This article was prepared with support from the United Nations Economic Commission (ECA) in Africa
In a presentation in the COM2025 expert segment on progress made in Africa's priority sector of the LDC's Doha Action Programme, she said the country continues to show limited resilience and continues to experience high debt and fiscal deficits.
She also maintained that efforts to build resilience in these economies are moving slowly.
Schwidrowski said Africa is home to 32 of the 44 LDCs around the world. “This is almost one in 10 people, but it represents less than 1% of the world's GDP and less than 1% of global exports,” she said, highlighting the challenges these countries face when building sustainable and resilient economies.
This variation in the types of countries in this category required a nuanced approach to policy to address the challenges.
Four African countries have graduated from LDC status – Botswana (1994), Cabo Verde (2007), Equatorial Guinea (2107), Sao Tome and Principe (2024) are seeking a five-year extension by Senegal and Djibouti, which are recommended for graduation.
Of the 32 African LDCs, nine have debt difficulties, 11 are at high risk of pain, and rising debt costs are consuming limited budgets.
LDCs' export capacity is limited, and exports remain concentrated on low value, primary and resource bases, with minimal progress gained to double the global export share by 2031, Schwidrowski said.
The Bloc faces major challenges in building climate resilience, limited access to finance and technology, and a major climate fund deficit. In developing countries, despite the promises of wealthy countries of $100 billion a year, only 13% reached LDC in 2022.
These challenges have been around for many years, but as ODA declines, the situation has become more unstable, Schwidrowski said the country is urging its countries to mobilize funds domestically, including the private sector.
