Implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries (LCDs)

This report presented the progress of Angola in the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) for the Least Developed Countries, in the decade 2011-2020. The Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) adopted in May 2011, at the Fourth Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Istanbul, Turkey, was the policy agenda agreed upon by the international community to address the challenges faced by LDCs. Such agreement is based on the fundamental principle of mutual accountability and strengthening of international cooperation.

The overall objective of the IPoA is to overcome the structural challenge faced by LDCs in order to eradicate poverty and achieve the internationally agreed development goals. The programme also recognizes that LDCs represent enormous potential for global economic growth, stability and prosperity1.

There was a need to make a mid-term review of the IPoA. Countries belonging to the category of LDCs were invited to submit their progress reports. Those will be the basis of this review to reaffirm the global commitment to address the special needs of the LDCs made at the Fourth United Nations Conference on LDCs and to further strengthen the global partnership for the development of these countries, in all priority areas of the programme.

Thus, this report was an interim evaluation of the implementation of the IPoA components in the period 2011-2015, covering the relevant sectors for human development, identifying best practices and lessons learned, obstacles and constraints, actions and initiatives required to overcome them, as well as new challenges and emerging issues.