Towards a New International Development Architecture for LDCs Presentation to Delegations In the framework of courses organized by UNCTAD Virtual Institute on International Economic Relations, 18 March 2011 Charles Gore Head, Research and Policy Analysis Branch Division for Africa, LDCs and Special Programmes

Is there still a case for international support for LDCs?

Resilience in the global recession of 2009 is deceptive Heterogeneity. GDP per capita declined in 19 LDCs in 2009 Channels of impact. Some direct financial contagion but more through lower export revenues (26% decline in merchandise exports WTO, 34%decline to major partners ITC); also falling FDI (13% decline); slowdown in remittances Offsetting factors. Recovery of commodity prices in Large inflows of official financial flows from IMF, World Bank and regional development banks. “Walmart effect” for some manufactures.

The boom is not as good as it looks Despite strong growth performance in the past decade, LDCs still diverging Very weak development of productive capacities Slow poverty reduction and MDG achievement

LDCs long-term growth performance

Weak development of productive capacities during the boom Investment up from 20% of GDP (2000) to 23% (2008) but declining savings in LDCs excluding oil exporters. Savings in LDCs adjusted for natural resource depletion were close to zero in Manufacturing accounted for 10% of GDP at start and end of the boom. 27 LDCs experienced de-industrialization during the boom Imports of machinery and equipment increased only marginally in boom years except in oil exporters

Weak development of productive capacities during the boom Agricultural productivity growth slow. Agric value-added per worker grew at one-third of GDP per worker. Agric exports stagnated. Food imports grew from US$7.6 billion in 2000 to US$24.8 billion in 2008 Share of fuel and mineral exports in total merchandise epxorts increased from 43% in 2000 to 67% in 2007 Export concentration increased

Trends in Extreme Poverty in LDCs – (Source: UNCTAD Least Developed Countries Report 2010: under embargo until Nov 25)

Off-target to meet MDG-1: Poverty Reduction

Impressive progress MDG on primary school enrolment

But most LDCs not on track to meet most MDGs Only half of LDCs on track to meet net primary school enrolment target One-third of LDCs on track to meet target on access to safe water One-quarter of LDCs on track to reach targets on infant mortality and child mortality Mixed performance on undernourishment (pre-2008)

The central development challenge facing LDCs is to create productive jobs and livelihoods for a rapidly growing labour force In Mali, the new entrants to the labour force were 171,800 in 2005 and they will increase to a peak of 447,800 per annum in 2045, when the annual additional labour force will start to decline. In Madagascar, the new entrants to the labour force in 2005 are estimated as 286,200 and their number will increase to 473,400 per annum by 2035, when the additional labour force will begin to decline.

MOST LDCs ARE EXPERIENCING A BLOCKED STRUCTURAL TRANSITION In the past, the major way in which the growing labour force was absorbed was in agriculture (mainly on new land) With population growth, agricultural farm sizes are declining and farms are more located on marginal land. Mass poverty means that many cannot afford the means for sustainable intensification of agricultural production. More and more people are seeking work outside agriculture and urbanization is accelerating. Most LDCs have not been able to generate sufficient productive off-farm jobs to absorb the growing labour force seeking work outside agriculture. Most find work in survival urban informal activities

How have successive POAs worked UNLDC I. Ideologically sidelined. State-led development model. Obsolete after introduction of implementation of SAPS UNLDC II. Asymmetrical implementation. LDCs undertook deep econ. Liberalization; real aid per capita fell 45% , very little debt relief UNLDC III. More effective partnership (aid doubled in real terms , LDCs continued to implement economic reforms and improve governance BUT –Increasing though incomplete recognition of LDCs as a category –LDC-specific international support measures had symbolic rather than practical developmental effects –Global economic regimes not development-friendly and working at cross-purposes with ISMs (aid architecture, lack of international commodity policy, technology)

International Support in BPOA BPOA. Commitments to 156 actions by LDCs and 178 by development partners Compare evaluations of 8 key measures –ODA targets –Untying aid –LDC WTO accession –SDT in WTO agreements –Preferential market access for LDC goods –TRIPS Article 66.2 –(Enhanced) Integrated Framework –LDC Fund for climate change adaptation

Common Failings of LDC-specific Measures Design – exclusions eg market access preferences, failure to take account of LDc characteristics (untying aid) Very little action on WTO accession and SDT in WTO agreeements Development benefits stymied by inertia in existing practices (aid untied de jure but not de facto) Many studies but little financial follow-through BUT (painfully slow) learning process (eg EIF)

Aid targets continuously not met Gap based on 0.15% of GNI target

Technology: TRIPS Article 66.2 “Developed country members shall provide incentives to enterprises and institutions in their territories for the purpose of promoting and encouraging technology transfer to LDCs in order to enable them to create a sound and viable technological base” Problems –“Technology transfer” not defined –No institution to enable LDCs to create a “sound and viable technology base” –Only 22% of reported programmes actually promoted technology transfer specifically targeted at LDCs