缅北禁地

LLDC3 Think Pieces Series

Get to know our new Think Pieces series, a compilation of short articles from leading voices to inspire a positive change for Landlocked Developing Countries.

 

Digital data flow on road

Bridging the Divide Through Innovation and Technology in Nepal

Suraj Neupane

By Suraj Neupane
Engineering and Operations Manager at Vertex Special Technology
Youth Entrepreneur at LLDC3

By connecting rural producers with broader markets, we are helping to create economic opportunities that were previously inaccessible, driving economic growth and reducing poverty in some of the most remote areas of Nepal.

digital codes flow, showing a pattern of ones and zeros in blue and white, symbolizing technological progress

Empowering Mali's Youth with Coding and Digital Skills

Zeinabou Bagayoko portrait

By Zeinabou Bagayoko
Founder of iCodeVillage and Tech Entrepreneur
Youth Entrepreneur at LLDC3

Growing up in Mali, a landlocked country facing isolation and underdevelopment, I witnessed the transformative potential of digital innovation firsthand. Our communities have historically been marginalized due to limited access to markets, inadequate infrastructure, climate change's harsh realities, and instability in the region. However, I recognize immense opportunities amidst these challenges, particularly for our youth.

Agricultural technologies on the farm. Corn field with holographic data and technology

Green tech pioneers in controlled-environment agriculture and urban farming from Rwanda

Joseph NIYOMUKIZA portrait

By Joseph NIYOMUKIZA
Founder of Greenrev Gr
Youth Entrepreneur at LLDC3

As the founder of Greenrev Gr, a company pioneering agricultural innovation through controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) and urban farming in Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Central African Republic and Malawi, I’ve seen firsthand how we can drive transformative change in LLDCs.

3D rendering close up of Mongolia flag button on laptop keyboard

Erasing physical boundaries: the power of the internet in landlocked Mongolia

Bilguun Munkhtur portrait

By Bilguun Munkhtur
Co-Founder, Nomaducate
Youth Entrepreneur at LLDC3

Digital businesses are thriving in Mongolia and are creating more jobs now than ever. Smartphones and their apps are transforming everyday lives. Over 93% of Mongolia’s population of 3.5 million people now own and use a smartphone on a daily basis. Everything is rapidly digitalizing, from banking and finance to transportation services like taxis and rental scooters, to getting micro bank loans on the spot and even getting food delivered. There is an app for everything. There are also many domestic start-up incubator companies that invest in startups that show promise and growth potential.

a human hand touching with digital hand

Here’s how investing in digital can transform LLDCs

Doreen Bogdan-Martin portrait

By Doreen Bogdan-Martin
ITU Secretary-General

Imagine walking for miles under a scorching desert sun just to get a mobile signal, for hundreds of thousands of refugees in southeastern Ethiopia.

Or accepting payments for your fledgling start-up using , a boon for financial inclusion in countries like Rwanda.

Or streaming a video for the first time in the remotest parts of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, where the ITU-UNICEF Giga initiative has helped connect over thanks in part to satellite imagery and AI.

Game-changing digital solutions like these can accelerate progress on of the 169 缅北禁地Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets and transform life for all 351 million people living in landlocked developing countries (LLDCs).

Panoramic overview of the rural Gitega Province in Burundi

From farm to forex: Insights from Trade Legacy Burundi

Bokim Beni Nihoze portrait

By Bokim Beni Nihoze
Founder and CEO of Trade Legacy Burundi
Youth Entrepreneur at LLDC3

Growing up in the vibrant markets of Bujumbura, I developed a deep fascination with trade and its impact on communities. This passion guided me from local markets to those at the continental level, like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Business Forum. Trade, to me, is more than just the exchange of goods and services; it is a powerful engine for economic growth, innovation, and social change. This belief led to the establishment of Trade Legacy Burundi in 2021, a venture aimed at transforming the agricultural sector and uplifting small-scale farmers in Burundi.

Digital tablet in corn crop

Following the herd : Insights from a pastoral tech start-up in Chad

Idriss Adoum Idriss portrait

By Idriss Adoum Idriss,
Founder of Pastor Help and African Coordinator of REJECA
Youth Entrepreneur at LLDC3

Like many Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), Chad's economy leans heavily on agriculture, which employs around 80% of the population. This reliance exposes Chad to the adverse impacts of climate change. The Sahara Desert is encroaching southwards at an alarming rate, with an estimated 1.5 million hectares of land being lost each year, severely impacting agricultural productivity and the livelihoods of those who dependent on this vital sector. This is especially true for Chad, particularly in the Lac Chad, Kanem, and Bahr El-Gazelle regions.

Mulanje Mountain with tea plantation and cloudy sky

Innovating Beyond Borders: Malawi’s Youth Leveraging Drones for Environmental Management

Tadala Makuluni portrait

By Tadala Makuluni,
CEO and co-founder of Nyasa Aerial Data Solutions
Youth Entrepreneur at LLDC3

As the CEO and co-founder of Nyasa Aerial Data Solutions, I have witnessed how cutting-edge technology can break down geographic barriers and catalyze transformative change in Malawi. By leveraging drones and advanced data analytics, we are addressing critical environmental challenges and paving the way for a new era of development in LLDCs. This intersection of technology and environmental stewardship is where the future of LLDCs truly begins.

trade

Landlocked to landlinked: Innovating in cross-border trade

Pamela Coke-Hamilton

By Pamela Coke-Hamilton,
Executive Director, International Trade Centre (ITC)

Bordered by countries on all sides with no direct access to an ocean or sea, landlocked countries deal with unique challenges to trade, especially when it comes to transport and logistics. With these challenges, however, come opportunities to innovate.

Kigali skyline

Private sector collaboration is at the heart of development

Stephen Ruzibiza

By Stephen Ruzibiza,
CEO Rwanda Private Sector Federation

As we convene at the Landlocked Countries Private Sector Forum, it is imperative to reflect on the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead for these nations in the coming decades, I am acutely aware of both the potential for growth and the challenges that confront landlocked countries.