UNDP/AFD workshop on Financing the 2030 Agenda in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

On 7th March 2016, the AFD and the UNDP held a workshop on  Financing the 2030 Agenda in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs): Diversifying the Financing Tool-Box and Managing Vulnerability. 

The objective of the AFD/UNDP initiative is to support LDCs and their development partners to think about a larger ‘tool-box’ of financing instruments that may help the poorest countries to meet their sustainable development needs, as well as better manage their continued vulnerability. The aim of the worshop was to take stock of vulnerabilities and constraints, achievements and financing options and formulate recommendations as to new financing options for LDCs. The recommendations put forward at the workshop have been formulated into a paper prepared by AFD and UNDP, and presented to governments at the Mid-Term Review of the Istanbul Programme of Action in Antalya, Turkey in May 2016.

Patrick Guillaumont, President of Ferdi, participated in the workshop and gave a presentation of the key themes of the Ferdi book "Financing sustainable development, addressing vulnerabilities", Boussichas, M., et Guillaumont, P. (dir.), Ferdi, Economica, Paris, 528 p.

Matthieu Boussichas, Programme Manager at Ferdi, introduced and led the discussion on the theme Financial instruments to reduce vulnerability - what is needed? What works? What could work? 

Agenda of the workshop | Background paper

 Joint report from UNDP and the French Development Agency (AFD) : Financing the SDGs in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs): Diversifying the Financing Tool-box and Managing Vulnerability 

Achieving the 2030 Agenda will be a challenge for all countries. It is however particularly salient for the 48 Least Developed Countries, where levels of deprivation are acute, infrastructure is inadequate, economies are vulnerable and capital is in short supply. Yet these are the countries we need to reach first if we are to meet the aspiration to “leave no on behind”.

This joint report from UNDP and the French Development Agency (AFD) looks at how the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) can make better use of a more diverse financing for development 'tool-box'. How can they leverage more blended finance, guarantees and local currency financing for example, and how can this financing be used to support priority interventions such as investments in infrastructure and local private sector development? LDCs are also extremely vulnerable to shocks and crises, yet financial instruments exist to support countries to manage their vulnerability. These include innovations such as GDP-indexed bonds and countercyclical loan contracts. Can these innovations be scaled-up and how can we ensure all financing is 'risk-informed'? The report concludes with an action to improve LDCs’ access to the financing 'tool-box'.

Download on the UNDP website