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  • The UN Secretary General should undertake acti ons to further strengthen the efficiency of 
the Office of the High Representative for the least developed countries, landlocked 
developing countries and sma ll island developing states by providing more human and 
financial resources so that it can properly carry  out its functions, in accordance with the 
GA resolution 56/226; 
• The Peace Building Commission should give a special attention to LDCs emerging from 
conflict; 
• The Office of the High Representative for the least developed countries, landlocked 
developing countries and small island devel oping states in consultation with relevant 
agencies should continue to update periodically  the attached matrix  on the identification 
and categorization of institutions in char ge of the implementation of the Brussels 
Programme on a sector by sector basis; 
• The UN organizations and agencies, including the Bretton Woods Institutions and other 
relevant institutions, should implement the commitments of the Brussels Programme of 
Action on a sector by sector basis, as indicated in the attached chart; 
• All relevant organizations should report to the ECOSOC on the progress made in the 
implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action using quantifiable criteria and indicators against agreed and defined goals and targets; 
• Institutions or agencies responsible for coor dination of specific sectors must include in 
their respective reports to their executiv e boards a quantifiable evaluation of the 
implementation of Brussels Programme of Action in their sector and, if necessary, also 
include the challenges encountered in meeting targets and goals; 
• The ECOSOC is urged to allocate sufficien t time for comprehensive discussions on the 
implementation of the Brussels Progra mme of Action during the general  segment of its 
substantive session; 
• The relevant United Nations system organi zations that have not yet done so, should 
mainstream the Brussels Programme of Action in their programme of work and nominate a focal point for undertaking review, implem entation and follow-up of the Brussels 
Programme of Action; 
• International Financial Institutions, the Gl obal Environment Fund and other relevant 
international organizations should enhance th eir efforts to contribute to the effective 
implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action; 
• The UN Secretary General should include LDC issues in all relevant reports in the 
economic, social and related fields to ensure  the follow-up of the implementation of the 
Brussels Programme of Action; 
• UNCTAD should continue to play its role in providing substantive and technical 
assistance to the LDCs for the implementati on of the Brussels Programme of Action; 
• The Office of the High Representative for the least developed countries, landlocked 
developing countries and small island developing states should enhance its advocacy role 
for the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action and make it more widely known and understood; WT/L/649 
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  • The UN Secretary General is requested to ensu re travel and daily subsistence allowance 
from regular resources for two representativ es from each LDCs to attend the annual 
review of the implementation of the Brussels Programme of Action by the ECOSOC; 
• Holding in the year 2010 the fourth United Nations Conference on LDCs in order to make 
a final comprehensive appraisal of the impl ementation of the Programme of Action for 
the Least Developed Countries for the De cade 2001-2010 and deci de on subsequent 
actions for the LDCs. 
 
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