Where we work

The Least Developed Countries (LDC) are a group of 45 nations, all disproportionately affected by climate change, despite being the least responsible for it. The LDCs are varied in terms of geography, contexts and vulnerabilities to climate change, and include small island states, mountainous, and landlocked countries.

They are made up of 33 countries in Africa, one country in Latin America and the Caribbean, eight countries in Asia and three countries in Oceania. Together, LDCs are playing a leading role in global efforts to prevent dangerous climate change and are taking decisive action to step up their own climate efforts and ambition.

A total of ten LDCs have joined LIFE-AR: Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi, The Gambia and Uganda were the first cohort of six countries to join LIFE-AR in 2019; and Benin, Madagascar, Nepal and Senegal became the second cohort of countries to join in 2023. All countries signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the LDC Chair to join LIFE-AR.

First cohort of LIFE-AR countries

A call for a first cohort of countries to join LIFE-AR was announced at the LDC Ministerial meeting during the Ethiopian leadership, chaired by Gebru Jember Endalew in 2018. Several workshops were organised to increase awareness of LIFE-AR among all LDCs. In addition to signalling interest to join LIFE-AR at the 2018 Ministerial meeting, LDCs had to formally write to the LDC Chair to indicate their interest in taking part in the initiative.

A total of six LDCs from East Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa and Southern Asia put themselves forward and officially joined LIFE-AR as Front Runner Countries at COP 25 in December 2019: Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi, The Gambia and Uganda.

All six countries are finishing the Establishment phase of LIFE-AR and moving towards the Test and Evolve phase. They have identified and designed the innovations required to strengthen existing institutions, systems and capabilities for climate action at national and local levels, to deliver the LDC 2050 Vision and move away from Business As Usual to Business Unusual approaches. Key activities achieved during the Establishment phase by these countries include:

• Establishing a governance and coordination framework. This includes appointing national focal points to drive LIFE-AR activities in-country, and setting up national platforms involving whole of society actors to provide strategic and technical leadership in implementing LIFE-AR
• Identifying and establishing a financial mechanism to receive and effectively manage LIFE-AR funding
• Designing (or strengthening an existing) and establishing a delivery mechanism to channel at least 70% of funds to community-prioritised investments for climate action
• Developing a monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) plan
• Developing a communication strategy, and
• Identifying pilot areas for the Test and Evolve phase. This is to establish proof of concept in the delivery mechanisms and MEL systems, to deliver the LDC Offers by testing the innovations introduced and funding the community-prioritised investments for climate action.

Second cohort of LIFE-AR countries

The selection of the Front Runner Countries was based on demand and adherence to LIFE-AR principles, without a formal assessment, as no Board existed at that time. But for the second cohort, the LIFE-AR Board needed to ensure financial capacity of the initiative to welcome additional countries.

During the seventh Board meeting, scenarios and candidate countries were considered, and an update on the budget for calling the second cohort was considered and approved at the eighth LIFE-AR Board meeting. The LDC Chair announced a call for a second cohort of countries to join LIFE-AR in 2023. This was based on a set of criteria including interest and political commitment to join and champion the initiative and its Vision and principles. This came after a growing demand from several LDCs to join LIFE-AR.

Countries once again had to formally write to the LDC Chair expressing their interest to join LIFE-AR, with the letter signed by a high-level government official. The selected countries were then invited to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the LDC Chair. Following this process, four countries were selected to be part of the second cohort of countries with Benin, Madagascar, Nepal and Senegal joining LIFE-AR in 2023.

How to join LIFE-AR?

LIFE-AR is an LDC-led initiative that is open to all LDCs. The process of joining LIFE-AR is LDC driven, based on a demand-led approach with oversight by the LIFE-AR Board.

Before a new call is made, the LIFE-AR Secretariat will assess the financial and operational feasibility of bringing in more countries and present this to the LIFE-AR Board. This is to ensure sufficient funds are available to support the new cohort’s onboarding and activities. Following Board approval, the LDC Chair will invite expressions of interest for the next cohort through an official email and at a key LDC event, including the LDC Ministerial meeting.

This announcement will signal the opening of the application process for interested countries to join the LIFE-AR initiative. LDCs will be requested to communicate formally to the LDC Chair, expressing interest to join LIFE-AR. Following the identification of the interested cohort countries, the Secretariat will then assess each country’s adaptation action landscape and the potential added value of LIFE-AR in the country. The LIFE-AR Technical Expert Working Group will work with the LIFE-AR Secretariat to evaluate the outcome of the assessment and provide a recommendation to the Board.

The LIFE-AR Board will then deliberate and review the findings, considering strategic priorities and potential collaborative opportunities, before finalising the selection of new cohort countries. The Board will consider equitable representation of LDC regions and language groups, ensuring no country or community is left behind – special circumstances should be considered for countries that are more fragile or conflict-affected.