Resident Coordinators highlight role in implementing LLDC3 outcomes

The session, organized in partnership with National Focal Points (NFPs) and the Office of the High Representative for LLDCs (OHRLLS), focused on practical ways to embed the newly adopted Awaza Programme of Action (2024–2034) into national development strategies, UN Cooperation Frameworks, and sector plans.

Participating in the discussion, Dmitry Shlapachenko, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan, highlighted that LLDC3 was not only about high-level declarations but also about “meaningful dialogue, practical solutions, and laying the foundations for delivery.”

He stressed that landlocked status should not be seen as a limitation, but rather as a set of specific needs requiring coordinated and sustained responses.

Supporting national priorities

Resident Coordinators underscored their role in supporting governments to integrate LLDC priorities into planning and implementation. Areas of added value include:

• co-developing national follow-up plans with NFPs,
• incorporating LLDC commitments into ongoing UN Country Team programming,
• strengthening data and monitoring frameworks,
• elevating LLDC issues in financing and donor coordination platforms, and
• facilitating peer learning and South–South cooperation.

Toolkit for action

A highlight of the session was the introduction of the new Toolkit developed by OHRLLS, which provides practical guidance for embedding the Awaza Programme of Action into national policies and monitoring systems.

Turkmenistan experience

Sharing the experience of Turkmenistan, the Resident Coordinator noted that the UN Country Team has already begun post-LLDC3 discussions with the Government on sustainable transport, regional trade, and water–energy linkages. Ongoing cooperation also includes sectoral inputs on trade corridors, climate-smart infrastructure, and digital solutions.

Resident Coordinators agreed that the political will expressed in Awaza must now be matched with delivery on the ground. Strengthening RC–NFP collaboration will be central to ensuring that LLDCs can accelerate progress on the SDGs and the commitments outlined in the Awaza Programme of Action.