Report on the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014–2024

Abstract

The report assesses the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action (2014–2024) for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) in Africa, where 16 of the world’s 32 LLDCs face significant challenges due to high transport costs, reliance on transit countries, and vulnerability to external shocks. Despite economic growth, LLDCs experienced slower GDP recovery post-pandemic, exacerbated by the Ukraine war, rising inflation, and food insecurity. Progress in infrastructure, trade facilitation, and regional integration—such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)—remains uneven, with persistent gaps in transport, energy, and digital connectivity. Structural economic transformation is hindered by limited industrialization, debt distress, and low agricultural productivity. Recommendations include ratifying key agreements, boosting private sector investment, improving health systems, and enhancing infrastructure financing.