Strong Support from Finland in LDC Conference in Istanbul

Goal: Half of the 48 LDC countries to start graduating from LDC status within next ten years.

Presidentti Halonen käytti kokouksessa Suomen kansallisen puheenvuoron. Copyright © Tasavallan presidentin kanslia Finnish delegation in Istanbul was led by President Tarja Halonen. Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

The Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries was held in Istanbul, Turkey, between 9th and 13th of May. A programme of action to improve the position of LDCs was approved in the conference.

The programme of action places heavy emphasis on strengthening production capacity and developing agriculture in the least developed countries. The LDCs set a goal for themselves to halve the amount of countries with a LDC status within the next ten years.

Finland played a central role in negotiations concerning the programme of action. The Finnish UN Ambassador Jarmo Viinanen led the negotiations concerning the programme of action, as well as the preparatory committee’s meetings in New York prior to the conference. Finland also supported LDCs and NGOs from the respective countries to participate in the planning of the conference, as well as attending the conference.

“It is very important that NGOs from the South are attending the conference, and can join the discussions”, commented Oumou Zé from CNCD, a Belgian umbrella organisation of NGOs.

Development for everyone

Belgialaista kansalaisjärjestöjen kattojärjestöä edustanut Oumou Zé osallistui kokouksen kansalaisjärjestöfoorumiin. Kuva: Outi Einola-Head Oumou Zé from CNCD (Centre National De Coopération Au Développement), a Belgian umbrella organisation of NGOs
took part in the Civil Society Forum in Istanbul. Photo: Outi Einola-Head

The Finnish delegation at the conference was led by President of the Republic Tarja Halonen. The delegation consisted of the Minister of Communications, Suvi Lindén, and delegates from government ministries, civil society and business.

President Halonen called for balance between economic, environmental and social pillars of sustainable development.

“Growth must be green, equitable and inclusive. It must promote opportunities for decent work and a better life for everyone. Democracy, human rights, the rule of law and good governance are essential. Special attention must be paid to women and youth”, said President Halonen in her speech.

“Guided by our Programme of Action, increased efforts are needed by us all in order to achieve social justice and concrete improvements in the lives of the 880 million women, men, youth and children in the LDCs”, added President Halonen.

Alivaltiosihteeri Ritva Koukku-Ronde johti puhetta köyhimpien maiden tuotantokyvyn parantamista pohtineessa paneelissa yhdessä Senegalin ulkoministeri Madické Niangin kanssa. Kuva: Outi Einola-Head Under-Secretary of State Ritva Koukku-Ronde in a panel  together with Madické Niang, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Senegal. Photo: Outi Einola-Head

Under-Secretary of State for Development Policy and Cooperation, Ritva Koukku-Ronde, co-chaired the High-Level Interactive Thematic Debate; enhancing productive capacities and the role of the private sector in least developed countries. Under-Secretary Koukku-Ronde also participated in a panel organised by UNFPA, concerning population dynamics and poverty reduction in LDCs.

“Poverty reduction and population issues are the core of Finnish development policy. Finland has doubled its’ support to UNFPA. We are the organisation’s 6th largest donor”, says Koukku-Ronde.

Under the 2001 Brussels programme of action, the world’s top aid donors agreed to give between 0.15% and 0.20% of gross national income in aid to LDCs by 2010. By 2009, nine countries had already met their commitments: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK.

Finland directs more than a third of the country’s public development aid to the least developed countries. Finnish bilateral support to LDCs has increased fourfold in the past ten years.

UN