FAO supports LLDCs with building resilience during the pandemic

On 12 November, FAO attended the Eleventh Inter-Agency Consultative Group (IACG) Meeting on the Follow-up and Implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action (VPoA) for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) which was held virtually. The meeting was organized by the United Nations Office of the High-Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS). The meeting provided a platform for the participating organizations to consult on the implementation of the VPoA, including on the response to the impacts of COVID-19 on LLDCs and on activities in the Roadmap for Accelerated Implementation of VPoA, as well as present new advocacy and monitoring tools related to the implementation of the VPoA. The meeting also consulted and agreed on the Terms of Reference of the IACG on LLDCs. The meeting was attended by participants from 40 different institutions.

Ms. Angélica Jácome Daza, Director of the Office of SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs informed of FAO’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme and the recently established COVID-19 Food Coalition. In addition, she spoke of FAO's support to the UN Comprehensive Response to COVID-19, including the UN Global Humanitarian Response Plan and its collaboration within the framework of the Global Network Against Food Crises. She concluded by providing information on FAO support government-led desert locust responses that around 30 countries, including 11 LLDCs confirmed their participation in the Hand-in-Hand Initiative.