Progress in Implementing Priority Areas for Least Developed Countries in Africa

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The report highlights progress in key areas for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Africa. It discusses status towards graduation, investing in people, leveraging science, technology, and innovation, and challenges such as undernourishment, unemployment, and limited access to clean water and internet. The document emphasizes the need for eradicating poverty, building capacity, and accelerating progress in governance to achieve sustainable development goals.

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Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries Report on progress in implementation of priority areas in Africa (Doc Ref. No. E/ECA/COE/41/20) Bartholomew Armah Chief, Development Planning Section, MGD 17 March 2023

Status towards graduation Title As of 2021, 46 countries (14 per cent of global population) has been designated by the UN as LDCs, of which 33 were African Countries Some African countries have been recommended for graduation: Sao Tome and Principe (2024) Angola (2024) In the 2021 review, some countries were determined to have met the graduation standards for the first time: Three African countries had graduated from LDC status: Zambia Comoros Senegal Djibouti Botswana (1994) Cabo Verde (2007) Equatorial Guinea (2017)

Investing in people in least developed countries: eradicating poverty and building capacity so as to leave no one behind Title Falling infant and maternal mortality rates High level or undernourishment & severe food insecurity The infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births fell from 55 in 2015 to 48 in 2020. Maternal deaths also declined, and progress was achieved in increasing the number of births attended by skilled health-care staff 26 per cent of the African LDCs population was undernourished in 2020 compared to 23 per cent tin 2015. This is also associated with a high level of severe food insecurity which reached 28 per cent in 2019 High youth unemployment rates Decline in out of school primary- school-age children More than one in four young people in African LDCs were not in employment, education or training. Out of school primary-school-age children declined to less than 15 per cent as of 2020. The gender gap for this category has declinedover the years. Limited access to safe, adequate and equitable water, sanitation & hygiene Four out of five of the population had no access to safe drinking water in 2020. Access to basic sanitation services improved modestly from 28 per cent to 32 per cent during 2015-2020. Increased representation of women in national parliaments Women s representation in parliament in African LDCs increased from 22 per cent to 25 per cent during the period 2015 2021. Limited progress on governance Many African LDCs score poorly on the Ibrahim Index of African Governance. While governance has improved in several LDCs, further action to accelerate progress is required.

Leveraging the power of science, technology and innovation to combat multidimensional vulnerability and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals Mixed progress in key science, technology & innovation- related indicators Eight of the 14 African least developed countries had improved their rankings in the 2022 Global Innovation Index, while those of the remaining 6 had decreased. Low capacity for value-added manufacturing The average level of value-added manufacturing in developed countries in 2021 [11%] was much lower than the global average of 17 per cent. . African least Limited access to internet Access to internet remained limited at only 11 per cent in 2021. Hence, a considerable number of people still cannot economic, political, social or cultural activities online. participate in

Already low, the ratio of research and development expenditure in African LDCs as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) dropped between 2015 and 2020, compared with some 2 per cent of developed countries much larger GDP. 0.4 0.35 0.3 0.25 % of GDP 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Source: World Development Indicators. Note: Data from each year are only representative of a few African least developed countries (five or fewer). Data from 2020 are only for Benin.

Supporting structural transformation as a driver of prosperity Limited access to affordable, reliable, sustainable modern energy High export concentration and African commodity exports. However, they still have a much higher level of export concentration than other developing countries. LDCs are diversifying their Access to electricity is limited for African LDCs, despite rising from 32 per cent in 2015 to 41 per cent in 2020. There are stark rural urban disparities in access. Access in rural areas is approximately 24 per cent compared with 70 per cent in urban areas in 2020. Low-employment in industry The share of employment in industry in African LDCs was considerably low [10%] during the period 2015 2019, compared with all LDCs and global average. . Good progress on renewable energy consumption On average, 69 per cent of final energy consumption in African LDCs was from renewable energy soucers during 2015-2019. Rising value-addition in industry Conversely, value-addition in industry in African LDCs, increased by one percentage point from 2015 to 2019

Enhancing the international trade of least developed countries and regional integration Share of exports from least developed countries (Percentage of global total) 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 LDCs (Least developed countries) LDCs: Africa LDCs: Asia Africa Source: UNCTAD, UNCTADStat. Over the past decade, the share of global merchandise exports by least developed countries remained unchanged at 1 per cent. The share of exports from African LDCs exceeds those from Asian LDCs, yet, at less than 1 per cent, the share is still extremely small compared with that of developing economies as whole, which stands at more than 40 per cent.

Mobilization of international solidarity, reinvigorated global partnerships and innovative tools and instruments Declining Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Low tax-to-gdp ratio The average tax-to-GDP ratio in African least developed countries decreased slightly, from 13.9 per cent in 2015 to 12.2 per cent in 2020, with rates lower than 10 per cent in several of the countries. The ratio of FDI net flows to GDP, in In African least developed countries sharply declined from 4.7 per cent in 2015 to 3.5 per cent in 2020 due in part to the Covid 19 pandemic. FDI flows are heavily concentrated in extractive industries. Inadequate concessionary financing Rising debt vulnerabilities Innovative sources of financing, such as blended finance, remained scarce in least developed countries, whereas ODA remained crucial for financing sustainable development. Determined efforts are required by developed nations to fulfil and, if possible, increase commitments to least developed countries. As of September 2022, 6 African least developed countries had been classified as being in overall debt distress, while 13 countries were at high risk of debt distress, and others were at moderate risk. investment in their ODA

Way forward Implement a five-year preparatory period for all countries recommended for graduation CDP at the 2021 triennial review. Broaden access to concessionary financing including through new allocations of special drawing rights, recapitalization of multilateral development banks and debt restructuring. Strengthen statistical systems by, among others, complementing traditional data sources with administrative data and big data Accelerate implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area to boost growth, create high-quality jobs and increase intraregional trade. Policy reforms and bolstered governance structures, especially in the areas of public resource management and public debt disclosure, should support those measures. Encourage investment in productive areas e.g., infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, education and health. Develop actionable implementation strategies for the Doha Programme of Action and integrate them into national development plans with support of ECA s Integrated Planning and Reporting Tool