The Least Developed Countries Report 2016

Graduation is the process through which a country ceases to be a least developed country (LDC), having in principle overcome the structural handicaps that warrant special support from the international community. The Least Developed Countries Report 2016: The path to graduation and beyond – Making the most of the process argues that graduation should be regarded, not as a winning post, but rather as a milestone in a country’s long-term economic and social development. Thus, the focus should not be on graduation itself, but rather on “graduation with momentum”, which will lay the foundations for long-term development and allow potential pitfalls to be avoided far beyond the country’s exit from the LDC category. Structural transformation plays a fundamental role in this process.