High-Level Dialogue - LLDCs

High-Level Dialogue on Digital Connectivity for Landlocked Developing Countries - YCS Forum 2026: Expanded Summary

#

Opening and Context

The high-level dialogue on digital connectivity for landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) was convened as part of the YCS Forum 2026, under the theme "Connectivity as a Catalyst: Delivering on the AWASA Programme of Action Through Digital Transformation" . The session was moderated by Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Angola, standing in for her colleague George Wachira, the UN Resident Coordinator in Eswatini, who had been unable to attend due to a bereavement . Mukwashi brought personal authority to the role, having previously served as Resident Coordinator in Lesotho - itself a landlocked country - describing the subject as "very close to my heart" and one she had spent four years working on .

Mukwashi opened by framing the structural challenge facing the 32 LLDCs, home to more than 620 million people, for whom "distance from seaports has long translated into higher trade costs, infrastructure deficits, and barriers to economic transformation" . She argued, however, that the digital era offers "an unprecedented opportunity to redefine what it means to be landlocked" , and that digital infrastructure, affordable broadband, trusted digital ecosystems, and digital skills are "no longer optional" but "essential foundations for inclusive growth, resilient economies, better public services, and meaningful participation in the global digital economy" . She added her own conviction that these foundations are "absolutely essential for ensuring that no one is left behind," particularly in terms of access to healthcare, education, food systems, and economic participation . She also stressed the urgency of the transition required, noting that people in rural areas and provinces need "to have the floor lifted from below their feet" .

The dialogue was situated within two overarching policy frameworks: the AWASA Programme of Action 2024-2034, which places digital transformation and resilient infrastructure "at the very centre of sustainable development for LLDCs" , and the WSIS process, which "reminds us that achieving universal and meaningful connectivity requires strong partnerships, innovative financing, and international cooperation" . Mukwashi was clear that the session's purpose was not merely to identify challenges but to share practical solutions, mobilise investments, strengthen regional cooperation, and build partnerships capable of translating ambition into action . She also proposed that the dialogue could give rise to a dedicated partnership platform or roundtable for digital transformation in LLDCs - one that could bring together governments, investors, development partners, and technical experts around a shared pipeline of digital projects, linking financing with opportunities on the ground, supporting regional cooperation, and accelerating the exchange of knowledge and best practices .

---

#

ITU Keynote: Connectivity as a Moral Imperative

Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU's Telecommunication Development Bureau, delivered the keynote address, framing digital transformation in explicitly human and moral terms. He argued that "digital transformation is not about replacing human judgement with algorithms" but rather "about amplifying human capacity through data, speed, and reach" . He described the AWASA Programme of Action not as "a set of targets, but as a promise - a promise to bridge digital divides, to unlock potential, and to leave no one behind" , and stated that this promise "can only be fulfilled if we recognise one simple truth: connectivity is the catalyst" .

Zavazava illustrated the transformative potential of connectivity through three concrete examples: a rural farmer accessing real-time market prices on a mobile device, "transforming subsistence into sustainability"; a remote clinic connecting to a central hospital via telemedicine, "saving lives not with bricks and mortar, but with bandwidth"; and a young student in an underserved region accessing a virtual classroom, "gaining the same quality of education as someone in the capital city" . He warned, however, that "a vision without infrastructure is just a dream" , and that "connectivity without purpose is just noise" , introducing the concept of purpose-driven connectivity in which "every megabyte serves a mission, every connection builds resilience, and every digital service empowers the citizens" .

To deliver on the AWASA Programme, Zavazava articulated three pillars. The first is infrastructure: "we cannot have digital transformation without digital access," requiring investment in broadband, satellite coverage, and resilient last-mile networks, because "connectivity is not a luxury, it is a utility" . The second is capacity: "technology is only as good as the people using it," necessitating investment in digital literacy for everyone - not just the young - and the building of a workforce that can "use, manage, and innovate with digital tools" . The third is governance: "transformation requires trust, and trust requires security and transparency," meaning that as public services are digitised, data privacy, cybersecurity, and inclusive design must be ensured, so that "digital transformation must leave no one behind, not by accident, but by design" . He concluded by calling on participants to "treat connectivity not as a technical challenge but as a moral imperative" .

---

#

Video Message from the Under-Secretary-General

A video message was delivered by Her Excellency Rabab Fatima, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States . She commended the ITU's leadership in advancing inclusive digital transformation and ensuring that the specific needs of countries in special situations remain visible in global digital cooperation , and described the dialogue as occurring at "a very important moment" as the international community begins implementing the AWASA Programme .

Fatima introduced a critical statistical anchor for the discussion: in 2024, only 39% of the population in LLDCs were using the internet, compared with 68% globally, leaving approximately 359 million people across LLDCs offline . She argued that "closing this digital divide is therefore not merely a technological challenge - it is a development imperative" , and introduced the concept of "digital exclusion as a new dimension of landlockedness": whereas landlockedness has traditionally been measured by distance from the sea, "today it is further compounded by distance from digital opportunity" . In a world where growth, innovation, and services are increasingly digital, "inadequate connectivity risks creating a new form of exclusion" .

Fatima outlined three priorities. First, she noted that despite recent progress, many LLDCs continue to face "inadequate broadband infrastructure, limited network coverage, high costs of connectivity, and persistent gaps in digital access," which reinforce existing structural constraints . She confirmed that her office, UNOHR LLS, is already working with member states, development partners, international financial institutions, and the private sector to advance the connectivity and digital transformation agenda under AWASA . Second, she argued that digital transformation can help LLDCs reduce the cost of distance through "paperless trade, single window systems, digital customs procedures, and improved cross-border data exchange," but that these opportunities require "predictable, transparent, and interoperable regulatory frameworks" . Third, she stressed that digital transformation will not happen without adequate financing: broadband networks, data centres, digital public infrastructure, innovation ecosystems, and digital skills development all require sustained investment, yet many LLDCs face "limited fiscal space, elevated borrowing costs, and persistent investment gaps" . She called for stronger engagement from development banks, greater use of blended finance and risk-sharing instruments, and deeper private sector partnerships , and highlighted the proposed Infrastructure Investment Financing Facility (IIFFF) under AWASA as "an important opportunity to explore how catalytic financing can help mobilise investment" . She closed by affirming that "when connectivity meets purpose, transformation is not just possible, it is inevitable" .

---

#

LLDC Group Statement: Tajikistan

Speaking on behalf of the group of landlocked developing countries, Mirzo Khurshed, Director of the Agency for Innovation and Digital Technologies under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, grounded the discussion in the lived realities of LLDC populations . He emphasised that connectivity "is not only about technology - it is also about trade, jobs, education, health, and economic growth" , and described the compounding geographic disadvantages faced by LLDCs: many are far from seaports, goods must cross multiple borders, and mountainous terrain makes it harder to build roads, railways, and internet networks . As a result, "many landlocked countries face high costs, delays, and limited access to digital services" .

Khurshed made a point of intellectual honesty that resonated throughout the discussion: "digital connectivity cannot change geography, but it can reduce the problems caused by geography" . He argued that connectivity can help people do business more easily, improve access to education, healthcare, and financial services, and help LLDC economies join regional and global digital markets . However, he stressed that infrastructure alone is insufficient: LLDCs also need digital skills, innovation, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and policies that build trust and attract investment . He noted that new technologies - including AI, digital trade platforms, and smart logistics - can improve public services and facilitate trade, but that LLDCs need "more financing, technology, training, and international support" to benefit from them . Tajikistan reaffirmed its readiness to work with all partners - member states, transit countries, development partners, international organisations, and the private sector - to close the connectivity gap and support digital transformation .

---

#

Country Perspectives: Zimbabwe and Botswana

The ministerial segment opened with a question directed to the Minister of Zimbabwe, Honourable Tatenda Anastacia Mavetera, and the Minister of Botswana, Honourable David Tshere, on the single biggest digital connectivity challenge facing their countries and the policy or investment priority most likely to have transformative impact over the next five years .

Minister Mavetera acknowledged that Zimbabwe, as a landlocked developing country, "fully understands the structural constraints" of high trade costs and limited market access . She identified resources as the primary constraint, noting that "resources are quite a constraint" and that all pillars of digital transformation - including AI infrastructure, computational sovereignty, and capacity development - require significant financing . She described Zimbabwe's launch of a national AI strategy anchored on four pillars: capacity development, AI infrastructure, computational sovereignty, and AI adoption . She called for shared infrastructure policies and collective solutions, asking why countries like Zimbabwe cannot access infrastructure already available in neighbouring countries such as Botswana - for example, shared GPU resources . She argued that "connectivity definitely is the foundation of any digital transformation journey" and called for a digital compact to pool resources collectively, including through what ITU and the UN are offering .

Minister Tshere of Botswana provided detailed context on his country's connectivity landscape, noting that mobile subscriptions had reached a penetration rate of 190%, while mobile broadband subscriptions had reached 3.3 million, representing a penetration rate of 139%, and that over 1.6 million mobile money subscriptions reflected growing adoption of digital financial services . However, he highlighted the structural disadvantages facing Botswana as a landlocked country: all imports, including internet broadband, transit through neighbouring countries at a cost "estimated at almost four times compared to the coastal countries" . The low and widely spread population makes ICT service delivery costly, particularly in remote areas across challenging terrain . Because Botswana imports nearly all its ICT equipment, it "remains vulnerable to global price fluctuations that directly affect affordability and access" . As a result, the Botswana government "continues to serve as a primary investor in large-scale ICT infrastructure," relying on the Universal Access and Savings Fund and private sector partnerships . He described the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP) as the national vehicle for positioning Botswana as "a regional technological and financial hub," alongside the Digital Services Act and Cybersecurity Act . He called for collaboration in trade, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and multinational solutions to address the high transit costs facing landlocked countries, and invited ITU to be an partner .

---

#

Transit Country Perspective: Namibia

Honourable Emma Inamutila Theofelus, Minister of Information Communication Technology of the Republic of Namibia, spoke as a representative of a transit country . She described Namibia's advantages: coastal access enabling the landing of undersea cables (including the WACS and Equinox cables), stable governance, heavy investment in emerging energy industries, and a large territory of approximately 825,000 square kilometres with a population of only around 3 million . She highlighted Namibia's growing port infrastructure at Walvis Bay, through which landlocked sister countries can access dry ports .

Theofelus made a proactive and concrete offer, inviting landlocked developing countries - from both public and private sectors - to invest in "national data embassies, green data centres, interworlds" in Namibia, positioning the country as "a regional digital corridor" . She cited existing bilateral cooperation with Botswana as evidence of genuine commitment: citizens of Namibia and Botswana do not require passports for cross-border travel, needing only national identity cards, and roaming fees between the two countries have been eliminated . She stated that these examples demonstrate that Namibia's offer to host digital infrastructure for landlocked neighbours is sincere, and expressed readiness to be "an equitable transit and cross-border infrastructure country that can support the holistic growth of the entire region" .

---

#

Development Partner Perspectives: EU Global Gateway and World Bank

EU Ambassador Deike Potzel described the Global Gateway as a model of "mutually beneficial partnerships" based on partners' own development priorities, with the EU providing "standards, transparency, sustainable and trusted technology" . She gave two concrete examples of Global Gateway investments benefiting LLDCs: in Central Asia, the EU is supporting secure satellite connectivity to reach remote and underserved communities where terrestrial infrastructure is too costly, while also expanding regional fibre networks to strengthen cross-border connectivity . Through the EU FinFund Global Connected programme, European Fund for Sustainable Development guarantees are being used to reduce investment risks and mobilise private investment, with specific examples including data centres in Nepal and fibre deployment in African LLDCs .

Potzel drew three key lessons for scaling up. First, "think regionally": cross-border cooperation, transit agreements, and shared infrastructure are essential . Second, "combine hard and soft infrastructure": cables and satellites only work with strong regulation, cybersecurity skills, and affordability measures . Third, "build pipelines of bankable projects": facilities like the proposed IIFFF can help prepare projects, reduce risk, and crowd in private capital, with the Global Gateway Investment Hub potentially playing a key role . She confirmed that the EU is ready to work constructively with LLDCs to implement these approaches .

Sangbu Kim, representing the World Bank, noted the seriousness with which the institution views the 39% internet penetration figure for LLDCs - roughly half the global average - and described connecting landlocked countries as "a World Bank priority project" . He announced the creation of a Digital Access Fund under the World Bank's Digital Strategy and Implementation Plan, incorporating public-private partnership mechanisms . The approach involves "de-risking mechanisms through some kind of grant or concessional support from the public side" to attract and incentivise private sector participation . He also stressed the importance of "streamlining public policy" and "holistic country compact approaches" to create real demand for digital ecosystems, arguing that without demand creation, supply-side infrastructure investment alone is insufficient . He highlighted practical AI applications in healthcare, education, and agriculture as particularly important for generating the demand needed to attract private sector investment in the future .

---

#

Private Sector Perspectives: Huawei and MTN

Ahmed Riad Ismail, Vice President of Global Standardisation at Huawei, argued that while LLDCs face a harder route to trade by geographic definition, "this should not be the case when it comes to digital technology, access to data, and access to connectivity," and that a well-connected LLDC "will have a direct access to global markets" . He identified three factors proven most effective in accelerating digital infrastructure deployment. First, making economics work alongside technology innovation: Huawei's RuralSTAR solution is "way more cost-effective" than a normal tower or cell, making connectivity in underserved areas "much more of an investment than actually a cost" . Second, partnership model innovation requiring four ingredients: governments providing enabling policies and universal service funds with incentive-based spectrum models; operators enabling open access and infrastructure sharing; vendors acting as "strategic long-term partners" rather than "short-term equipment sellers"; and international organisations such as ITU serving as a convening power . Third, he cited Huawei's ITU Partner to Connect pledge as a concrete example: having pledged to connect 120 million people in 80 countries in rural areas by 2023, Huawei exceeded this target by connecting 170 million people, with 34 of those countries listed among the UN's least developed economies .

Lele Modise of MTN, operating across 16 African markets including LLDCs such as Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, South Sudan, and Eswatini , argued that "connectivity is no longer simply a telecommunications issue - it's an economic development issue, an investment issue, a competitiveness issue across Africa" . She stated that "digital infrastructure has become as important to economic development as roads, railways, ports, and power networks" , and that digital networks have "the unique ability to overcome physical distance" . She identified the core financing challenge with precision: "the greatest barrier to infrastructure development in many developing markets is not the absence of opportunity, it's the absence of sufficient risk-adjusted capital and inability to move projects from concept to bankability" . She strongly welcomed the proposed IIFFF, arguing it can play a catalytic role by "supporting project preparation, de-risking strategic investments, and mobilising both public and private capital at scale" . She also called for policy and regulatory reforms to give investors certainty through "transparent licensing frameworks, efficient rights-of-way processes, harmonised regulations, and predictable investment environments" . Notably, she challenged the dominant deficit-focused narrative, arguing that "we should not think of LLDCs as countries with challenges - we should also recognise them as countries with enormous opportunity" . MTN's three priorities for the next decade were: connecting every community through resilient and affordable digital infrastructure; building regional digital corridors to enable trade, innovation, and economic integration; and mobilising significantly greater levels of public and private investment to close Africa's infrastructure gap .

---

#

Latin American Perspective: Paraguay

Ambassador Raúl Cano Ricciardi, Permanent Representative of Paraguay to the UN in Geneva, described Paraguay's primary digital connectivity challenge as ensuring "resilient, affordable, and reliable international connectivity" . He explained that Paraguay's international connectivity depends entirely on regional land fibre optic networks providing access to submarine cable systems through neighbouring countries . The geographic distances involved are formidable: reaching the Pacific requires crossing the Andes over approximately 2,000 kilometres, while reaching the Atlantic through Brazil involves travelling at least 1,200 kilometres . He argued that "connectivity for LDCs is not only a national issue, it is also a regional one," with the resilience, quality, and affordability of digital connectivity depending on "strong cross-border infrastructure and effective regional cooperation" .

Looking ahead, Paraguay identified strengthening regional cooperation and sustained investment in cross-border fibre optic infrastructure as the priority most likely to have transformative impact over the next five years . More diversified international connectivity routes through both the Atlantic and Pacific would "improve resilience, increase redundancy, foster competition, and contribute to more affordable and reliable connectivity" . He noted that Paraguay's National ICT Plan 2022-2030 identifies "sovereign access to international submarine cable connectivity" as a strategic objective , and called on all stakeholders - governments, regulators, development partners, and the private sector - to work together to ensure that "geography is no longer a barrier to digital inclusion, innovation, and sustainable development" .

---

#

Transit Country Perspective: Türkiye

Aysel Kandemir, General Director of Communications at Türkiye's Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, argued that "geographical constraints continue to result in higher trade costs, longer transit times, and limited access to digital opportunities" for LLDCs , but that "digital technologies provide greater opportunities to overcome these barriers" through smart logistics, paperless trade, and interoperable digital platforms . She stated that "Türkiye strongly believes that transport corridors must evolve beyond just routes moving goods - they should become platforms for digital integration, resilient supply chains, and inclusive economic transformation" . She cited the Middle Corridor as a strategic and sustainable route linking Central Asia with Europe, creating new opportunities for development . She noted that investments in broadband, e-government services, intelligent transportation systems, and digital services contribute "not only to economic growth but also to greater resilience and inclusion" , and confirmed Türkiye's readiness to share its experience and cooperate with partner countries in advancing digital transformation and smart connectivity .

---

#

Open Floor: Regional and Thematic Contributions

Noting that he was deliberately "breaking protocol" to invite additional voices into the discussion, Zavazava opened the floor to further contributions from participants. The OECD Development Centre expressed full support for the partnership roundtable approach, reflecting "a broader shift in development from specific and isolated projects to approaches that bring everybody together to really catalyse change" . Ambassador Ronepa of Nepal introduced the Asian LLDC perspective, describing Nepal as "a country of 30 million people living in the lap of Himalayas - a beautiful geography but as we try to engage in international trade we feel really remote" . He identified digital tools for cargo tracking and customs modernisation as key to cutting trade costs and enhancing competitiveness .

Armenia's representative highlighted that the country has prioritised digital transformation as a key pillar of its national development strategy, investing in broadband infrastructure, digital public services, cybersecurity, and digital skills, while strengthening regional and international cooperation . Cambodia's representative, invited by Zavazava to share lessons, described the country's adoption of a digital policy framework for a digital economy and society, its school connectivity work through the GIGA project, and its piloting of digital society concepts . Zavazava noted that Cambodia is "leading in bridging the digital skills divide and also bridging the gap between urban and rural areas," and cited a cell broadcasting early warning system test as an example of innovation .

The Eswatini representative raised the most challenging question of the session: whether good relations with neighbouring transit countries can be guaranteed at all times, and whether an ITU resolution could provide guarantees for continued access to submarine cables "should at any point in time things come to the worst" . He also noted that satellite connectivity, while an alternative, may not always be viable given "the issue of costs that is being charged to the consumer" . Zavazava responded with candour, acknowledging that "ITU resolutions are not binding - the sovereignty of nation states reigns supreme" , and that the UN faces the same constraint . He argued instead for maintaining alternative systems such as low-earth orbit satellites as backup in case submarine cables are disrupted by conflict, natural disasters, or sabotage , and noted that spectrum interference across borders remains an unresolved challenge where compliance with resolutions is ultimately voluntary .

UNFPA's Pernille Fenger, speaking on behalf of Executive Director Jenny Katie, brought a gender and inclusion perspective, arguing that "consistent connectivity and technological innovations can ensure that women and girls and vulnerable populations stay safe, not only through the purpose of a technological invention, but also through its design" . She described UNFPA's support for women- and youth-led social enterprises and community-built solutions, and stressed the importance of "responsibly designed innovation embedded in safety, ethics, and data privacy in the design by default" . She concluded by affirming that "digital transformation only succeeds if technology is inherently fair and equitable" .

---

#

ITU's Institutional Commitment and Closing Remarks

In his closing remarks, Zavazava highlighted the depth of ITU's institutional commitment to LLDC issues, noting that he had restructured the Telecommunication Development Bureau in 2024 to establish a dedicated division focused exclusively on the interests of least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and small island developing states . He also announced that ITU and the World Bank had signed a memorandum of understanding on the Sunday preceding the dialogue to collaborate on regulatory and related issues . He acknowledged the contributions of private sector partners - Huawei, through the Partner to Connect initiative and innovation challenges for young women and youth ; MTN, through work on strengthening regulatory frameworks for investment ; and UNFPA, through a joint project in Papua New Guinea .

Zavazava summarised the session's core message: "connectivity is not only a technical goal, but a catalyst for economic transformation, regional integration, and sustainable development in landlocked developing countries" . He stressed that delivering on this vision requires "political will, practical partnerships, innovative financing, and coordinated action to turn the ambitions of the AWASA programme into results" . He called on member states to "integrate the outcomes of the AWASA programme of action into your policy framework and regulatory frameworks" , and expressed ITU's commitment to continuing this momentum through cooperation with the private sector, investment interventions, and member state engagement .

---

#

Overall Assessment

The dialogue demonstrated a high degree of consensus across all categories of participants on the fundamental importance of digital connectivity for LLDC development, the AWASA Programme of Action as the shared framework for action, and the indispensability of multi-stakeholder partnerships. Key areas of agreement included the need for innovative financing mechanisms - particularly de-risking instruments and the proposed IIFFF - regional cooperation and cross-border digital infrastructure, and the principle that digital transformation must be inclusive by design rather than by accident .

Beneath this surface consensus, however, lay several notable tensions. The Eswatini representative's question about binding connectivity guarantees exposed a structural gap in the international governance framework: ITU resolutions are non-binding, and the sovereignty of nation states ultimately prevails, leaving transit-dependent LLDCs without formal guarantees of continued access . Participants also offered differing emphases between supply-side infrastructure investment and demand-side ecosystem development , and between government-led and private-sector-led financing models . MTN's explicit reframing of LLDCs as countries of "enormous opportunity" rather than merely countries with challenges offered a counterpoint to the deficit-focused statistical framing that opened the session . On regional cooperation, while all participants endorsed the principle, the models proposed ranged from hub-and-spoke arrangements - such as Namibia's offer to serve as a regional digital corridor - to Paraguay's call for diversified multi-directional connectivity routes, reflecting different structural contexts and priorities .

The session concluded with broad agreement that the conversation must not end in the room , and that translating the AWASA Programme from a document into a lived reality for 620 million people will require sustained political will, coordinated financing, and genuine partnership across governments, international organisations, the private sector, and civil society .