First session of the Preparatory Committee for LLDC3

Thank you distinguished Co-Chair.

Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) face unique challenges to food security and securing access to healthy diets due to their lack of direct access to coastlines and international markets, limited transportation infrastructure, and higher transportation costs.

According to The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2023, LLDCs experience a prevalence of undernourishment in the total population of this group at 19.3%, more than double the global prevalence. Similarly, severe food insecurity affects 23% of the population in LLDCs, also more than double the global prevalence. Furthermore, SOFI 2023 reports child wasting prevalence at 4.1% and child stunting prevalence at 28.3%, indicating critical nutritional challenges that require urgent attention.

In light of the above, incorporating an agrifood systems lens is key to addressing the multifaceted challenges in LLDCs. As a priority for FAO, LLDCs receive support from the Organization from programmes and initiatives in LLDCs, including the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, the Digital Villages Initiative, as well as support in accessing innovative climate financing, including the Green Climate Fund and Global Environment Facility.

FAO also established an Office of Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries and convened the High-Level Ministerial Event, Transforming agrifood systems to achieve the 2030 Agenda: Harnessing the Potential of Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries, where Ministers issued a Call for Action and requested the establishment of a Ministerial Network.

It is also worth noting that at UNFCCC COP 28, FAO launched part one of the Global Roadmap: Achieving SDG 2 without breaching the 1.5C threshold, aimed at offering a package of solutions to provide good food for all, today and tomorrow.

FAO is committed to partnering with LLDCs to drive progress to support the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, sustainable and resilient agrifood systems. We also stand ready to support the development and implementation of the new decade of action to be adopted in Kigali.