On the fringes of the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) in Doha, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with Qatar’s Emir Tamim Bin Hamad. The leaders discussed their bilateral relationship and mutual objectives in supporting peace and development in the region, as well as expanding Somalia’s long-standing connections with Qatar.
Qatar’s Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, pledged a $60 million donation to the Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries (DPoA) for the next decade during the conference. The leaders also discussed speeding up Qatar’s efforts in Somalia, and the President welcomed anyone who supports their country.
The LDC summit is a gathering of world leaders with the goal of developing a road map for achieving sustainable development goals for the world’s most vulnerable and poorest countries, including those facing significant challenges such as poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and limited access to education and healthcare services. The ten-year summit has been postponed twice since 2021 owing to the coronavirus epidemic.
The summit aspires to bring 100 million people out of poverty, assist 500 million people in gaining access to clean, cheap energy, and mobilize more than $1 trillion in public and private investment in the SDGs. The conference’s outcomes will be shared with the international community.
The Doha Plan of Action outlines a bold agenda for LDCs, with a focus on digital transitions, innovation, and structural transformation, as well as a distinctive role for youth. The DPoA, which was adopted last year, attempts to return the world’s attention back to the 46 most vulnerable countries. It focuses on six main areas:
- Investing in people in the least developed countries.
- Leveraging the power of science, technology, and innovation.
- Supporting structural transformation.
- Enhancing international trade.
- Addressing climate change and environmental degradation.
- Mobilizing international solidarity to march towards sustainable graduation.