Statement of Mandat International

Welcome Centre for Non-Governmental Organizations and Delegations

3^rd United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries

Friday 18^th of May 2001

(check against delivery)

Mister Chairman, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First, allow us to congratulate UNCTAD and the European Union for organizing this conference and for the support provided for NGOs and other civil society representatives from Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

We also extend our appreciation to UNCTAD for its exceptional work in formulating trade and development policies adapted to the needs of developing countries particularly LDCs. We hope industrialized countries will continue to support UNCTAD efforts.

Economic development of LDCs is closely related to civil society and to the expansion of its various components. Civil society is indeed the necessary basis for economic and human development of a society. The development is after all essentially addressed to Civil Society.

In this regard, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from LDCs play the central role on development and good governance in their countries. By allowing civil society to organize itself for the development and the promotion of public interests, LDC Governments will contribute to find and formulate efficient and pragmatic solutions to their own problems. NGOs do generate participatory development, making citizens aware of their responsibilities and allowing them to be active in their development. In the majority of LDCs, NGOs take part a number of programs including among others: health promotion, AIDS prevention, access to education, sustainable development, agricultural development, humanitarian assistance, gender promotion. Such a development is closely related to the respect of human rights and freedom of association.

At the international level, NGOs from developing countries and from LDCs are widely under-represented. Nevertheless, they constitute the closest link between international policies and their implementation in the field. They constitute a unique pool of expertise and competencies. They are complementary to Government representatives and contribute to the human and economic development of their countries.

Therefore, it is important for those NGOs to have the opportunity to cooperate at the international level and to take part in international conferences concerning them. They will help to develop the “international policy networks” advocated by the UN General Secretary in its Millennium Report on United Nations Reforms, by gathering the concerned stakeholders (Governments and non-governmental organizations) in order to solve LDCs’ problems together. To this end, it is important to allow NGOs from LDCs to strengthen cooperation among themselves as well as with NGOs from other regions. In parallel, it is important to facilitate their cooperation with the international organizations, and particularly with the UN specialized agencies. In fact, it is essential that NGOs from LDCs participate more openly in international forums to prevent them being marginalized and to integrate their expertise and resources.

Our organization, Mandat International, is determined to continue its efforts in order to :

1. Support and facilitate the participation of NGOs from LDCs in relevant international conferences. Our Welcome Centre for Non-Governmental Organizations and Delegations provides support and reduces the costs of stay for NGO representatives from LDCs attending international conferences in Geneva;

2. Facilitate international cooperation among NGOs from LDCs, as well as with other international stakeholders, such as NGOs from other regions, development agencies and United Nations agencies.

3. Expand information, resources and capacity-building for LDC NGOs in order to improve their participation in international cooperation and UN activities. This is possible through our Internet information service, training and by assisting them to develop contacts with the various United Nations agencies and other international stakeholders.

Finally, we place ourselves entirely at the disposal of Governments, development agencies and international organizations interested in strengthening their cooperation with the non-governmental sector. We sincerely hope our efforts will contribute to further assist cooperation among Governments and non-governmental stakeholders in order to solve the many challenge faced by LDCs.

Thank you for your kind attention

Mr Ziegler

President