A New Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries

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Mardi, 28 January 2025 - 3:00pm to 4:00pm

The General Assembly convened in a session dedicated to the formal adoption of the new Programme of Action (PoA) for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) for the Decade 2024–2034. This landmark agreement underscores the international community’s renewed commitment to leverage the potential of LLDCs and support resilient and sustainable growth.

More than 570 million people live in 32 Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), each of which must depend on neighboring nations for maritime gateways. Because they lack direct access to the sea, LLDCs face higher trade costs, limited transport options, and added hurdles in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Over time, the international community has crafted a variety of frameworks to tackle these challenges, resulting in notable gains: trade agreements have been ratified, border-crossing procedures made more efficient, and large-scale road and railway networks developed. Yet, many LLDCs remain constrained by structural barriers and uneven progress in key socioeconomic areas.

To build on the momentum of earlier efforts and address these constraints comprehensively, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/79/233 on 24 December 2024, launching the Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2024–2034. This forward-looking plan underscores the essential role of stronger international cooperation, innovative financing, technology sharing, and deeper regional integration to unlock LLDCs’ full development potential—ensuring that no country is left behind in our global pursuit of inclusive and sustainable growth.

Priority areas of the Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries

1. Structural Transformation and Innovation

A key objective of the Programme of Action is to expand economic horizons in Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) by promoting deeper industrialization, more productive agricultural practices, and value addition to exports. Historically, LLDCs have depended on a narrow set of low-value commodities, leaving them susceptible to external shocks. By emphasizing science, technology, and innovation (STI), the new Programme encourages active collaboration among governments, academia, and the private sector, ensuring a thriving innovation ecosystem that increases employment opportunities and boosts resilience. The PoA also stresses the importance of creating an enabling environment for micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprises, providing capacity-building and fair regulations so that these businesses can become engines of inclusive and sustainable growth. This approach extends to guiding LLDCs in contract negotiations—particularly in extractive industries—ensuring transparent partnerships that generate shared benefits for local communities and the broader economy.

2. Trade, Trade Facilitation, and Regional Integration

Another critical component of the Programme of Action is guaranteeing efficient and cost-effective transit to and from the sea. By underscoring freedom of transit and alignment with international law, the PoA envisions the reduction of border bottlenecks through streamlined procedures, modern customs systems, and harmonized transport corridors. Equally important is the call to strengthen digital services and e-commerce, enabling LLDCs to leverage innovative solutions that can circumvent physical constraints, diversify exports, and stimulate growth in the services sector. Recognizing that LLDCs are highly dependent on their immediate neighbors for market connectivity, the PoA also promotes stronger regional cooperation frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area and other subregional initiatives. Through collective action on trade facilitation, infrastructure development, and policy coordination, LLDCs can expand commercial opportunities across entire regions.

3. Transit, Transport, and Connectivity

Given the challenges that arise from being landlocked, the PoA places special focus on building resilient infrastructure networks. Upgraded roads, railways, and air transport systems, along with strategic dry ports, are intended to narrow infrastructure gaps and lessen the burdens imposed by distance and difficult terrain. The Programme also supports more affordable, high-speed digital connectivity, urging LLDCs and their transit neighbors to negotiate fair interconnection deals for broadband access. Expanding these networks and harmonizing regulations would help lower costs for consumers and businesses alike, thus driving inclusive digital transformation. Additionally, addressing energy deficits is essential for sustainable growth in LLDCs. With over 215 million people lacking reliable energy access, the PoA seeks to encourage robust, cross-border partnerships on power grids and modern technologies, thereby catalyzing both industrial growth and social well-being.

4. Enhancing Adaptive Capacity and Resilience

Adapting to climate change and tackling disasters effectively form core dimensions of the Programme of Action. Even though LLDCs contribute minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, they remain disproportionately affected by the adverse impacts of floods, droughts, desertification, and glacier melting. Climate-proofing infrastructure and ensuring timely, science-based disaster risk reduction (DRR) have become paramount, alongside the establishment of multi-hazard early warning systems to protect livelihoods and investments. The PoA also emphasizes the availability and accessibility of adaptation finance, advocating for more predictable and scalable resources to strengthen resilience. In this spirit, it calls upon the international community to support measures that address both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term sustainability goals.

5. Means of Implementation

To ensure these aspirations translate into tangible outcomes, the PoA provides a strategic framework for resource mobilization. Strengthening domestic taxation systems, curbing illicit financial flows, and building robust financial markets enable LLDCs to increase their own investments in critical sectors. However, international support remains vital: Official Development Assistance (ODA) and other external financing—ranging from blended finance instruments to diaspora bonds—can significantly accelerate the construction of climate-smart infrastructure. With many LLDCs grappling with high debt burdens, the Programme also champions prudent borrowing practices and transparent negotiations, combined with flexible mechanisms for debt restructuring when needed. Underpinning all these priorities is a commitment to meticulous monitoring and review, facilitated by national focal points, regional partnerships, and global platforms such as UN-OHRLLS and the High-level Political Forum. By aligning efforts with the 2030 Agenda, the Programme of Action aspires to ensure that LLDCs remain active players in the global community’s pursuit of inclusive and sustainable development.