Welcome to the United Nations
Professor Jose Antonio Ocampo, Chair of the Committee for Development Policy (CDP), addressed the Economic and Social Council at its High-Level Segment. He presented the key messages of the CDP’s 2025 report, and reflected on recent developments in financing for development and trade. Professor Ocampo stressed the need for strengthened multilateral action to face historical challenges and structural shifts. He acknowledged the significance of the Compromiso de Sevilla and the need to ensure its implementation. He also stated that multilateral action is particularly important given recent developments in global trade. Trade has been instrumental in lifting millions out of poverty and in helping least developed countries (LDCs) advance towards graduation, but its development gains are not automatic and can be fragile. Some of the LDCs that have most successfully increased their role in global trade are likely to be among the hardest hit by the recent trade shocks, and LDCs in general stand to lose from the consequences of uncertainty and slower global growth. For more on this issue, see WESP Monthly Briefing “Tariff shocks and graduation from the LDC category”.
Mr. Ocampo also conveyed the messages contained in the CDP report regarding the importance of poverty measurement. Ahead of the Second World Summit on Social Development and the 2030 deadline for the SDGs, the CDP recommends the adoption of a combination of global and national, monetary and multidimensional poverty measures, the use of disaggregated data, and better communication, including greater visibility of success stories, particularly from the poorest countries. CDP member Sabina Alkire’s recent CDP Issue Brief: Eradicating poverty effectively – concise, strategic data to tackle the greatest global challenge discusses these points in greater detail.
Finally, Professor Ocampo expressed concern about the difficult external environment that LDCs face, spoke about the need to rethink the support given to LDCs, including graduating countries, and to improve the graduation process.
The CDP’s next plenary meeting will take place in February 2026.
Relevant links:
• Statement by CDP Chair
• 2025 CDP report
• Issues brief by Sabina Alkire: Eradicating poverty effectively: concise, strategic data to tackle the greatest global challenge
• Tariff shocks and graduation from the least developed country category, World Economic and Social Prospects Monthly Briefing July 2025 (UNDESA)
• Recording on UN WebTV
• More information on the CDP: https://cdp.un.org
