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Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries

Accelerating agrifood systems transformation for inclusive growth in LLDCs

Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs)

LLDCs are 32 nations, including 16 Least Developed Countries (LDCs), that face distinct development challenges due to their lack of direct access to the sea. This geographical constraint raises trade and transport costs, limits integration into global markets, and slows economic growth. These countries depend heavily on neighbouring states for transit, making them vulnerable to external shocks and logistical bottlenecks. Inadequate infrastructure, limited productive capacity, and reliance on a narrow range of commodities further hinder sustainable development.

Agrifood systems offer LLDCs a strategic opportunity to overcome these limitations and foster economic diversification. By investing in sustainable agriculture, improving infrastructure, and strengthening regional trade integration, they can reduce vulnerability and build more resilient food systems.

Insights from LLDCs

Three of the women farmers in South Sudan who are upholding and uplifting their community

STORY
Over the past three years, FAO, with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, has empowered thousands of women farmers and small business owners in Wau with skills and tools in climate‑smart agriculture, nutrition and financial inclusion. Among them are Rebecca, Grace and Viola, whose new knowledge has blossomed into thriving businesses—helping feed their families and nourish their community.

The woman who grows Tajikistan

STORY

In Tajikistan, rural women have long been central to agriculture—planting, weeding, tending livestock and managing household food production. As more men migrate in search of work, women are increasingly taking on additional responsibilities, often managing entire farms on their own. Yet despite now forming the backbone of the agricultural workforce, many women remain unrecognized and unpaid, with limited access to the knowledge, finance, tools and resources needed to make agriculture a reliable source of income.

Linking school meals and smallholder farmers in Bhutan

Initiated by the Royal Government of Bhutan with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the One‑Child, One‑Egg (OCOE) initiative links smallholder poultry farmers directly with school feeding programmes. The two‑year pilot addresses child malnutrition while creating a stable and reliable market for rural producers, currently supplying eggs to 32 000 students in 343 schools across the country.

FAO's support to LLDCs
Recognizing the persistent structural challenges faced by Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), FAO supports the design and implementation of innovative, country‑led approaches to transform agrifood systems. Through tailored technical assistance and policy support, FAO works closely with governments and local stakeholders to enhance agricultural productivity, diversify livelihoods, and strengthen value chains in a sustainable and inclusive manner. A core pillar of this support is the promotion of climate‑smart practices that build resilience to increasingly erratic climate conditions. FAO also advances institutional capacity‑building, digital and logistical solutions, and improved access to finance and regional markets, helping LLDCs address structural constraints, strengthen food security and nutrition, and progress towards sustainable development.

List of LLDCs