Programme: Africa Regional Review Meeting 22-26 February 2021
?Zoom Webinar (Times are local times in Lilongwe, other time zones indicated below respective sessions)
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Monday, 22 February 2021 |
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15:00-15:45 ? |
High-Level Opening Session: From Istanbul to Doha - Towards a New Decade of Partnerships for LDCs |
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Master of Ceremony: Honorable Mr. Gospel Kazako, Minister of Information, Republic of Malawi Welcoming remarks
Opening Statements
Special Opening Remarks ? High-Level Opening Timezones 15:00 - 15:45 Lilongwe 16:00 - 16:45 Addis Ababa 14:00 - 14:45 Paris 08:00 - 08:45 New York ? ? |
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16:00-18:45 ? |
Session 1: Ministerial Dialogue: Lessons Learned and Building Back Better
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In this session ministers and other high-level participants will reflect on the progress achieved during the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action, including remaining gaps, challenges and vulnerabilities. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the LDCs’ health care systems and its socio-economic consequences will feature prominently. National recovery plans will be shared. Lessons learned will be identified as well as policy recommendations for the next decade. Chair: Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi and Minister of Economic Planning and Development and Public Sector Reforms Introduction by Ms. Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Africa Keynote Address by Mr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of World Health Organization Statements by Heads of Delegation
Speakers
Session 1 Timezones 16:00 - 18:45 Lilongwe 17:00 - 19:45 Addis Ababa 15:00 - 17:45 Paris 09:00 - 11:45 New York ? ? |
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Tuesday, 23 February 2021 ? |
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10:00-12:00
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Side Event on “Youth are SDG Accelerators in Least Developed Countries” Organized by the Government of Malawi with the support of 缅北禁地Malawi ? |
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The Virtual Side Event will have the following two objectives:
Side Event Timezones 10:00 - 12:00 Lilongwe 11:00 - 13:00 Addis Ababa 09:00 - 11:00 Paris 03:00 - 05:00 New York ? |
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15:00-16:45 ? |
Session 2: Building Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies – Organized in Collaboration with OSAA |
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In this session, speakers will explore how peace and security are impacting development in African LDCs. Furthermore, participants will discuss mutually reinforcing dynamics of peace and development in conflict-affected countries and how to ensure a more integrated approach by the LDCs, their partners and multilateral institutions. Ways to broaden and strengthen the participation of LDCs in the institutions of global governance will also be discussed. Moderator: Ms. Cristina Duarte, Under Secretary General and Special Adviser on Africa to the United Nations Secretary-General Panelists:
Lead Discussant
Interactive Discussion ?
? Session 2 Timezones 15:00 - 16:45 Lilongwe ? ? |
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17:00-18:45 |
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This session will explore the potential sources of growth to enable LDCs to achieve accelerated, inclusive and sustained growth and meet the SDGs by 2030. Structural transformation has traditionally been linked to increased productivity through the manufacturing sector. However, the era of technological advancement and initiatives for green growth to “build back better” after the COVID-19 pandemic call for a discussion on alternative sources for sustainable economic development in LDCs. Speakers will discuss the role that services such as ICT (including access to broadband internet), tourism or agroindustry can play in this respect and will highlight successful and innovative solutions to enable the African LDCs generate higher productivity and decent employment, especially women and youth. Moderator: Ms. Maria Torres Macho, 缅北禁地Resident Coordinator in Malawi Panelists:
Lead Discussant: ? Interactive Discussion Session 3 Timezones 17:00 - 18:45 Lilongwe 18:00 - 19:45 Addis Ababa 16:00 - 17:45 Paris 10:00 - 11:45 New York ? ? |
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Wednesday, 24 February 2021 ? |
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10:00-12:00
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Side Event on “Empowering LDCs through Science, Technology and Innovation – Lessons Learned” Organized by the 缅北禁地Technology Bank | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The objective of the special high-level session will be to reflect on the shaping of the Technology Bank, showcasing activities and early results in selected African LDCs. Further, potential partnerships with regional organizations to boost the effectiveness of the Bank’s interventions will also be discussed. Technology Bank Side Event Timezones 10:00 - 12:00 Lilongwe 11:00 - 13:00 Addis Ababa 09:00 - 11:00 Paris 03:00 - 05:00 New York ? |
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13:00-14:30
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Side Event on “Impacts of COVID-19 on SMEs in LDCs and the Role of Blended Finance in Supporting a Resilient Recovery” Organized by UNCDF ? |
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The session will provide insights from UNCDF’s Blended Finance in the Least Developed Countries 2020: Supporting a Resilient Covid-19 Recovery report, including an update on the deployment of blended finance in LDCs as well as analysis of its potential role in helping LDCs recover from the COVID 19 crisis. UNCDF will present an Action Agenda for unlocking capital during the next program of action for LDCs, including with a special focus on small and medium-size enterprises (SME) finance. In addition, the session will highlight impacts of COVID-19 on SMEs and the need for additional finance. Evidence will be presented from the UNCDF LDC SME pulse survey— “The State of Small Businesses in the LDCs: Taking the Pulse of SMEs in the LDC Markets During COVID-19”—a unique survey encompassing more than 20 business sectors, featuring over 2,300 SMEs, spanning all 46 LDCs. UNCDF Side Event? Timezones 13:00 - 14:30 Lilongwe 14:00 - 15:30 Addis Ababa 12:00 - 13:30 Paris 06:00 - 07:30 New York |
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15:00-16:45 ? |
Session 4: Mobilizing Resources for Sustainable Development in African LDCs |
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This session will discuss experiences in domestic and international resource mobilization and discusses ways to facilitate the mobilization of the required resources, including innovative finance, to promote sustainable development in the African LDCs and enhance resilience to various shocks. The discussion will focus on how to enhance the abilities of countries to leverage domestic resources and take full advantage of international support, such as financial sector reform, domestic resource mobilization, development of adequate financial infrastructure or risk reduction instruments, including South-South cooperation. It will also look at how to increase debt sustainability, especially after the deteriorations due to COVID-19. Moderator: Mr. Anders Berlin, Senior Adviser, 缅北禁地Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) Keynote address: Ms. Susanna Moorehead, Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Chair, OECD Panelists:
Interactive Discussion Session 4 Timezones 15:00 - 16:45 Lilongwe 16:00 - 17:45 Addis Ababa 14:00 - 15:45 Paris 08:00 - 09:45 New York ? |
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17:00-18:45
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Session 5: Enhancing External Trade, Building and Maintaining Resilient Infrastructure and Promoting Regional Integration in African LDCs
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This session will explore how improved market access, especially through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, can boost regional and global trade of African LDCs. It will also discuss how competitiveness of African LDCs can be improved, including through access to sustainable energy and connectivity. Moderator: Ms. Giovanie Biha, Deputy Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) Panelists:
Interactive Discussion Session 5 Timezones 17:00 - 18:45 Lilongwe 18:00 - 19:45 Addis Ababa 16:00 - 17:45 Paris 10:00 - 11:45 New York ? |
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Thursday, 25 February 2021 |
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15:00-16:45
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This session will explore the factors contributing to the high prevalence of poverty and inequality in the LDCs and explore the multiple dimensions limiting their poverty eradication efforts. It will discuss how progress towards human development can be accelerated through addressing aspects contributing to poverty and inequality in the African LDCs. Moderator: Mr. Mansour Ndiaye, Head of Inclusive Growth, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Panelists:
Interactive Discussion Session 6 Timezones 15:00 - 16:45 Lilongwe 16:00 - 17:45 Addis Ababa 14:00 - 15:45 Paris 08:00 - 09:45 New York ? |
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17:00-18:45 ? |
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? | African LDCs face the challenge of transforming AGRI food systems to ensure that no one is constrained to access healthy diets, but still ensure that food production and consumption contribute to improvements in the livelihoods of food systems actors and to environmental sustainability. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for countries, and policymakers will need to assess the context-specific barriers, manage trade-offs and maximize synergies – such as potential environment gains – to achieve the required transformations. This session will explore the challenges, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic impacts, but also recommend solutions that necessitate some form of deep, transformative change to redirect the arc of food systems evolution toward sustainable development.
Moderator: Mr. Abebe Haile-Gabriele, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Keynote Speech: Dr. Máximo Torero, Chief Economist, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Penelists:
Interactive Discussion Closing Remarks:
Session 7 Timezones 17:00 - 18:45 Lilongwe 18:00 - 19:45 Addis Ababa 16:00 - 17:45 Paris 10:00 - 11:45 New York ? |
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Friday, 26 February 2021 ? |
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15:00-16:45 ? |
Session 8: Building Climate Resilience and Accelerating the Energy Transition in African LDCs
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This session will discuss the factors affecting the high degree of vulnerability faced by the African LDCs. It will explore how adaptation to climate change and disaster resilience efforts relate to the sustainable development of African LDCs and discuss mechanisms and approaches that could contribute to resilience building. The discussion will focus on ending energy poverty in LDCs and the important role clean and renewable energy play in building climate-resilient development pathways. It will also explore workable solutions and mechanisms that could contribute to a better anchoring of resilience and sustainability issues as part of a new Programme of Action. Moderator: Ms. Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Director, United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) Panelists:
Lead Discussants:????
Interactive Discussion ? Session 8 Timezones 15:00 - 16:45 Lilongwe 16:00 - 17:45 Addis Ababa 14:00 - 15:45 Paris 08:00 - 09:45 New York |
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17:00-18:00 ? |
High-level Closing Session | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In this session the outcome document will be adopted followed by closing remarks. Chair: The Right Honourable Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi and Minister of Economic Planning and Development and Public Sector Reforms Presentations of main conclusions of side events:
Closing Remarks:
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High-Level Closing Session Timezones 17:00 - 18:00 Lilongwe 18:00 - 19:00 Addis Ababa 16:00 - 17:00 Paris 10:00 - 11:00 New York ? |