LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS

Key Insights

In 2024, BDT’s commitment to fostering sustainable and inclusive digital development through targeted assistance to Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) remained steadfast.

By leveraging our expertise and experience in key strategic areas, strengthening partnerships and leveraging innovative solutions, BDT contributed to addressing critical challenges in connectivity, policy and regulation, cybersecurity, digital inclusion and e-waste across all regions. Through collaborative efforts with governments, international organizations and the private sector, we successfully implemented key initiatives that have enhanced the enabling environment for investment, innovation and access for all, built resilience and contributed to inclusive economic growth.

Under the 2024 operational plan, BDT’s work benefited 42 LDCs,  29 LLDCs and 35 SIDS through the delivery of technical assistance, the development of policy frameworks and knowledge products, awareness-raising sessions and the provision of data and statistics.

The beneficiary LDCs are:Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Comoros, Dem. Rep. of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Lao P.D.R., Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia.

The beneficiary LLDCs are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lao P.D.R., Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, North Macedonia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The beneficiary SIDS are: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cape Verde, Comoros, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Rep., Fiji, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kiribati, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Suriname, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Since January 2023, a variety of projects have been implemented to address the challenges faced by these countries.

Eleven projects spanning across regions are ongoing in LLDCs to accelerate digital transformation in Asia-Pacific, boost digital skills through the digital transformation centres, develop and implement the E-waste policy and Regulation for a Circular Economy, support rural networks in Armenia and future digital activities in Lesotho.

In LDCs, 15 projects are currently under way in the fields of capacity building, cybersecurity, ICT applications, climate change, digital inclusion and innovation. 

In SIDS, 12 projects are making a difference in the areas of digital transformation, digital skills, and cybersecurity.  

Our recent 2024 facts and figures estimates show that universal connectivity remains a challenge in LDCs and LLDCs, where only 35 and 39 per cent of the population are online, respectively.

In SIDS, 65% of the population is online, in line with the global average. However, in these countries, the gender parity score decreased slightly, indicating perfect gender parity.

Earlier in the year, we launched two special editions of Facts and Figures namely, Facts and Figures: Focus on Small Island Developing States​ and Facts and Figures: Focus on Landlocked Developing Countries which tracked digital progress made by SIDS and LLDCs, based on 2023 estimates. Both editions featured a contribution from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) highlighting the interconnectedness of digital infrastructure and the global marketplace.

The BDT Director led the ITU delegation to the 4th International Conference for SIDS (SIDS4), held in Antigua and Barbuda. In delivering the general debate statement, he stressed that “ITU’s role is to support SIDS governments in creating an enabling environment for innovation and investment in digital connectivity and solutions, assist in developing and coordinating global technical standards, provide digital skills, and promote safe and secure digital infrastructure and services.” The statement also noted that climate change and natural hazards disproportionately affect SIDS, and that “a core part of our work includes the development and deployment of early warning systems, the integration of digital technologies into disaster management, and the use of satellite technologies for climate change mitigation and adaptation.”

Read the full statement.

For more information, visit this page. 

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