By Brandon Moss AgriFocus Africa/IMAGE credit;Busani Bafana

Awaza, Turkmenistan — Agriculture stands as the lifeblood of landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), employing over 55% of their populations—more than double the global average. Yet, this vital sector is under siege. Food insecurity is deepening, with moderate or severe hunger affecting 51% of LLDC populations in 2023, up from 43% in 2015. Undernourishment has climbed to 19%.
At the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, held in Awaza, global leaders rallied around a bold new vision: transforming agriculture into a driver of resilience, innovation, and inclusive growth.

Regional Research Hubs: A Game-Changer for LLDC Agriculture

A cornerstone of the newly adopted Awaza Programme of Action (2024–2034) is the establishment of Regional Agricultural Research Hubs. These centres aim to unlock the untapped potential of LLDC agriculture by fostering locally rooted innovation and science-based development.
“These hubs will serve as engines of sustainable transformation,” said Rabab Fatima, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for LLDCs. “They are designed to catalyse inclusive growth, food security, and climate resilience.”

Nepal’s Foreign Secretary, Amrit Bahadur Rai, underscored the urgency: “Agriculture contributes just 17% to GDP in LLDCs, yet it employs 55% of the labour force. This imbalance reflects entrenched poverty and alarmingly low productivity.”

Science, Sovereignty, and Climate Action

The Awaza Programme doesn’t stop at agriculture. It introduces a suite of structural reforms, including:

• A UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Freedom of Transit
• A dedicated WTO Work Programme for LLDCs
• A new UNFCCC Negotiating Body to amplify LLDC voices in climate talks
• An Infrastructure Investment Finance Facility to mobilise critical funding

Fatima hailed the formation of the LLDC negotiating group under the UNFCCC as a landmark achievement. “For the first time, climate change has been recognised as a priority for LLDCs. This group gives them a formal seat at the table.”

Malawi’s Vice President, Dr Michael Bizwick Usi, echoed the sentiment, calling for research that reflects LLDC realities. “We must move beyond prescribed solutions.

Tailored research empowers LLDCs to chart their own path.”

Climate Resilience: From Vulnerability to Agency

LLDCs are disproportionately affected by climate shocks. Despite covering just 12% of the world’s land, they endured over 20% of global droughts and landslides between 2012 and 2023. Their populations—just 7% of the global total—accounted for 18% of those impacted.

These nations often rely on fragile transit routes for trade, which are increasingly disrupted by extreme weather. The Awaza Programme aims to fortify these lifelines through resilient infrastructure and climate finance.

Fatima stressed that agriculture must be central to this transformation. “It’s the backbone of LLDC economies, yet it remains underfunded and underperforming. Structural constraints—drylands, outdated practices, limited market access—must be addressed.”

A Unified Front Ahead of COP30

With COP30 on the horizon, LLDCs are poised to negotiate from a position of strength. Their new institutional framework under the UNFCCC offers a platform to advocate for climate justice, adaptation support, and inclusive development.

The road ahead is steep, but the momentum is real. As the Awaza Programme takes root, LLDCs are no longer passive recipients of global policy—they are architects of their own agricultural futures.