Vulnerabilities & Resilience in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

Projects

Chairs

Team

Jean-Louis ARCAND
President of the Global Development Network (GDN)
Co-Director of the FERDI Chair in Impact Investing
FERDI Senior Fellow
Matthieu BOUSSICHAS
Programme Manager, FERDI
Céline CARRERE
Professor of Economics at the Global Studies Institute (GSI) - University of Geneva,
FERDI Senior Fellow,
CEPR Research affiliate
Lisa CHAUVET
Professor of Economics at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University,
Affiliated with the Sorbonne Economics Centre (CES),
FERDI, Senior Fellow
Jaime DE MELO
Scientific Advisor, FERDI
Emeritus Professor, University of Geneva
CEPR Fellow
Alassane DRABO
Research Officer, FERDI
Sosso FEINDOUNO
Research Officer, FERDI
Michaël GOUJON
University Professor of Economics at the Institute of Business Administration – CERDI, Clermont Auvergne University,
Academic Coordinator of the Master’s Programme in Project Management for Development (MODEV), IHEDD–FERDI, in collaboration with AFD Campus
Patrick GUILLAUMONT
President, FERDI
Sylviane GUILLAUMONT JEANNENEY
Special Advisor, FERDI
Professor Emeritus, Université Clermont Auvergne
Former member of the Board of the Agence française de développement (AFD)
Laurent WAGNER
Research officer, FERDI

Vulnerabilities & Resilience in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

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Chairs
155
Publications
6
Data
107
Events
11
Press review

FERDI conducts internationally recognised research on structural vulnerabilities and the measurement of resilience. Its central objective is to ensure that vulnerabilities are better aken into account in development policies and development finance. In particular, it promotes the development of a multidimensional vulnerability index capable of identifying the structural and exogenous factors that make countries vulnerable.

Fourth United Nations Forum on the Future of the Least Developed Countries

From 19 to 21 May, Matthieu Boussichas represented Ferdi at the Forum for the Future of LDCs, organised in Helsinki by the United Nations Office for the Least Developed Countries (OHRLLS). Invited to speak on the panel dedicated to the follow-up to the Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries (DPoA), he highlighted two key messages. Read more.

Event

26 May 2026

Learn more

Featured

4ème Forum de l’ONU sur l’avenir des PMA - 2026

Objectives

↪ To strengthen research on Least Developed Countries (LDCs), particularly by improving their identification and the effectiveness of measures implemented in their support.

↪ To promote the consideration of LDCs’ structural disadvantages in the design of public development policies.

↪ To develop and enhance research on vulnerability indicators.

↪ To support the integration of vulnerabilities into international development financing.

Informing international decision-making

FERDI draws on its research findings to help shape the criteria used by international organisations, multilateral development banks and bilateral donors.

It advocates for structural vulnerabilities to be taken more fully into account, alongside income levels, in the allocation of concessional finance. The aim is to target available resources more effectively towards countries that are highly exposed to shocks and have the most limited capacity to respond.

In 2025 and 2026, FERDI promoted these proposals:

At the Fourth United Nations Forum on the Future of the Least Developed Countries
at a round-table discussion held in Washington, DC, on the margins of the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings;
at the Finance in Common Summit, through the presentation of its research and the organisation of an event on the allocation rules applied by multilateral development banks;
at the LDC Future Forum in Lusaka, which focused on strengthening the resilience of least developed countries and monitoring the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action;
through discussions with the United Nations, the OECD, development banks and national administrations.

Book

Towards an Effective Use of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index in Development Finance.
Author: Patrick Guillaumont

The policy briefs gathered in this volume examine the added value of a structural and multidimensional vulnerability index—not only for the possible definition of country groupings, but above all for a fair and effective allocation of multilateral concessional financing. They also seek to contribute to the foundations of a new donor “selectivity,” based on transparent and rational criteria.

At a time when aid resources are under increasing pressure, better-targeted funding is becoming crucial.

Turning research into decision-making tools

FERDI also designs indicators and monitoring frameworks that can be used directly by public institutions.

The Inter-American Development Bank has commissioned FERDI to develop a dynamic vulnerability index for its borrowing member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

For the WAEMU Commission, FERDI developed a framework for monitoring vulnerability and resilience across the Union’s eight member countries. The report published in 2025 highlights the role of economic diversification, climate risks, social fragilities and institutional quality, and makes recommendations relating to social protection, governance and productive transformation.

FERDI also contributes to strengthening the analytical capacity of public administrations. This included a training course held in Tunis on public policies to reduce vulnerability.

Partnerships to increase impact

FERDI’s work is carried out in cooperation with international organisations, development banks, regional organisations and research institutions.

Its main partners include the Inter-American Development Bank, the French Development Agency, the WAEMU Commission, UN-OHRLLS, UN DESA, the OECD and UNU-WIDER.

These partnerships make it possible to align research findings with decision-makers’ needs and to translate FERDI’s analysis into practical recommendations, indicators and operational tools.

Chairs