The Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) was established on the recommendation of the Secretary-General of the United Nations by the General Assembly in its resolution 56/227 of 24 December 2001.
The Office aims at enhancing the mobilization and galvanization of international support for – and ensuring the effective coordination, monitoring and review of – the implementation of the Brussels Declaration and Programme of Action (POA). The Brussels Declaration and POA were adopted by the Least Developed Countries and its development partners in May 2001.
The key functions of the Office of the High Representative include:
- to assist the Secretary-General in ensuring the full mobilization and coordination of all parts of the United Nations system, with a view to facilitating the coordinated implementation of and coherence in the follow-up and monitoring of the Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries at country, regional and global levels
- to provide coordinated support to the Economic and Social Council as well as the General Assembly in assessing progress and in conducting the annual review of the implementation of the Programme of Action
- to support, as appropriate, the coordinated follow-up of the implementation of the Global Framework for Transit Transport Cooperation between Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries and the donor community and the Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States
- to undertake appropriate advocacy work in favour of least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, in partnership with the relevant bodies of the United Nations as well as with civil society, the media, academia and foundations
- to assist in mobilizing international support and resources for the implementation of the Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries, and for other programmes and initiatives for landlocked developing countries and small island developing States
The OHRLLS also includes links to the OHRLLS mandate, NGO and civil society links and fora, private sector links and updates, country profiles, publications, and events.