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Held during the UNGA High-Level Week on 26 September, the Annual Ministerial Meeting convened foreign ministers and development partners under the theme: “Building momentum for accelerated implementation of the Doha Programme of Action in an era of multiple crises: Road to the 2027 Doha Mid-term Review.”

The gathering served as a pivotal moment to assess progress, identify obstacles, and mobilize strategic partnerships to accelerate implementation.

The opening segment of the Ministerial featured powerful interventions from key leaders, including Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chair of the LDCs Bureau, Hon. Mulambo Haimbe; UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed; ECOSOC President H.E. Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa; UN High Representative Rabab Fatima; and Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation, Dr. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad. Their remarks framed the urgency and ambition of the meeting, setting a compelling tone for the discussions that followed.

Subsequently, ministers and representatives from other member states and development partners took the floor, sharing national experiences, reaffirming commitments, and proposing concrete actions to accelerate the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action.

A Defining Moment for the World's Most Vulnerable

In a powerful address at the 2025 LDCs Ministerial Meeting, Zambia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chair of the LDCs Bureau, Hon. Mulambo Haimbe, described the current moment as a “defining crossroads” for the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

Confronting sobering statistics—including a 4.1% growth rate that falls short of the 7% Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target and a staggering $558.9 billion external debt burden—Minister Haimbe called for a fundamental shift in global perception.

Rather than viewing LDCs as passive recipients of aid, he urged the international community to recognize them as the “next growth frontier” and “greatest hope” for achieving the SDGs. “We offer vast opportunities for innovation and win-win partnerships,” he emphasized.

Chairing the Ministerial, Minister Haimbe stressed the importance of united global action, framing the delivery of the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) as a critical test of international resolve and solidarity.

UN Leadership Highlights Fragile Progress and Urgent Needs

Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, acknowledged the delicate nature of progress, noting that while eight countries have graduated from LDC status and fourteen more are on track, many challenges persist. She highlighted extreme poverty affecting one-third of workers, marginal participation in global trade, and exclusion from the digital revolution.

Mohammed underscored the harsh “choiceless choices” LDC governments face—between servicing debt and protecting their populations—and reaffirmed that the DPoA was designed to eliminate such impossible trade-offs. However, she warned that climate pledges from major emitters “trickle in” even as their emissions “rise at record speed.”

Her closing call to action was clear: “Deliver, Protect, and Empower”—deliver on the Sevilla Commitment, protect DPoA deliverables, and empower LDCs by amplifying their voices in global decision-making. “The steps must start now,” she urged.

Landlocked Developing Countries: From Vulnerability to Resilience

H.E. Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of ECOSOC, expanded the conversation to include Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), framing the moment as one of both challenge and opportunity. He spotlighted the newly adopted Awaza Programme of Action as a “forward-looking roadmap” for the next decade, while cautioning that high trade costs, climate emergencies, and declining aid threaten its success.

Yet, he emphasized that “the story of landlocked developing countries is not only one of difficulties. It is also a story of resilience, partnerships, and opportunity.”

He called on LLDCs to actively engage in multilateral processes and positioned ECOSOC as a key partner in securing the means of implementation. “With unity, political will, and renewed global support, LLDCs can move from the margins to the center of a more inclusive, sustainable future,” he concluded.

A Stark Yet Hopeful Assessment from the UN High Representative

Under-Secretary-General Rabab Fatima presented a candid progress report on the DPoA, acknowledging rising inequality, geopolitical tensions, and climate crises as major threats to LDC development.

“At a moment of profound global challenges, […] the LDCs continue to bear the heaviest burden,” she said.

As the UN marks its 80th anniversary under the theme “Better Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development and Human Rights,” Fatima warned that LDCs face unprecedented challenges that could reverse hard-won gains.

Despite these hurdles, she pointed to signs of hope: positive GDP growth, increased political representation for women, and momentum toward graduation. She highlighted progress on key DPoA deliverables, including the Food Stockholding Mechanism, Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems, and the Online University for LDCs—supported by seed funding from Qatar and the operationalization of the iGRAD facility.

Fatima’s message was clear: “Supporting the 44 LDCs is a shared responsibility. If we fail them, we fail the promise of the SDGs.” She called for scaled-up financing, climate action, and youth and women empowerment, urging decisive collective action to make the DPoA a true turning point.

“Let us act together, and decisively - so that the DPOA is remembered not as just another plan, but as a turning point for the world’s most vulnerable,” she asserted.

Qatar’s Strategic Commitment to LDCs

Representing the State of Qatar, H.E. Minister of State for International Cooperation Dr. Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad reaffirmed Qatar’s strong commitment to LDCs. She highlighted Qatar’s substantial development assistance, including a $60 million allocation for DPoA implementation and $4.8 billion in foreign aid between 2020–2024, much of which was directed to LDCs.

Looking ahead, Qatar will host the High-Level Meeting on Sustainable Graduation in December 2025 and prepare for the DPoA Mid-Term Review in 2027. The upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development in November 2025 was also noted as a key opportunity to advance inclusive policies under the 2030 Agenda.

Dr. Al Misnad welcomed the UN80 initiative, a system-wide reform effort to strengthen the UN’s capacity to support LDCs. “Qatar gives special priority to enabling LDCs to achieve sustainable development,” she affirmed.

A Platform for Progress and Partnership

The 2025 LDCs Ministerial Meeting served as a vital platform to take stock of DPoA implementation, identify persistent and emerging gaps, and mobilize the strategic actions and partnerships needed to accelerate progress. As global crises intensify, the call to strengthen resilience and promote inclusive, sustainable development has never been more urgent.