Participants in Sustainable Recovery from Pandemic: Renewing Partnerships, Mobilizing Global Efforts Enhance LDCs Resilience​​​​​​​

 

 

Doha, March 08 (QNA) - The High-level Thematic Round Table 6: Sustainable recovery from the pandemic and building the resilience of least developed countries (LDCs) against future shocks, discussed the importance of building a consensus to renew and vitalize partnerships, mobilizing additional international support measures and actions to support the LDCs to enhance their resilience to multiple shocks, and to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Participants in the round table pointed out that the LDCs are the most affected by the negative repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, the rise in inflation in the world, the increase in energy prices and climate change, and the growing debt crisis. Therefore, the international community has to provide more support for these countries to strengthen their resilience in the face of all these challenges.

    In his speech before the participants, HE Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga Siaosi Sovaleni said that achieving a sustainable recovery for the LDCs requires further exploration of better rebuilding opportunities and increasing the LDCs' resilience in the face of future shocks. He pointed out that the Doha Program of Action strongly emphasizes sustainable recovery, building resilience capacity in the LDCs, and ensuring that the internationally agreed sustainability goals remain within reach of the LDCS. This means access to safe, effective, and affordable Covid-19 vaccines, medications, and tests, in addition to ensuring universal access to health care in the LDCs to address current and future shocks.

    For her part, HE Deputy Prime Minister of Lesotho Nthomeng Majara said that the burden of debts and interest had become an increasing challenge for the LDCs, stressing that there is a need for urgent debt relief, restructuring, and cancelation.

    She stressed the need to put in place the necessary mechanisms for the LDCs' access to foreign trade channels, considering it the main sustainable engine for achieving development in the LDCs.

    For her part, HE Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori said that the 46 countries of the LDCs represent the weakest part of the international community and face repeated crises and shocks, including health epidemics, commodity price shocks and other economic crises, instability, and natural disasters and extreme weather conditions due to climate change.

    She said that building resilience against various potential shocks and crises is the first line of defense to protect people's lives in the LDCs. Thus, it is important to reduce the vulnerability of LDCs to economic, health, and environmental shocks, stressing the need to build their resilience and improve their ability to meet these challenges.

    On the other hand, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic  Phonevanh Outhavong stressed the importance of planning and recovery management to successfully overcome crises, noting that the Covid-19 pandemic affected everyone in all fields and led to an increase in poverty.

    Meanwhile, Director of Knowledge, Policy and Finance Center at International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Rabia Ferroukhi said that the agency aims to support the development of national alternative energy strategies, define policy objectives in that field, establish governance and empowerment policies, and develop the alternative energy system which is the cornerstone for strengthening the resilience of the LDCs.

    Participants in the round table concluded that the reason why the LDCs are severely affected by several shocks is partially due to some of their topography and contact with geological fault lines, earthquake risks, flood plains, and coastal areas that are highly vulnerable to hurricanes, noting that the LDCs are also subject to a greater degree from economic instability because they rely on a less diversified commodity base and export structures, in addition, that many of them rely heavily on climate-dependent sectors, such as agriculture and tourism to increase income and jobs, which makes them vulnerable to multiple shocks.

    They all stressed the need to move forward to implement the Doha Program of Action as soon as possible to enable these countries to overcome the challenges facing them and put them back on track for sustainable development. (QNA)