By IPS Correspondents
UNITED NATIONS, Sep 18 2006 (IPS)

At the opening session of a high-level meeting here Monday to review the successes and failures of a plan to help the world’s so-called “least developed countries” (LDCs), heads of state and U.N. officials stressed that 34 of the 50 LDCs are still experiencing increases in extreme poverty and declining life spans despite commitments made by the international community in 2001 to slash poverty.

At that gathering in Brussels, rich nations agreed to boost support via aid, trade and debt relief, while LDC governments pledged governance and economic reforms.

Highlighting recent studies by U.N. agencies and the World Bank which reveal that poverty is on the rise in the LDCs, Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa of Bahrain, president of the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly, called on the international community to “reaffirm our collective resolve and solidarity to reach out to every woman, man, and child afflicted by hunger and disease.”

“We must always remind ourselves that poverty has a human face: the children that go without food; the young women that sacrifice the opportunity for education and empowerment, in order to work or care for their brothers and sisters; or the dignified elderly that have no one to care for them in their old age,” Al Khalifa stressed.

Al Khalifa congratulated LDCs for achieving an annual average growth rate of six percent – the highest in four decades. “This is a commendable achievement which demonstrates, that together, we can overcome the obstacles to development and realise our shared goals,” she stressed.

In spite of the marginal advances toward the Brussels targets made over the last five years, the speakers highlighted some progress that has been made.

Since 2001, development assistance to LDCs has increased slightly.

Debt relief has reduced debt burdens, although they still remain at a level considered difficult, according to the UN-OHRLLS.

A decline of civil conflict within LDCs in Africa has led to improved governance in many countries.

A World Bank report released earlier this month cites Tanzania among the top 10 countries in the world in slashing red tape for business. The Bank also commends Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger and Zambia – all LDCs.

“It can not be denied that progress has been made here and there, but overall the BPoA (Brussels Programme of Action) has not been implemented to the degree that everyone had hoped,” Boni said.

“The limited data on recent poverty trends is not encouraging. It suggests a negligible decline, and even some increases, in income poverty,” said Mark Malloch Brown, U.N. deputy secretary-general.

LDCs are the least likely group of countries to meet the Milennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to the latest report by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

These goals range from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, by 2015.

“The goals set out in the BPoA are the MDGs,” Yayi Boni, President of Benin and Chairman of the Coordination Bureau of the LDCs, reminded those gathered at the meeting Monday.

“If national action must lead the way, international support must light the path,” Malloch Brown stressed.

There is a long way to go before donor countries attain the 0.2 percent of gross national income ODA target that was agreed upon in Brussels.

“Increased ODA remains imperative if LDCs are to fight poverty and build the social, institutional and other tools they need to compete in the global economy,” Malloch Brown said.

He went on to say that LDCs must further “secure development on the stable bedrock of democracy, human rights and good governance.”

Boni agreed, stressing that, “democracy has no perspective, prospect or future in the LDCs unless it is concomitant with economic growth.”

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