Small islands, Landlocked and Least Developed countries: They cannot wait for the next crisis

For some countries, structural constraints largely explain why global disturbances, like pandemics or conflict-induced trade disruptions, tend to have severe effects on their agrifood systems. For instance, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) rely on imported food for a large share of their domestic consumption, while Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) encounter persistent logistical challenges that affect trade flows. Least Developed Countries (LDCs) continue to face underlying deficits that undermine national efforts for achieving sustainable development. When agrifood systems come under strain, these structural conditions shape how impacts are experienced and how recovery unfolds in these countries.

Recent data from The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025 provide a clear picture of these dynamics. In 2024, the prevalence of undernourishment in these three country groups was above the global estimate of 8.2 percent: 16.9 percent in SIDS, 21.7 percent in LDCs, and 17.2 in LLDCs.

A range close to half of the population in these countries experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, while the affordability of a healthy diet remains a central concern: for instance, in LDCs, nearly two-thirds of people were unable to access a healthy diet in 2024, and even in SIDS, which is the country group showing the lowest share, the estimate was 16.3 percentage points above the global one.

These outcomes reflect how structural constraints amplify the effects of external shocks. Agriculture remains a primary source of employment in many of these economies, especially in LDCs and LLDCs (52.7 and 52.1 percent of the total employment in 2023) yet instruments for managing risk, whether through diversified trade, social protection, or data systems, remain limited.

Climate-related impacts further shape this landscape. In SIDS, for example, The Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security 2025 highlights that disasters have had disproportionate effects on agricultural output over time, underscoring the importance of resilience‑building efforts.

The international community has recognized these challenges through global frameworks, including the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda, the Doha Programme of Action, and the Awaza Programme of Action. These provide a foundation for coordinated efforts to build resilience across agrifood systems and beyond. The continued priority is to translate these frameworks into country-level instruments that respond to specific national contexts.

In 2025, FAO supported this effort across 93 countries through a broad portfolio of programmes and projects. This work ranged from working directly in the field to global level on various areas, such as supporting farmers for increasing agrifood production, to improving data systems to support evidence-based policy decisions. FAO’s country presence has remained central to this approach, ensuring that support is grounded in national priorities and aligned with government-led processes.

An important development has been the continued shift toward more integrated and programmatic approaches. Rather than focusing on isolated interventions, efforts are increasingly designed to align with national strategies, strengthen institutional capacity, and connect actions across sectors.

In 2025, FAO supported 93 SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs through a broad portfolio of work ranging from supporting farmers in increasing production to improving data systems to support evidence-based policy decisions. ©FAO/Russell Wai

The FAO Action Plan 2026-2027 on supporting agrifood systems transformation in SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs reflects this collective direction and coordinated actions towards achieving concrete deliverables. It has structured FAO’s efforts in supporting these groups of countries around key priorities, including strengthening production, improving access to healthy diets, enhancing resilience, supporting value chains and trade, advancing innovation, improving data systems, and facilitating partnerships and financing.

The Action Plan offers a mechanism to connect global commitments with country-level delivery. It supports coordination across institutions and helps translate shared priorities into practical actions, from farmer support to strengthened early warning systems and improved policy planning.

Sustained investment in these contexts remains an important element of progress. Experience shows that supporting agrifood systems transformation through increased financial resources and better technical capacities is essential to achieve overall objectives related to food security and nutrition, livelihoods and sustainable development.

The progress achieved in 2025 demonstrates that coherent and coordinated approaches, grounded in country priorities and supported by partnerships, can deliver results, shaped by ongoing engagement and shared commitment across the international community.

Learn more

FAO & Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries

FAO's work in Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries 2025

FAO Action Plan 2026–2027 on supporting agrifood systems transformation in SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs

Xiangjun Yao is Director of the Office of SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs at FAO