LDC Portal - International Support Measures for Least Developed Countries - Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation

Digitally empowering Least Developed Countries: 5 steps for driving impact (UNDP)

MTAVARES1 — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

Darinka Vasquez

Document Summary:

Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have distinct social, cultural and geographical contexts, but they also share common socioeconomic challenges, such as high poverty rates, limited infrastructure and capacity constraints. These issues are also compounded by structural barriers such as weak connectivity, regulatory fragmentation, and gaps in digital literacy. To fully unlock the benefits of the digital era, LDCs require strategies tailored to their national priorities with strengthened capacity-building. This will ensure that digital development creates meaningful opportunities and outcomes for all. (...) UNDP is designing and building impact-driven digital transformation strategies for LDCs with a focus on five key areas: early engagement, tailored solutions, impactful action, knowledge-sharing, and technical capacity. To strengthen technical expertise in particular, UNDP’s Digital Capacity Lab is tailored to the needs of government institutions, offering an innovative, hands-on approach to designing and rolling out citizen-centric solutions. Here we outline five steps for delivering impact.

Tags:

UNDP

Digital

Capacity-building

Publication Date:

Monday, 07 April 2025

UNDP

Document Topic/Theme:

Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation

Document Type:

Articles, policy briefs, working papers, op-eds, project reports, blogs

Archived:

Symbol year:

2025

Structural Transformation of Least Developed Countries - Recent Developments and New Challenges. Issue of Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Journal (UNESCAP)

MTAVARES1 — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Document Summary:

Asia-Pacific Sustainable Development Journal, Vol. 31, No. 2, November 2024. Contains: Survey Paper - Asia-Pacific Least Developed Countries: Sustainable development challenges, emerging trends and opportunities (Nyingtob Norbu & Yusuke Tateno) Progress and challenges of structural transformation in LDCs: a note from the guest editor (Debapriya Bhattacharya) Structural transformation of LDCs: past performance and future challenges (Rolf Traeger) The need for a new approach to trade and structural transformation in LDCs (Daniel Gay) Services exports and structural transformation in Asia-Pacific LDCs: Stubborn challenges, new opportunities (Neil Balchin, Salamat Ali & Kyle de Klerk) Navigating new greening trade measures and avoiding a green squeeze: implications for LDCs (Jodie Keane) International tourism and economic vulnerability in Small Island Developing States (Janesh Sami, Neelesh Gounder, Keshmeer Makun, Ronal Chand) Data availability and challenges to achieve sustainable development goals in Bangladesh (Mohammad Minul Islam & Muhammad Saifullah Akib)

Tags:

Structural transformation

Asia-Pacific

Data

Green

Trade

Publication Date:

Wednesday, 04 December 2024

UNESCAP

Document Topic/Theme:

Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation

Document Type:

Articles, policy briefs, working papers, op-eds, project reports, blogs

Archived:

Symbol year:

2024

Accelerating progress towards the SDGs in the Solomon Islands: a review of the development framework, sectorial productivity and implications of LDC graduation

MTAVARES1 — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

MTAVARES1

Tags:

Solomon Islands

ESCAP

UNESCAP

Graduation

Publication Date:

Tuesday, 31 December 2024

UNESCAP

Document Topic/Theme:

LDC graduation and smooth transition

Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation

Document Type:

Articles, policy briefs, working papers, op-eds, project reports, blogs

Archived:

Symbol year:

2024

Unlocking the industrial potential of African LDCs: Bridging the gap for sustainable development (Nobuya Haraguchi and Marco Sanfilippo, UNIDO Policy Brief Series: Insights on Industrial Development)

MTAVARES1 — Fri, 31 May 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

Nobuya Haraguchi, Marco Sanfilippo

Document Summary:

Despite representing 9.5 per cent of the global population, African least developed countries (LDCs) only contribute 0.4 per cent to global manufacturing value added (MVA). The industrialization gap between African and Asian LDCs has increased considerably in the last 20 years, with Asian LDCs’ MVA per capita growing threefold compared to that of African LDCs between 2000 and 2022. African LDCs’ weak institutions, low competitiveness and limited global integration hamper their untapped potential for industrial growth. Tailored industrial policies that prioritize infrastructure, clean technologies and youth employment can bridge this gap and help African LDCs achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Tags:

Industrial policy

Industrialization

Africa

UNIDO

Publication Date:

Friday, 31 May 2024

UNIDO

Document Topic/Theme:

Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation

Document Type:

Articles, policy briefs, working papers, op-eds, project reports, blogs

Archived:

Symbol year:

2024

Applying the GIFF to overcome barriers to structural transformation: the case of Nepal (Jiajun Xu, Chenyu Xu, Nyingtob Pema Norbu, UNESCAP)

MTAVARES1 — Wed, 01 May 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

Jiajun Xu, Chenyu Xu, Nyingtob Pema Norbu

Document Summary:

Synthesis report

Tags:

GIFF

Publication Date:

Wednesday, 01 May 2024

UNESCAP

Document Topic/Theme:

Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation

Document Type:

Articles, policy briefs, working papers, op-eds, project reports, blogs

Archived:

Symbol year:

2024

Leveraging Digitalization for Productivity and Decent Employment: Asia-Pacific Countries with Special Needs Report 2024

MTAVARES1 — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

UNESCAP

Document Summary:

In the evolving landscape of automation and digitalization, the traditional path of labour-intensive industrialization is becoming less viable for countries in special situations in Asia and the Pacific. The shift towards technology-driven processes is decreasing manual labour reliance, while boosting the tradability of services across borders. Although a substantial portion of the workforce in these countries continues to engage in low-productivity agriculture and informal services, digitalization offers a unique opportunity for leapfrogging because of the lower capital requirements and efficiency gains in business operations and public service delivery. However, realizing these benefits necessitates adequate infrastructure, adaptive capabilities and supportive policies. This report examines the transformative role of digitalization and automation in enhancing the productive capacities of these countries. It zeroes in on the services sector and the digitalization of agricultural and industrial activities, which has the potential to enhance productivity and job creation. However, it also cautions against potential risks, including job displacement and cybersecurity threats. To navigate these challenges, the report includes policy options for enhanced connectivity and infrastructure, education and training tailored to the digital economy, and regional cooperation to foster a conducive environment for digital trade and investment.

Tags:

ESCAP

Asia

Asia-Pacific

Digitalization

Publication Date:

Monday, 01 April 2024

UNESCAP

Document Topic/Theme:

LDC Progress reports/Flagship reports

Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation

Document Type:

UN and WTO reports and publications

Archived:

Symbol year:

2024

Timor-Leste: structural transformation and economic diversification towards a sustainable graduation from LDC category (Helder Lopes, UNESCAP)

MTAVARES1 — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

Helder Lopes

Document Summary:

"Although Timor-Leste met the least LDC graduation criteria of GNI per-capita and the human assets index during the 2018 and 2021 triennial reviews and was found eligible for graduation, it was recommended that graduation be deferred to 2024, owing to continued concerns about the sustainability of the country’s development progress. Pathways towards LDC graduation and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals are broadly defined in the country’s strategic development plan and the sustainable development framework, which are being implemented through the SDG road map and the Government’s short- and medium-term plan. Timor-Leste has made substantial economic progress over the past 20 years but graduating from LDC remains challenging and fully achieving any of the SDGs by 2030 is unlikely under the current development pace. Noted progress in development gains has been in the benchmarks related to school attendance, child and maternal health, and electricity access. Timor-Leste, however, is lagging with regard to poverty reduction and equality of access to quality services and opportunities. Prospects for the country’s sustainable development is uncertain in view of a significant decline of oil revenue, limited economic diversification and a recent slowdown in economic development. Tangible and more practical actions are needed to prepare for LDC graduation and progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Timor-Leste needs to enhance the implementation of the development framework by integrating strategies for graduation into the planning framework, building institutional capacities, including the establishment of a national committee for LDC graduation, and promoting good cooperation and partnerships with development partners to efficiently deliver services at all levels of governance. A conducive macroeconomic and business environment and prudent fiscal policy must underpin the economic diversification process and private sector development in order to attain vibrant and inclusive growth, which are paramount for the country’s preparation to graduate from LDC status as well as for it to build a resilient economy. The Government needs to immediately restore macroeconomic stability and quickly recover from recent economic recessions. Prudent fiscal policy grounded in fiscal sustainability and rationalization of expenditure are necessary to build sustainable infrastructure, as well as for human capital development, facilitation and promotion of private sector investment, and economic diversification based on the development the following there sectors: agriculture; tourism; and manufacturing. Creating more market opportunities for investment and trade through economic integration are important – mobilizing resources under the Belt and Road Initiative for infrastructure development and accelerating the country’s accessions to WTO and ASEAN needs to be promoted. It is also critical for Timor-Leste to ensure the sustainability of the Petroleum Fund, mobilize more tax and domestic resources through efficient tax administration and policy, enhance implementation of the “Foreign Aid Policy” for efficient management of ODA, mobilize more external concessional borrowings, and encourage mobilization of private sector resources through PPP, equity participation, and the development of institutions and legislation for the creation of a bond market."

Tags:

Timor-Leste

UNESCAP

ESCAP

Structural transformation

Publication Date:

Friday, 01 March 2024

ESCAP

Document Topic/Theme:

LDC graduation and smooth transition

Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation

Document Type:

Articles, policy briefs, working papers, op-eds, project reports, blogs

Archived:

Symbol year:

2024

Fostering Structural Transformation in Nepal (Paras Kharel, ESCAP)

MTAVARES1 — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

Paras Kharel

Document Summary:

"Sustained and high economic growth has eluded Nepal. While the economy has undergone structural transformation in the last three decades the growth-enhancing effect of this structural change has had limited impacts contributing to a per-capita value added growth of 2% in the last two decades. More it is primarily the static reallocation of labor that has contributed to the value-added growth, with dynamic reallocation, where sectors receiving labor surplus experience productivity growth is in fact slightly negative for Nepal in the period, implying that, in aggregate, the sectors drawing in labor experienced negative productivity growth. Proximate causes of this includes Nepal’s premature de-industrialization which is occurring at a much lower level of income and its manufacturing shares in value added and employment have been much lower compared to the average country. The booming services sector has not generated enough decent jobs to absorb an expanding labor force. This has led to massive temporary work-related outmigration. Obstacles range from infrastructure gaps, inadequate electricity supply and reliable transportation services, uncertainty surrounding reform agenda and policy implementation; labor market issues (weak industrial relations and labor market distortions caused by large outbound labor migration); lack of enabling business environment marked by cumbersome procedures associated with opening and closing businesses and paying taxes, limited access to finance, and low availability of business support services. To alleviate these constraints, a comprehensive reform agenda is proposed, which among others includes review the existing Industrial Policy to improve its design and implementation, and ensure alignment with the changing context."

Tags:

ESCAP

UNESCAP

Nepal

Structural transformation

Publication Date:

Friday, 01 March 2024

UNESCAP

Document Topic/Theme:

Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation

Document Type:

Articles, policy briefs, working papers, op-eds, project reports, blogs

Archived:

Symbol year:

2024

Applying the growth identification and facilitation framework to the Small Island Developing States: the case of Timor-Leste

MTAVARES1 — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

Jiajun Xu, Ruofei Guo

Document Summary:

"Small Island Developing States (SIDs) face unique obstacles in economic growth due to geographic isolation, limited domestic market demand and insufficient infrastructure. By applying the Growth Identification and Facilitation Framework (GIFF) to the case of Timor-Leste, this paper aims to identify untapped growth potentials and provide policy recommendations for structural economic transformation. Building on literature review and comparative analysis with existing data, this paper pinpoints the latent comparative advantages and indicates the key constraints to industrialization. Based on a factor endowment analysis, the paper suggests that Timor-Leste should focus on light manufacturing sector with the support of increased revenue from natural resources projects such as hydropower plants. The authors argue that Timor-Leste should seek industrial transfer opportunities from China in light manufactured goods. To address the detected limitations, the paper recommends a shift in public expenditure to building industrial parks and transportation infrastructure, as well as making use of external funding to kickstart industrialization and facilitate structural transformation."

Tags:

GIFF

Publication Date:

Friday, 01 March 2024

UNESCAP

Document Topic/Theme:

Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation

Document Type:

Articles, policy briefs, working papers, op-eds, project reports, blogs

Archived:

Symbol year:

2024

Applying the growth identification and facilitation framework to Nepal : 2023 update Working paper (Jiajun Xu, ESCAP)

MTAVARES1 — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 14:00:00 +0000

Document Type:

Link to an External Document

Author:

Jiajun Xu

Document Summary:

"This paper analyzes opportunities for growth in Nepal by applying the policy tool of New Structural Economics – Growth Identification and Facilitation Framework (GIFF). Drawing on firm level surveys, stakeholder interviews, and existing datasets, it aims to contribute to policy discussions on how to foster economic structural transformation in Nepal. The report argues that Nepal should seek to capture industrial transfer from China to establish a foothold in global value chains, create employment and catalyze structural transformation. The report identifies product-level advantages arising from preferential market access and sector-specific binding constraints, and proposes how to use Special Economic Zones to mitigate identified constraints to set Nepal on a path of structural transformation."

Tags:

GIFF

Nepal

ESCAP

UNESCAP

Publication Date:

Friday, 01 March 2024

ESCAP

Document Topic/Theme:

Productive capacity, structural transformation, technology, innovation

Document Type:

Articles, policy briefs, working papers, op-eds, project reports, blogs

Archived:

Symbol year:

2024