Background
The 32 Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), 16 of which are in Africa, continue to confront substantial difficulties stemming from their geographical constraints and lack of direct access to seaports, which complicate trade logistics, raise transport costs, and hinder regional integration. These special challenges of LLDCs have been recently reflected in the Gaborone Programme of Action (GPoA) which will be adopted in December 2024.
The Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) of UN DESA, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is organizing this workshop to enhance the capacities of national and local governments in formulating and implementing policies for sustainable transport, in line with the Gaborone Programme of Action. The capacity-building workshop will focus on the distinct challenges faced by LLDCs, while identifying specific challenges of the African region and will engage Member States and experts to identify and exchange good practices for tackling them. It will also empower LLDCs to actively engage in the development of the Implementation Plan of the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport and to contribute to the activities of the Decade.
The workshop will aim to ensure that LLDCs are equipped with the necessary tools, knowledge, and partnerships to effectively address their transport challenges. Strengthening institutional capacities and enhancing technical expertise will be key to the success of sustainable transport systems in LLDCs, especially in contexts where resource limitations and logistical constraints are prominent. Discussions in this workshop will explore lessons learned, innovative financing mechanisms, partnership opportunities, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening transport infrastructure and policy frameworks.
The workshop will also aim at situating the discussion in the broader framework of existing sectoral and regional transport policies and initiatives. Although it must be recognized that regional programmes and initiatives hardly exclude LLDCs, there is also no systematic approach that includes them. These initiatives include in particular the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), theTransAfrican Highway Network, and the African Railway Network.
Announcements
Capacity Development
