New assistance measures for graduating Belt and Road Least DevelopedCountries toward the achievement of Agenda 2030

Around 12 least developed countries (LDC) are scheduled to leave the category in coming years, more than doubling the number which have left the category in the 47 years since it was formed. Many of these potential graduates are concerned about losing access to the international support measures (ISMs) provided by the international community. After graduation, in some cases after a transition period, countries stand to face reduced support or forego access to support measures in trade,…

Recipients: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Timor-Leste, Bangladesh, Nepal
Partners: UN OHRLLS, UNCTAD
Donors: China
Status: Closed
Strengthening the capacity of least developed countries to develop evidence-based, coherent and well financed strategies to implement the 2030 Agenda

This project provided technical assistance to four least developed countries (LDCs), Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Lao PDR and Tanzania, on different aspects of their efforts to integrate the 2030 Agenda into national development plans and strategies. The work focused on areas that many countries have identified as a priority for technical assistance in their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs): policy coherence and inclusiveness (including aspects such as modeling, institutional arrangements and…

Recipients: Ethiopia, Tanzania, Lao PDR, Bangladesh
Partners: ECA, ESCAP, UNDP
Donors: China
Status: Closed
Helping Least Developed Countries achieve structural economic progress toward graduation

The project aims to help five Least Developed Countries (LDCs) (four in Asia, one in the Pacific) increase their chances of achieving structural economic and social progress toward and beyond graduation from LDC status. This, for the two implementing organizations, involves: (i) provision of country-specific analytical material on the implications of LDC graduation; vulnerability and resilience-building; and smooth transition strategies; (ii) relevant advisory services to policy makers; and…

Recipients: Lao PDR, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan
Partners: UNCTAD (joint partner), UNDP, ECA, ESCAP, ITC, WTO
Status: Closed
Frontier Technology Policy Experimentation and Regulatory Sandboxes in Asia and the Pacific 

Frontier technologies carry a promise to fast track the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through supporting innovative, forwarding-looking policies and solutions. There are, however, numerous risks and complexities of digital technologies that come along with those opportunities, as well as policy and regulatory challenges. In recent years, relatively new approaches of policy experimentation and regulatory sandboxes have emerged among countries, and have proven to be effective in…

Recipients: Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Maldives
Partners: UNESCAP, UNDP, ITU
Status: Closed
Developing institutional capacities for digital data management and cooperation to advance progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals

Data and related issues and developments in the public sector have become increasingly important in terms of government analysis and operations, academic research, and real-world applicability and acceptance. Data are now integral to every sector and function of government—as essential as physical assets and human resources. Much of the operational activity in government is now data-driven, and many Governments would find it difficult, if not impossible, to function effectively without data…

Recipients: Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Egypt, Morocco, Namibia, Gambia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa
Partners: UN ECA, UNCTAD, UN RCO, ITU, UNESCO, UNDP, UNITAR.
Donors: China
Status: Active
Smooth transition beyond graduation for least developed countries in Africa, Asia and the Pacific in a post-COVID-19 environment

The project aims to help six least developed countries (LDCs), two in Africa, two in Asia and two in the Pacific, that are either: i) assessed as eligible for graduation the first time and those close to meeting the graduation threshold; or ii) graduating and graduated from LDC status - to adjust their preparation for graduation in the wake of Covid-19 and to build greater resilience for a smooth transition in a post-Covid environment. The project offers dedicated capacity development…

Recipients: Zambia, Senegal, Lao PDR, Bangladesh, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu
Partners: ESCAP, ECA, UNCTAD, ITC, WTO, OECD Development Centre, OHRLLS, UNCDF, EIF
Status: Active