COVID-19

March 18, 2021 - Caroline Freund

Global trade rebound suggests some lessons of COVID-19 are being learned

Recovery taking a different shape than expected

March 17, 2021 - Helen Castell

Aid for Trade: time to take stock of Covid-19’s impact

A year into Covid-19 being declared a global pandemic, this month’s Aid for Trade stocktaking event, organized by the Development Division of the World Trade Organization (WTO), offers a timely opportunity to assess impact on developing and least developed countries’ (LDC) trade needs, discuss how to make the recovery sustainable and mobilize financing where it is needed most.

March 16, 2021 - David Luke, Judith Ameso, Mahlet Girma Bekele

On implementing the AfCFTA in 2021

David Luke, Judith Ameso, Mahlet Girma Bekele

March 09, 2021 - Sofía Baliño

What role can sustainability standards play in the post COVID-19 recovery?

Adopting such standards in LDC production offers promise, but work remains

March 04, 2021 - Fekitamoeloa Katoa 'Utoikamanu

The overlapping crises of climate and COVID-19 demands a renewed solidarity

Originally published by Thomson Reute

March 02, 2021 - Brendan Vickers, Salamat Ali, Dr. Neil Balchin, Hilary Enos-Edu

Access denied: Ensuring vaccines for the world’s poorest countries

by Brendan Vickers, Salamat Ali, Dr. Neil Balchin, Hilary Enos-Edu

February 16, 2021 - Désirée Van Gorp

Making global value chains sustainable and enhancing the position of LDCs: A shared responsibility

Multinationals and governments need to recognize the trade world’s interconnectedness, and its impact

February 04, 2021 - Emeline Wuilbercq

Pay cuts and forced overtime: COVID-19 takes heavy toll on Ethiopia's garment workers

Originally published by Thompson Reuters Foundation News on 22 December 2020

January 12, 2021 - Deanna Ramsay

Getting bullish on tourism in Burundi

Country embarking on a new tourism strategy as part of its building of trade sector When one thinks about tourism hotspots, Burundi is not the first that comes to mind. But, that doesn’t mean it couldn’t get there.

December 02, 2020 - Jenny Larsen

Can Africa’s third industrial development decade deliver?

As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic kick in, hopes for better progress, at least in the short term, appear to be fading.

November 24, 2020 - Dr. Karishma Banga

Can digital platforms help mitigate agricultural losses from COVID in Uganda?

The government of Uganda put containment measures in place to tackle COVID-19. These included quarantines; bans on public gatherings and weekly markets; closures of schools, borders and nonessential retail outlets; and the suspension of international flights.

November 12, 2020 - Bruno Casella

Climbing the ladder under the storm: How the COVID crisis is changing the GVC development strategies of LDCs

The combined and cumulative effect of pre-existing technological, policy and sustainability trends and the current COVID crisis is set to strike a perfect storm in the system of international production and GVCs.

November 10, 2020 - Deanna Ramsay

In Cabo Verde, tourism and trade at a crossroads

Cabo Verde is often described as “off the beaten path”, whatever that means. In reality, the tiny country of 10 islands has been on many paths since the 15th century, when Portuguese sailors first stopped in the uninhabited archipelago.

November 05, 2020 - Deanna Ramsay

Supporting an evolving ecommerce ecosystem in Myanmar

Myanmar was already moving to get its businesses online. With COVID-19, they were able to speed things up.

November 03, 2020 - Samantha Harris and Léa Farnier

How businesses can build resilience to climate impacts and protect the vulnerable throughout value chains

Companies have a key role to play in building societal resilience to crises, including the current pandemic and climate impacts, across their value chains.

October 29, 2020 - Kim Kampel

LDC tourism: Making strides towards sustainable, resilient recovery from COVID-19

With a sharp decline in tourism in 2020, what does the future look like?

October 22, 2020 - Désirée van Gorp and Girish Ramachandran

COVID-19 should be the accelerator for e-health in the least developed countries

On transforming healthcare where it’s needed most

October 21, 2020 - Dr. Claudia Sobrevila

Journey back to recovery – Resources to develop tourism sustainably

Originally published by the World Bank on 1st October 2020

October 20, 2020 - Stacey Frederick and Jack Daly

Global value chain lens can inform responses to bolster tourism industry in developing countries

The COVID-19 pandemic is a testament to the global value chain (GVC) world we live in; what happens in one country has profound impacts, intended and unintended, across countries.

October 15, 2020 - Bright Simons

Scale tangles with agility in African pharma supply chains, unleashing new forces

Medicine retail and logistics in Africa are a highly fragmented business.

October 13, 2020 - Peter Donelan

Responsible tourism in Tanzania, recommendations for COVID-19 recovery

How can the country build back better?

September 29, 2020 - Michelle Kovacevic

Women at the Rwanda border

Country's cross-border traders persevere despite COVID-19 challenges

September 24, 2020 - Marlynne Hopper

Future-proofing safe trade now urgent for developing countries

COVID-19 is highlighting the interconnectedness of agri-food trade; and work needs to be done to mobilise action to build safe food systems

September 14, 2020 - Karishma Banga, Jodie Keane, Max Mendez-Parra, Laetitia Pettinotti, Lily Sommer

Boosting African regional value chain development in response to COVID-19: The catalysing role of the AfCFTA

New paper looks at the supply chain dimension of African trade during and post-COVID

September 02, 2020 - Violeta Gonzalez, Toyin Abiodun

Cooperatives help cross border traders stay in business during COVID-19

Originally published by THOMSON REUTERS FOUNDATION NEWS on 18 August 2020

August 17, 2020 - UNCTAD

Ugandan ecommerce platforms power recovery from COVID-19 crisis

Partnerships with development agencies and government efforts to boost the digital economy are helping soften the economic blow of the pandemic.

August 11, 2020 - Violeta Gonzalez, Anisse Terai

COVID-19 is exacerbating the global trade finance gap

Originally published in World Economic Forum Agenda on 6 July 2020

August 05, 2020 - Brendan Vickers, Salamat Ali, Collin Zhuawu

Looking at LDCs, food and COVID-19

Food products comprise around 17% of LDC merchandise imports – more than double the world average of 8%.

August 04, 2020 - Ratnakar Adhikari

Lessons from LDCs’ responses to COVID-19: From crisis to opportunities?

Originally published in OECD-Development Matters on 6 July 2020

August 03, 2020 - Michelle Kovacevic

Much more than a health crisis: What EIF has learnt from COVID-19

As LDCs grapple with ongoing economic fallout from COVID-19, EIF activities have yielded valuable insights for recovery.

July 31, 2020 - Fanan Biem

Blockchain and LDC trade during COVID-19

The macroeconomic context for developing country trade in the time of COVID-19

July 30, 2020 - Ratnakar Adhikari

How can least developed countries attract foreign direct investment in the context of COVID-19?

Ways for LDCs to adapt amid global turmoil

July 21, 2020 - Cecilia Ugaz Estrada, Müge Dolun, Carmen Schuber, Nicolas Schmidt

Industries post-COVID-19: A gender-responsive approach to global economic recovery

Women’s specific needs and potential as leaders and agents of change must be considered for COVID-19 mitigation and recovery measures.

July 16, 2020 - Sophia Gnych

COVID-19 and the seed sector: How countries are navigating challenges

OECD’s Seed Schemes are working to protect food systems globally, with important benefits for least developed countries

July 15, 2020 - UNCTAD

Cambodia’s digital startups help blunt economic impact of COVID-19

An uptick in business, especially in the delivery of food and essential items, is enhancing resilience in the wake of the crisis.

July 14, 2020 - Brendan Vickers, Salamat Ali

Unpacking COVID-19-related medical supply chains in Commonwealth LDCs

Although LDCs are home to 13.3% of the world’s population, their share of COVID-19-related medical imports is just 1%.

July 08, 2020 - Peter Drysdale

Time for Asian partners to work together on a global COVID recovery strategy

Six new objectives for regional policy cooperation

July 07, 2020 - Adnan Seric, Jostein Hauge

COVID-19 and the global contraction in FDI

Originally published by UNIDO in May 2020

June 24, 2020 - Violeta Gonzalez

Don’t put export bans on medical supplies during COVID-19. Why trade should flow freely to the world’s poorest countries

Originally published in OECD-Development Matters on 28 April 2020

June 23, 2020 - Anna Spenceley

COVID-19 and tourism in Africa’s protected areas: Impacts and recovery needs

COVID-19 has led to a steep decline in business for operators in protected areas, coupled with a substantial drop in future booking requests.

June 16, 2020 - Michelle Kovacevic

David Laborde: How to help LDCs stay food secure through COVID-19

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFRPRI) Senior Research Fellow discusses the challenges and opportunities for food security in least developed countries amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

June 11, 2020 -

Online discussion: Tourism & COVID-19

Tourism is the backbone of many developing world economies, and the sector is being drastically affected by COVID-19. How can countries weather and recover this crisis? What lessons can we take from the past?

June 09, 2020 - Michelle Kovacevic

Fragile countries call for cooperation in battle against COVID-19

Pandemic response highlights resilience of already-fragile countries

June 08, 2020 - Michelle Kovacevic

Tourism and COVID-19: An opportunity to rebuild better

Halting of travel devastating sector that is a key driver of growth in the world’s poorest countries

June 05, 2020 - Jodie Keane

Least developed country vulnerabilities exposed by COVID-19

The world is changing, and so should our support to the world’s poorest countries

June 03, 2020 - Paul Akiwumi, Giovanni Valensisi

When it rains it pours: COVID-19 exacerbates poverty risks in the poorest countries

Originally published by UNCTAD on 7 May 2020

June 02, 2020 - Michelle Kovacevic

Creating a strong investment climate in the wake of COVID-19

Supply chains are vulnerable, but there is also promise in new sectors for least developed countries

May 29, 2020 -

Online discussion: LDC graduation & COVID-19

Only 5 countries have graduated from LDC status since the category was established in 1971. 12 are set to potentially graduate in the coming years, largely based on economic gains. But with COVID-19 slowing economies and trade, is LDC graduation in peril?

May 19, 2020 - Daniel Gay

Six suggestions for improving support to least developed countries

To get LDC graduation back on track, and to help other LDCs, reform of the international system of support must be fundamental and far-reaching.

May 18, 2020 - Rajan Sudesh Ratna, Hang T.T. Tran

South Asian least developed countries: The rocky path to sustainable graduation

How will graduation impact countries in South Asia and the trade support they benefit from? How can they prepare?

May 13, 2020 - Brendan Vickers, Salamat Ali, Deanna Ramsay

COVID-19 hitting tourism hard: What does this mean for the world’s poorest countries?

Examining the potential impact of tourism disruption in LDCs; developing policy recommendations to limit the damage, initiate recovery and build resilience

May 13, 2020 -

Online discussion: Fragility & conflict

48% of impoverished people today live in fragile and conflict-affected states, and the number is increasing. COVID-19 has the potential to make the situation even worse. What can countries and global institutions do to stem this tide and improve stability?

May 07, 2020 - Ratnakar Adhikari, Dorothy Tembo