Â鶹APP

Welcome to the Â鶹APP
Language:
  1. Home
  2. Our Work
  3. Least Developed Countries
  4. From Mandate to Action: Operational Guidelines for UN System Support to LDCs in conflict and post-conflict situation under DPOA paragraph 301

From Mandate to Action: Operational Guidelines for UN System Support to LDCs in conflict and post-conflict situation under DPOA paragraph 301

What is this deliverable?

The Doha Programme of Action (DPOA) recognizes that there can be no sustainable development without peace, and no peace without sustainable development. Through paragraphs 89¨C93, it calls for stronger action to build durable peace, foster inclusive societies, address root causes of conflict, strengthen multilateral cooperation and promote women¡¯s participation in peace and security.

Furthermore, paragraph 3 of the DPOA, underscore the importance of ¡°greater action and extraordinary measures by all countries and strengthened international and multilateral cooperation to address challenges affecting least developed countries on the basis of the concept of human security and to ensure that no one is left behind.¡±

DPOA paragraph 301 translates these commitments into a concrete UN system-wide mandate: it invites ¡°all relevant Â鶹APP entities to collaborate under the Inter-agency Consultative Group to develop operational guidelines for their support to countries in conflict and post-conflict situations.¡±

Why it matters

Conflict and fragility remain among the most serious structural barriers to sustainable development and graduation from the LDC category. As underscored in DPOA, in 2019, 24 out of 46 LDCs had active conflicts, underscoring the scale of the challenge.

The issue is not the absence of UN support, but the need for support that is more coherent, better sequenced, more conflict-sensitive and more closely aligned with national priorities, UNSDCFs, Smooth Transition Strategies and the broader DPoA implementation architecture.

Objective

The operational guidelines will provide a practical roadmap for coherent, country-specific and prevention-oriented UN system support to LDCs affected by conflict and fragility.

They will help UN entities, Resident Coordinators, UN Country Teams and national partners to better connect peacebuilding, development, humanitarian action, disaster risk reduction, resilience-building and sustainable graduation support.

What the guidelines will cover

The guidelines are expected to:

  • Identify current UN system support to LDCs in conflict and post-conflict situations, including capacities, gaps and overlaps;
  • Strengthen coordination among UN entities, RCs, UNCTs, governments and partners;
  • Promote better alignment between national development plans, UNSDCFs, DPoA implementation plans and Smooth Transition Strategies;
  • Support conflict-sensitive, inclusive and gender-responsive development approaches;
  • Provide practical tools, coordination modalities, stakeholder mapping, an implementation roadmap, an M&E framework.

Core principles

The guidelines will be grounded in six core principles:

  • Country-specific and demand-driven support;
  • Conflict-sensitive and prevention-oriented action;
  • Whole-of-system coherence across peace, development, humanitarian action, DRR and resilience;
  • Rights-based and institution-centred approaches;
  • Gender-responsive and inclusive participation, including women and youth;
  • A graduation and resilience lens to protect development gains and support smooth, sustainable and irreversible graduation.

Linkages with other DPOA deliverables

Paragraph 301 is not a stand-alone workstream. It can serve as a multiplier for wider DPoA implementation by helping conflict-affected LDCs access and align support through other deliverables, including resilience-building, food stockholding, iGRAD, investment support and the online university for LDCs.

Process and timeline

The process will follow a consultative and evidence-based approach:

  • June 2026: engagement of consultant/partner
  • July¨CAugust 2026: stakeholder consultations with UN entities, RCs, UNCTs, governments and partners
  • September 2026: first draft of the guidelines
  • October 2026: validation workshop
  • March 2027: formal launch at the DPoA Mid-Term Review
  • 2027¨C2031: implementation, monitoring and reporting

Expected impact

The operational guidelines will help ensure that LDCs affected by conflict and fragility are not left behind in the implementation of the Doha Programme of Action. By strengthening coherence, coordination and country-level delivery, they will support pathways towards peace, resilience, sustainable development and graduation.

Documents

Further Information:

Nirupam Dev Nath (OHRLLS): nirupam.devnath@un.org

Least Developed Countries