Chantal Umuhoza delivered the statement of the Civil Society Forum at the Closing session "Adoption of the Doha Political Declaration & Closure" of the LDC5 Conference held on 9 March 2023. Download pdf version of the Statement (French version is available here).

Watch the Adoption of the Doha Political Declaration & Closure.

The Civil Society Forum (CSF) was organized by a Core Group of civil society organizations composed of LDC-Watch, Third World Network, Social Watch and Global Policy Forum, in collaboration with the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries (UN-OHRLLS). The Civil Society Forum was held in Doha, Qatar, from 4 to 9 March 2023.

The LDC5 Conference was held in two parts.  Part 1 adopted the new Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2022-2031 (DPoA) on 17 March 2022 at the UN headquarters in New York. Part 2, the main Conference was held in Doha, Qatar, from 5 to 9 March 2023.

The Civil Society Forum was organized by a Core Group of civil society organizations composed of LDC-Watch, Third World Network, Social Watch and Global Policy Forum, in collaboration with the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries (UN-OHRLLS). The Civil Society Forum was held in Doha, Qatar, from 4 to 9 March 2023.

Social Watch Philippines (SWP) - Alternative Budget Initiative Health Cluster (SWP - ABI) held a three-day capacity-building workshop on budget and policy advocacy and campaigns for water, sanitation, and hygiene at Hive Hotel and Convention Center, Quezon City on November 23-25, 2022. The activity was also accessible online via Zoom. The workshop training was participated by civil society organizations working on health, environment, and human rights, and those representing persons/children with disability, older persons, and urban poor communities.

The UN established the category of least developed countries (LDCs) in 1971, as many developing countries were navigating a path to development in the post-colonial period. The classification identified specific development challenges faced by these countries.

This GPW Round Up #3, CSO Participation at the UN: Perspectives on CSO Engagement in UN Processes, highlights some insights, analyses, commentary and advocacy regarding civil society organizations engaging in UN multilateral processses. From the Member States to the UN Secretary-General, CSOs are frequently exalted as an integral part of multilateral policy-making processes; yet, whether their calls and analyses are genuinely heeded is up for debate. Some Member States and CSOs have called for improvements in CSO participation, supported by recommendations from experts on reforms to CSO engagement.