Greetings delegates!

We welcome you all to the maiden edition of DAVMUN 2k18. We promise you an experience like no
other, filled with the exchange of knowledge and rigorous debate. The United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) is that body of the United Nations Organisation which works to eradicate poverty
and protect the planet. It strives to help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and
institutions so they can sustain their progress.

The agenda of the committee we are simulating is, ‘’Integrating development processes in the Least
Developed Countries to help them achieve sustainable development goals”. The following
background guide is meant to provide you with the basics of the scope of this agenda.

Kindly note that the background guide is skeletal in nature and is merely the starting point for your
research.

For any further queries, comments or concerns feel free to contact us. We will be happy to assist
you.

Regards

Abhay Kaundinya – Chairperson

Madhureema Roy Moulik – Rapporteur

History of United Nations Development Program
The United Nations Development Program was founded on 1 January 1966 with the collision of the
Expanded Program of Technical Assistance and the United Nations Special Fund. The purpose was to
"avoid duplication of [their] activity" and establish a UN organization that specifies to provide
technical and other assistance to the economic, humanitarian and political aspects of
underdeveloped countries. In addition, UNDP's main objective is to "help build nations that can
withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth the quality of life for everyone". Since its
foundation, over 170 countries and 2 billion people have received assistance from the United Nations
Development Program. While trying to help developing countries to improve the standards of living,
UNDP encourages nations to establish their own solutions to global and national development
challenges. In other words, UNDP provides technological support, knowledge and resources to help
people in developing nations build a better life while not infringing on nations' sovereignty.
Specifically, the UNDP had an emphasis on assistance to the least less developed countries. The
organization currently has country offices in 177 countries, where it works with local government to
meet development challenges and improve standard of living on a local level. The UNDP has a
reputation from working closely with local governments and establish efficient and specific
assistance according to the area's necessity.

Additionally, the UNDP largely relies on the annual Human Development Report, a UNDP-published
analysis on each country's development progress, to measure and produce practical methods to
resolve nations' issues. Up to this date, UNDP has launched over 15,000 with the focus on Poverty
Reduction and Achievement of Millennium Development Goals, Democratic Governance, Crisis
Prevention and Recovery, and Environment and Energy for Sustainable Development. Since the
establishment of the Millennium Development Goals in 2000, the UNDP's major programs focus on
completing the eight major goals with the specific attention towards encouraging the protection of
human rights and the empowerment of women.

The Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call
to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
These 17 Goals build on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals, while including new
areas such as climate change, economic inequality, innovation, sustainable consumption, peace and
justice, among other priorities. The goals are interconnected – often the key to success on one will
involve tackling issues more commonly associated with another.

These goals include:

Goal 1: No poverty
Eradicating poverty in all its forms remains one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. While the
number of people living in extreme poverty dropped by more than half between 1990 and 2015 –
from 1.9 billion to 836 million – too many are still struggling for the most basic human needs.
Globally, more than 800 million people are still living on less than US$1.25 a day, many lacking access
to adequate food, clean drinking water and sanitation. Rapid economic growth in countries like China
and India has lifted millions out of poverty, but progress has been uneven. Women are more likely to
live in poverty than men due to unequal access to paid work, education and property.
The SDGs are a bold commitment to finish what we started, and end poverty in all forms and
dimensions by 2030. This involves targeting the most vulnerable, increasing access to basic resources
and services, and supporting communities affected by conflict and climate-related disasters.

Goal 2: Zero Hunger

Rapid economic growth and increased agricultural productivity over the past two decades have seen
the number of undernourished people drop by almost half. Many developing countries that used to
suffer from famine and hunger can now meet the nutritional needs of the most vulnerable. Central
and East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean have all made huge progress in eradicating extreme
hunger. Extreme hunger and malnutrition remain a huge barrier to development in many countries.
795 million people are estimated to be chronically undernourished as of 2014, often as a direct
consequence of environmental degradation, drought and loss of biodiversity. Over 90 million children
under the age of five are dangerously underweight. And one person in every four still goes hungry in
Africa.
The SDGs aim to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, making sure all people –
especially children – have access to sufficient and nutritious food all year round.

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

Huge strides have been made in reducing child mortality, improving maternal health and fighting
HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Since 1990, there has been an over 50 percent decline in
preventable child deaths globally. Maternal mortality also fell by 45 percent worldwide. New
HIV/AIDS infections fell by 30 percent between 2000 and 2013, and over 6.2 million lives were saved
from malaria.
Despite this incredible progress, more than 6 million children still die before their fifth birthday every
year. 16,000 children die each day from preventable diseases such as measles and tuberculosis. Every
day hundreds of women die during pregnancy or from child-birth related complications. In many
rural areas, only 56 percent of births are attended by skilled professionals. AIDS is now the leading
cause of death among teenagers in sub-Saharan Africa, a region still severely devastated by the HIV
epidemic.
These deaths can be avoided through prevention and treatment, education, immunization
campaigns, and sexual and reproductive healthcare. The Sustainable Development Goals make a bold
commitment to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable diseases
by 2030. The aim is to achieve universal health coverage, and provide access to safe and affordable
medicines and vaccines for all. Supporting research and development for vaccines is an essential part
of this process as well.

Goal 4: Quality education

Since 2000, there has been enormous progress in achieving the target of universal primary
education. The total enrolment rate in developing regions reached 91 percent in 2015, and the
worldwide number of children out of school has dropped by almost half. There has also been a
dramatic increase in literacy rates, and many more girls are in school than ever before. These are all
remarkable successes.
Progress has also been tough in some developing regions due to high levels of poverty, armed
conflicts and other emergencies. In Western Asia and North Africa, ongoing armed conflict has seen
an increase in the number of children out of school. This is a worrying trend. While Sub-Saharan
Africa made the greatest progress in primary school enrolment among all developing regions – from
52 percent in 1990, up to 78 percent in 2012 – large disparities still remain. Children from the
poorest households are up to four times more likely to be out of school than those of the richest
households. Disparities between rural and urban areas also remain high.
Achieving inclusive and quality education for all reaffirms the belief that education is one of the most
powerful and proven vehicles for sustainable development. This goal ensures that all girls and boys
complete free primary and secondary schooling by 2030. It also aims to provide equal access to
affordable vocational training, to eliminate gender and wealth disparities, and achieve universal
access to a quality higher education.

Goal 5: Gender equality

Ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, but it also
crucial to accelerating sustainable development. It has been proven time and again, that empowering
women and girls has a multiplier effect, and helps drive up economic growth and development
across the board.
Since 2000, UNDP, together with our UN partners and the rest of the global community, has made
gender equality central to our work. We have seen remarkable progress since then. More girls are
now in school compared to 15 years ago, and most regions have reached gender parity in primary
education. Women now make up to 41 percent of paid workers outside of agriculture, compared to
35 percent in 1990.
The SDGs aim to build on these achievements to ensure that there is an end to discrimination against
women and girls everywhere. There are still huge inequalities in the labour market in some regions,
with women systematically denied equal access to jobs. Sexual violence and exploitation, the
unequal division of unpaid care and domestic work, and discrimination in public office, all remain
huge barriers.
Affording women equal rights to economic resources such as land and property are vital targets to
realizing this goal. So is ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health. Today there are
more women in public office than ever before, but encouraging women leaders will help strengthen
policies and legislation for greater gender equality.

Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation

Water scarcity affects more than 40 percent of people around the world, an alarming figure that is
projected to increase with the rise of global temperatures as a result of climate change. Although 2.1
billion people have gained access to improved water sanitation since 1990, dwindling supplies of safe
drinking water is a major problem impacting every continent.
In 2011, 41 countries experienced water stress – 10 of which are close to depleting their supply of
renewable freshwater and must now rely on alternative sources. Increasing drought and
desertification is already worsening these trends. By 2050, it is projected that at least one in four
people will be affected by recurring water shortages.
Ensuring universal access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030 requires we invest in
adequate infrastructure, provide sanitation facilities, and encourage hygiene at every level.
Protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems such as forests, mountains, wetlands and rivers is
essential if we are to mitigate water scarcity. More international cooperation is also needed to
encourage water efficiency and support treatment technologies in developing countries.

Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy

Between 1990 and 2010, the number of people with access to electricity has increased by 1.7 billion,
and as the global population continues to rise so will the demand for cheap energy. A global
economy reliant on fossil fuels, and the increase of greenhouse gas emissions is creating drastic
changes to our climate system. This is impacting every continent.
Efforts to encourage clean energy has resulted in more than 20 percent of global power being
generated by renewable sources as of 2011. Still one in seven people lack access to electricity, and as
the demand continues to rise there needs to be a substantial increase in the production of
renewable energy across the world.
Ensuring universal access to affordable electricity by 2030 means investing in clean energy sources
such as solar, wind and thermal. Adopting cost-effective standards for a wider range of technologies
could also reduce the global electricity consumption by buildings and industry by 14 percent. This
means avoiding roughly 1,300 mid-size power plants. Expanding infrastructure and upgrading
technology to provide clean energy in all developing countries is a crucial goal that can both
encourage growth and help the environment.

Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth

Over the past 25 years the number of workers living in extreme poverty has declined dramatically,
despite the lasting impact of the 2008 economic crisis and global recession. In developing countries,
the middle class now makes up more than 34 percent of total employment – a number that has
almost tripled between 1991 and 2015.
However, as the global economy continues to recover we are seeing slower growth, widening
inequalities, and not enough jobs to keep up with a growing labour force. According to the
International Labour Organization, more than 204 million people were unemployed in 2015.
The SDGs promote sustained economic growth, higher levels of productivity and technological
innovation. Encouraging entrepreneurship and job creation are key to this, as are effective measures
to eradicate forced labour, slavery and human trafficking. With these targets in mind, the goal is to
achieve full and productive employment, and decent work, for all women and men by 2030.

Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Investment in infrastructure and innovation are crucial drivers of economic growth and development.
With over half the world population now living in cities, mass transport and renewable energy are
becoming ever more important, as are the growth of new industries and information and
communication technologies.
Technological progress is also key to finding lasting solutions to both economic and environmental
challenges, such as providing new jobs and promoting energy efficiency. Promoting sustainable
industries, and investing in scientific research and innovation, are all important ways to facilitate
sustainable development.
More than 4 billion people still do not have access to the Internet, and 90 percent are from the
developing world. Bridging this digital divide is crucial to ensure equal access to information and
knowledge, as well as foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
It is well documented that income inequality is on the rise, with the richest 10 percent earning up to
40 percent of total global income. The poorest 10 percent earn only between 2 percent and 7
percent of total global income. In developing countries, inequality has increased by 11 percent if we
take into account the growth of population.
These widening disparities require the adoption of sound policies to empower the bottom percentile
of income earners, and promote economic inclusion of all regardless of sex, race or ethnicity.
Income inequality is a global problem that requires global solutions. This involves improving the
regulation and monitoring of financial markets and institutions, encouraging development assistance
and foreign direct investment to regions where the need is greatest. Facilitating the safe migration
and mobility of people is also key to bridging the widening divide.

Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities

More than half of the world’s population now live in urban areas. By 2050, that figure will have risen
to 6.5 billion people – two-thirds of all humanity. Sustainable development cannot be achieved
without significantly transforming the way we build and manage our urban spaces.
The rapid growth of cities in the developing world, coupled with increasing rural to urban migration,
has led to a boom in mega-cities. In 1990, there were ten mega-cities with 10 million inhabitants or
more. In 2014, there are 28 mega-cities, home to a total 453 million people.
Extreme poverty is often concentrated in urban spaces, and national and city governments struggle
to accommodate the rising population in these areas. Making cities safe and sustainable means
ensuring access to safe and affordable housing, and upgrading slum settlements. It also involves
investment in public transport, creating green public spaces, and improving urban planning and
management in a way that is both participatory and inclusive.

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Achieving economic growth and sustainable development requires that we urgently reduce our
ecological footprint by changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources. Agriculture
is the biggest user of water worldwide, and irrigation now claims close to 70 percent of all freshwater
for human use.
The efficient management of our shared natural resources, and the way we dispose of toxic waste
and pollutants, are important targets to achieve this goal. Encouraging industries, businesses and
consumers to recycle and reduce waste is equally important, as is supporting developing countries to
move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption by 2030.
A large share of the world population is still consuming far too little to meet even their basic needs.
Halving the per capita of global food waste at the retailer and consumer levels is also important for
creating more efficient production and supply chains. This can help with food security, and shift us
towards a more resource efficient economy.

Goal 13: Climate Action

There is no country in the world that is not experiencing first-hand the drastic effects of climate
change. Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, and are now more than 50 percent higher than
their 1990 level. Further, global warming is causing long-lasting changes to our climate system, which
threatens irreversible consequences if we do not take action now.
The annual average losses from tsunamis, tropical cyclones and flooding amount to hundreds of
billions of dollars, requiring an investment of US$6 billion annually in disaster risk management
alone. The goal aims to mobilize $100 billion annually by 2020 to address the needs of developing
countries and help mitigate climate-related disasters.
Helping more vulnerable regions, such as land locked countries and island states, adapt to climate
change must go hand in hand with efforts to integrate disaster risk measures into national strategies.
It is still possible, with the political will and a wide array of technological measures, to limit the
increase in global mean temperature to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. This requires
urgent collective action.

Goal 14: Life below water

The world’s oceans – their temperature, chemistry, currents and life – drive global systems that make
the Earth habitable for humankind. How we manage this vital resource is essential for humanity as a
whole, and to counter balance the effects of climate change.
Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods. However,
today we are seeing 30 percent of the world’s fish stocks overexploited, reaching below the level at
which they can produce sustainable yields.
Oceans also absorb about 30 percent of the carbon dioxide produced by humans, and we are seeing
a 26 percent rise in ocean acidification since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Marine
pollution, an overwhelming majority of which comes from land-based sources, is reaching alarming
levels, with an average of 13,000 pieces of plastic litter to be found on every square kilometre of
ocean.
The SDGs aim to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems from pollution, as
well as address the impacts of ocean acidification. Enhancing conservation and the sustainable use of
ocean-based resources through international law will also help mitigate some of the challenges
facing our oceans.

Goal 15: Life on land

Human life depends on the earth as much as the ocean for our sustenance and livelihoods. Plant life
provides 80 percent of our human diet, and we rely on agriculture as an important economic
resource and means of development. Forests account for 30 percent of the Earth’s surface, providing
vital habitats for millions of species and important sources for clean air and water; as well as being
crucial for combating climate change.
Today we are seeing unprecedented land degradation, and the loss of arable land at 30 to 35 times
the historical rate. Drought and desertification is also on the rise each year, amounting to the loss of
12 million hectares and affects poor communities globally. Of the 8,300 animal breeds known, 8
percent are extinct and 22 percent are at risk of extinction.
The SDGs aim to conserve and restore the use of terrestrial ecosystems such as forests, wetlands,
drylands and mountains by 2020. Halting deforestation is also vital to mitigating the impact of
climate change. Urgent action must be taken to reduce the loss of natural habitats and biodiversity
which are part of our common heritage.

Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Without peace, stability, human rights and effective governance, based on the rule of law - we
cannot hope for sustainable development. We are living in a world that is increasingly divided. Some
regions enjoy sustained levels of peace, security and prosperity, while others fall into seemingly
endless cycles of conflict and violence. This is by no means inevitable and must be addressed.
High levels of armed violence and insecurity have a destructive impact on a country’s development,
affecting economic growth and often resulting in long standing grievances that can last for
generations. Sexual violence, crime, exploitation and torture are also prevalent where there is
conflict or no rule of law, and countries must take measures to protect those who are most at risk.
The SDGs aim to significantly reduce all forms of violence, and work with governments and
communities to find lasting solutions to conflict and insecurity. Strengthening the rule of law and
promoting human rights is key to this process, as is reducing the flow of illicit arms and strengthening
the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance.

Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals

The SDGs can only be realized with a strong commitment to global partnership and cooperation.
While official development assistance from developed countries increased by 66 percent between
2000 and 2014, humanitarian crises brought on by conflict or natural disasters continue to demand
more financial resources and aid. Many countries also require Official Development Assistance to
encourage growth and trade.
The world today is more interconnected than ever before. Improving access to technology and
knowledge is an important way to share ideas and foster innovation. Coordinating policies to help
developing countries manage their debt, as well as promoting investment for the least developed, is
vital to achieve sustainable growth and development.
The goals aim to enhance North-South and South-South cooperation by supporting national plans to
achieve all the targets. Promoting international trade, and helping developing countries increase
their exports, is all part of achieving a universal rules-based and equitable trading system that is fair
and open, and benefits all.
Progress Made on the Implementation of the SDGs:
“Implementation has begun, but the clock is ticking,” says UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2017 shows that the rate of progress in many areas is far
slower than needed to meet the targets by 2030.
While nearly a billion people have escaped extreme poverty since 1999, about 767 million remained
destitute in 2013, most of whom live in fragile situations. Despite major advances, alarmingly a high
number of children under age 5 are still affected by malnutrition. In 2016, an estimated 155 million
children under 5 years of age were stunted (low height for their age). Between 2000 and 2015, the
global maternal mortality ratio declined by 37 per cent and the under-5 mortality rate fell by 44 per
cent. However, 303,000 women died during pregnancy or childbirth and 5.9 million children under
age 5 died worldwide in 2015.

In the area of sustainable energy, while access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking climbed to
57 per cent in 2014, up from 50 per cent in 2000, more than 3 billion people, lacked access to clean
cooking fuels and technologies, which led to an estimated 4.3 million deaths in 2012. From 2015 to
2016, official development assistance (ODA) rose by 8.9 per cent in real terms to 142.6 billion US
dollars, reaching a new peak. But bilateral aid to the least developing countries fell by 3.9 per cent in
real terms.

The benefits of development are not equally shared. On average, women spent almost triple the
amount of time on unpaid domestic and care work as men, based on data from 2010-2016.
Economic losses from natural hazards are now reaching an average of 250 billion to 300 billion US
dollars a year, with a disproportionate impact on small and vulnerable countries. Despite the global
unemployment rate falling from 6.1 per cent in 2010 to 5.7 per cent in 2016, youth were nearly three
times more likely than adults to be without a job. In 2015, 85 per cent of the urban population used
safely managed drinking water services, compared to only 55 per cent of rural population.
Effectively tracking progress on the SDGs requires accessible, reliable, timely and disaggregated data
at all levels, which poses a major challenge to national and international statistical systems. While
data availability and quality have steadily improved over the years, statistical capacity still needs
strengthening worldwide.

SDGs and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs):

The LDC category is assessed using three criteria: human assets (health and education targets),
economic vulnerability and Gross Nationat Income per capita.
The goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will guide development
policy action over the coming years, in the pursuit of a revitalised Global Partnership for Sustainable
Development. The eradication of poverty is among the most prominent of the Sustainable
Development Goals, and the challenge of poverty eradication is the greatest for the least developed
countries, where almost half of the population still lives in extreme poverty. LDCs is the battleground
where the Sustainable Development Goals will be won or lost.
At least eighteen of the 169 Sustainable Development Goal targets refer explicitly to the least
developed countries, and dozens more are of central importance to their development success. This
testifies to the concern of the international community with the development challenges of these
countries.
Revitalizing sustained and sustainable economic growth and employment creation in the LDCs, and
accelerating the structural transformation of their economies, will be indispensable to achieve the
SDGs. In particular, achieving an annual growth rate of 7 per cent as established in the Istanbul
Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020 and reiterated
under SDG 8, is of paramount importance.
Although external factors have a strong impact on the pace and structure of GDP growth in LDCs, the
governments of these countries can influence the process of structural transformation and reduce
their external vulnerability by choosing appropriate policies. It is essential that LDCs themselves take
the lead in their development policy design and implementation. Over the years, the analytical
reports of UNCTAD’s Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes have
aimed at supporting LDC governments in this task and have advanced the understanding of all
development partners on policy issues that are common to most LDCs.

Links to aid further research:

● http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals.html
● https://unstats.un.org/sdgs
● https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/files/report/2018/secretary-general-sdg-report-2018--EN.pdf
● https://www.reuters.com