The International Day of Awareness of the Special Development Needs and Challenges of Landlocked Developing Countries is observed every year on August 6. This day draws global attention to the unique obstacles faced by landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), including limited access to international trade routes, high transportation costs, and economic isolation. The observance underscores the urgent need for international cooperation, investment in infrastructure, and policy support to help these countries overcome their geographical disadvantages and achieve inclusive and sustainable development.
Landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) face unique barriers to development. Without direct access to the sea, they suffer higher trade costs, limited market integration, and greater vulnerability to climate shocks and supply chain disruptions. Yet, despite these challenges, LLDCs are not forgotten by the international donor community. Today, a wide range of bilateral and multilateral donors are actively investing in LLDCs through infrastructure projects, capacity-building programs, and strategic regional initiatives.
For NGOs, this presents a significant opportunity—not just to serve as catalysts of change, but to directly access funding, forge partnerships, and implement meaningful projects that support sustainable development in some of the world’s most underserved regions.
In this article, we explore seven key pathways through which NGOs can tap into donor-funded programs in LLDCs and contribute to transformational impact on the ground.
1. Become an Implementing Partner for Donor-Led Projects
Many international donors design programs but rely on local partners to deliver results. These implementing partners—often UN agencies, civil society organizations, and NGOs—play a crucial role in turning strategies into real-world solutions.
For example, the UNDP Aid for Trade initiative, funded by the Government of Finland, operates across Central Asia to improve trade policy, enhance cross-border transport systems, and integrate local businesses into global markets. Similarly, the Green Finance Facility in North Macedonia, funded by the Joint SDG Fund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), supports climate-friendly investments and relies on local expertise for implementation.
NGO Opportunity: NGOs with a track record in trade facilitation, climate adaptation, economic inclusion, or public infrastructure can position themselves as valuable implementing partners.
2. Apply for Small Grants and Blended Finance Facilities
Not all donor funding comes in the form of large-scale infrastructure projects. Many programs offer small-grant windows or blended finance instruments that NGOs can directly apply to—especially those focused on community-level interventions.
The ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme is one such example. It supports artisanal and small-scale mining sectors in countries like Burkina Faso, Mongolia, and Zambia, providing funding and technical assistance to enhance safety, productivity, and environmental practices. Likewise, UNITAR’s Leave No One Behind Fund, supported by Sida and the State of Qatar, funds capacity-building projects in sub-Saharan Africa that often engage local NGOs.
NGO Opportunity: Propose scalable, high-impact community initiatives—especially those centered on youth empowerment, environmental protection, women’s safety, or economic resilience.
3. Partner with Strategic Trust Funds under Global Frameworks
Certain global development frameworks come with dedicated trust funds that NGOs can tap into—especially those that support multi-country initiatives. A key example is the 2030 Agenda Sub-Fund, a Chinese-funded mechanism under the UN Peace and Development Trust Fund, which supports LLDC-focused projects under the Belt and Road Initiative.
One such project focused on enhancing the capacity of LLDCs in policy reform and infrastructure planning—areas where NGOs with research, policy, or technical expertise can provide significant value.
NGO Opportunity: Collaborate with UN agencies, think tanks, or ministries to co-implement capacity-building projects, regional dialogues, or policy innovation labs.
4. Deliver Training and Crisis Response Capacity Building
Several donor programs seek to strengthen the capacity of governments and institutions to better manage crises, develop policies, and serve their populations. The Leave No One Behind Fund is a prime example—supporting training and institutional strengthening in LLDCs with the help of partners like Sida and the State of Qatar.
In such frameworks, NGOs are often enlisted to:
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Design and deliver training materials
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Conduct stakeholder consultations
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Monitor and evaluate impact
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Provide localised policy recommendations
NGO Opportunity: If your NGO has expertise in governance, public health, education, or emergency response, this is a space where you can make a tangible difference.
5. Contribute to Regional Infrastructure Corridors and Connectivity
LLDCs are increasingly becoming part of large-scale regional infrastructure initiatives. These include road, rail, energy, and digital corridors that aim to connect landlocked nations to international markets.
Under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, the European Union has pledged over €8 billion in official development assistance (ODA) to LLDCs. These investments support corridors such as the Trans-Caspian and the Lobito Corridor, which cut across multiple African and Eurasian states.
While private sector and governments lead these projects, NGOs have critical roles to play in:
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Community engagement and public awareness
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Monitoring social and environmental safeguards
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Promoting inclusive development standards
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Offering training to displaced or affected communities
NGO Opportunity: Secure sub-contracts, develop community plans, and advocate for transparency and inclusion in megaprojects.
6. Join Multi-Donor Funds for Sectoral Development
The Asian Development Fund (ADF) is a prime example of a multi-donor trust fund that supports LLDCs in Asia. With over 36 donors—including the US, Japan, Australia, and the EU—the ADF channels billions into projects on energy access, education, health systems, and climate resilience.
NGOs that meet qualification standards can register with multilateral banks like ADB or World Bank to participate as implementing agencies, monitoring consultants, or technical advisors.
NGO Opportunity: Focus on aligning your projects with sectoral development priorities and maintain eligibility status with international finance institutions.
7. Engage in High-Level LLDC Conferences and Policy Platforms
Beyond funding, strategic engagement at conferences and development dialogues opens doors to long-term partnerships. The Second UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, supported by Austria and Qatar, is a key event where NGOs can showcase impact, influence policy, and network with global donors.
Many development partners—including the Qatar Fund for Development and Austrian Development Agency—support the participation of NGOs in such forums.
NGO Opportunity: Prepare well-documented case studies, policy briefs, or impact stories and use these platforms to secure visibility, technical support, or future funding.
Conclusion: LLDCs Need You—And the Donors Are Listening
The challenges facing LLDCs require collaborative, on-the-ground solutions. While donor agencies provide the funds and frameworks, it’s often the NGOs who are closest to the people and best equipped to deliver results where they’re needed most.
Whether you are a large international NGO or a small local grassroots group, opportunities abound in:
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Project implementation
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Capacity development
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Policy engagement
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Monitoring and evaluation
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Regional integration efforts
Stay alert to calls for proposals. Build alliances with UN agencies. Demonstrate measurable impact. And above all, ensure your work aligns with the development priorities of the region. The road ahead for LLDCs is long—but with your involvement, it can lead to real, lasting change.
