Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes United Nations Conference on Trade and Development - Division for Africa – författare

This paper looks at how LDCs can innovate using traditional IPR policies and then looks at how innovation is developing in the informal sector. LDCs have a variety of needs and equally have a variety of IPRs at their disposal to serve their domestic socio-economic and development needs, as well as their international obligations. Companies can choose formal intellectual property, which includes patents, trademarks, registered designs, copyright, among others. They can also choose a range of 'alternative' or informal appropriation mechanisms, such as secrecy, confidentiality agreements, lead time, or complexity. The paper does not attempt to be exhaustive. This paper argues that LDCs need to build at least a critical minimum level of productive capacities and technological capabilities to make full use of the formal and informal IPRs as well as of existing flexibilities. The analysis focuses on six kinds of IPRs and provides case studies based on the experience undertaken in LDCs or in other developing countries.

This publication takes stock of 50 years of development experience since the establishment of the LDC category in 1971. Most LDCs growth has been erratic, and they have not closed the income gap with other developing countries. This stems largely from the inefficacy of domestic and international policies in addressing structural impediments to structural transformation, i.e. low level of productive capacities, excessive export orientation, limited policy space, weak state capacity, technological backwardness, limited entrepreneurial development and insufficient investment in human capital formation. For the coming decade, the report proposes an overhaul of development policies and strategies in favour of initiatives that are centred on the development of productive capacities and led by a developmental state, which successfully aligns foreign agents' dealings with LDCs to national development goals and priorities.

Prepared in the context of the process of the Lao PDR's graduation from LDC status, this publication contains insights into the particular vulnerabilities or fragilities of the country and the implications of these disadvantages. The profile helps national authorities understand the critical relationship between the need for resilience-building action, and LDC status as a basis for eligibility for special support to this action. It is organised around four pillars: (i) a situation analysis; (ii) identification of key areas of vulnerability; (iii) evaluation of the consequences of identified vulnerabilities; and (iv) identification of structures and features of the economy that are critical for a sustainable graduation and for reducing existing vulnerabilities. Topics covered include the socio-economic impact of COVID-19, pervasive informality, inequalities and gender issues