The meeting focused on the Doha Program of Action (DPOA), which aims to help 15 more countries achieve graduation by 2031.
Many LDCs remain highly exposed to climate crises, conflict, debt pressures and trade disruptions. Without personalized support, experts warn that progress can quickly unravel.
Speaking at the closing session, Rabab Fatima, UN High Representative for LDCs, said the meeting had demonstrated “a strong collective will to ensure that graduation becomes a gateway to resilience, opportunity and sustainable prosperity.”
“Let us leave Doha inspired and united,” he said, calling for deeper cooperation and “real incentives that help every country move forward with the full support of the global community.”
Learning from experience
Countries preparing to graduate – including Bangladesh, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Nepal – shared lessons from their own transition plans, while states that have already graduated discussed how to manage the shift away from preferential trade benefits and other forms of targeted international assistance.
A recurring theme was the importance of Smooth transition strategiesnational plans that help governments adapt to the phasing out of targeted support to LDCs.
Delegates emphasized that these strategies must be realistic, nationally driven and fully integrated into long-term development planning.
The meeting also highlighted the need to build productive capacity, especially through digital and green transitions, and to expand trade opportunities for economies facing volatile global conditions.
New push for support installation
Central to the discussions was the iGRAD Fund, a mechanism designed to help LDCs navigate the transition period. Qatar announced a pledge of $10 million to strengthen the facility, drawing praise from participants.
Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti, director general of the Qatar Development Fund, said his country was committed to turning the DPOA “into measurable progress for less developed countries.”
The meeting, he added, had demonstrated “the power of collective action” and the importance of providing LDCs “with the tools, resources and partnerships they need to navigate the transition with confidence.”
Next steps
The conference concluded with the Agreed Doha Declaration on Global Partnerships for Sustainable Graduationwhich sets out principles for a more robust, incentive-based approach to supporting graduating countries.
The OHRLLS will publish a full summary of the recommendations and send it to the UN General Assembly ahead of key discussions in 2027, when the DPOA undergoes its mid-term review.
More information is available at event website and on the page dedicated to Doha Action Program.