A/RES/80/149 GA
Development cooperation with middle-income countries : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly
80
Session
181
Yes
1
No
0
Abstentions
| Draft symbol | A/C.2/80/L.55 |
|---|---|
| Adopted symbol | A/RES/80/149 |
| Category | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND DEVELOPMENT FINANCE |
| P5 Positions |
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| UN Document | A/RES/80/149 ↗ |
Vote Recorded Vote — A/80/PV.64
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Albania
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Algeria
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Andorra
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Angola
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Antigua and Barbuda
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Armenia
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Australia
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Austria
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Azerbaijan
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Bahamas
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Bahrain
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Bangladesh
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Barbados
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Belarus
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Belgium
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Belize
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Benin
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Bhutan
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Plurinational State of Bolivia
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Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Botswana
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Brazil
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Brunei Darussalam
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Bulgaria
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Burkina Faso
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Burundi
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Cambodia
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Cameroon
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Canada
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Central African Republic
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Chad
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Chile
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China
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Colombia
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Comoros
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Congo
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Costa Rica
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Côte d'Ivoire
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Croatia
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Cuba
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Cyprus
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Czechia
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Democratic People's Republic of Korea
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Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Denmark
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Djibouti
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Dominican Republic
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Ecuador
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Egypt
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El Salvador
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Equatorial Guinea
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Eritrea
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Estonia
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Eswatini
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Ethiopia
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Fiji
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Finland
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France
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Gabon
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Gambia
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Georgia
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Germany
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Ghana
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Greece
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Grenada
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Guatemala
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Guinea
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Guinea-Bissau
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Guyana
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Haiti
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Honduras
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Hungary
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Iceland
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India
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Indonesia
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Islamic Republic of Iran
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Iraq
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Ireland
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Italy
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Jamaica
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Japan
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Jordan
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Kazakhstan
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Kenya
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Kuwait
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Kyrgyzstan
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Lao People's Democratic Republic
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Latvia
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Lebanon
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Lesotho
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Liberia
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Libya
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Liechtenstein
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Lithuania
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Luxembourg
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Malawi
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Malaysia
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Maldives
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Mali
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Malta
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Marshall Islands
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Mauritania
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Mexico
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Micronesia (Federated States of)
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Monaco
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Mongolia
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Montenegro
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Morocco
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Mozambique
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Myanmar
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Namibia
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Nepal
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Netherlands
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New Zealand
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Nicaragua
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Niger
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Nigeria
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North Macedonia
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Norway
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Oman
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Pakistan
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Palau
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Panama
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Papua New Guinea
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Paraguay
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Peru
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Philippines
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Poland
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Portugal
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Qatar
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Republic of Korea
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Moldova
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Romania
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Russian Federation
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Rwanda
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Saint Kitts and Nevis
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Saint Lucia
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Samoa
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San Marino
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Saudi Arabia
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Senegal
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Serbia
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Seychelles
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Sierra Leone
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Singapore
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Slovakia
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Slovenia
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Solomon Islands
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Somalia
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South Africa
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Spain
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Sri Lanka
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Sudan
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Suriname
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Sweden
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Switzerland
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Syrian Arab Republic
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Tajikistan
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Thailand
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Timor-Leste
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Togo
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Tonga
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Trinidad and Tobago
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Tunisia
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Türkiye
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Turkmenistan
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Tuvalu
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Uganda
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Ukraine
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United Arab Emirates
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United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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United Republic of Tanzania
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Uruguay
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Uzbekistan
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Vanuatu
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Viet Nam
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Yemen
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Zambia
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Zimbabwe
Full text of resolution
United Nations
A/RES/80/149
General Assembly
Distr.: General
18 December 2025
25-20771 (E)
*2520771*
Eightieth session
Agenda item 20 (c)
Globalization and interdependence: development cooperation
with middle-income countries
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
on 15 December 2025
[on the report of the Second Committee (A/80/555, para. 7)]
80/149. Development cooperation with middle-income countries
The General Assembly,
Recalling the outcomes of all the major United Nations conferences and
summits in the economic, social, environmental and related fields, including the
outcomes of the international conferences on development cooperation with middle-
income countries,
Reaffirming its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “Transforming
our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in which it adopted a
comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative
Sustainable Development Goals and targets, its commitment to working tirelessly for
the full implementation of the Agenda by 2030, its recognition that eradicating
poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest
global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, its
commitment to achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions –
economic, social and environmental – in a balanced and integrated manner, and to
building upon the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals and seeking
to address their unfinished business,
Reaffirming also its resolution 69/313 of 27 July 2015 on the Addis Ababa
Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development,
which is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, supports
and complements it, helps to contextualize its means of implementation targets with
concrete policies and actions, and reaffirms the strong political commitment to
address the challenge of financing and creating an enabling environment at all levels
for sustainable development in the spirit of global partnership and solidarity,
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Reaffirming further the Paris Agreement 1 and its early entry into force,
encouraging all its Parties to fully implement the Agreement, and Parties to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2 that have not yet done so to
deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, where
appropriate, as soon as possible,
Stressing the urgency of enhancing ambition for climate action in the
implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and
the Paris Agreement in relation to climate mitigation, adaptation and the provision of
the means of implementation, especially finance to developing countries, and
welcoming the adoption of decisions 2/CP.27 and 2/CMA.4 on funding arrangements
for responding to loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate
change, including a focus on addressing loss and damage, adopted on 20 November
2022 during the twenty-seventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt,
their full operationalization at the twenty-eighth session of the Conference of the
Parties, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and the finalization of key institutional
arrangements at the twenty-ninth session, held in Baku, Azerbaijan,
Reaffirming the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030,3
and the convening of the High-Level Meeting on the Midterm Review of the Sendai
Framework, noting the findings of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk
Reduction: Special Report on Drought 2021, expressing concern that disaster risk and
disaster economic losses are increasing in many middle-income countries, thus
undermining the financing available for investment in sustainable development and
stimulation of economic growth, and recognizing that financing disaster risk
reduction efforts and building resilience to economic and environmental shocks
remain a challenge in many middle-income countries,
Welcoming the New Urban Agenda, adopted at the United Nations Conference
on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), held in Quito, Ecuador,
from 17 to 20 October 2016,4
Recalling its resolutions 70/215 of 22 December 2015, 72/230 of 20 December
2017, 74/231 of 19 December 2019, 76/215 of 17 December 2021 and 78/162 of
19 December 2023,
Recalling also that the 2030 Agenda recognizes, inter alia, that middle-income
countries still face significant challenges to achieve sustainable development and that,
in order to ensure that achievements made to date are sustained, efforts to address
ongoing challenges should be strengthened through the exchange of experiences,
improved coordination and better and focused support of the United Nations
development system, the international financial institutions, regional organizations
and other stakeholders,
Reaffirming its resolution 79/226 of 19 December 2024 on the quadrennial
comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United
Nations system, in which it called upon the United Nations development system to
continue to develop and provide tailored support to middle-income countries in a
manner that addresses their specific challenges while mindful of their diversity, and
recognized that a shift from a traditional model of direct support and service provision
towards a greater emphasis on accurate and multidimensional assessment of each
_______________
1 Adopted under the UNFCCC in FCCC/CP/2015/10/Add.1, decision 1/CP.21.
2 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1771, No. 30822.
3 Resolution 69/283, annex II.
4 Resolution 71/256, annex.
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country’s specific needs and support for the leveraging of partnerships and financing
was needed,
Welcoming the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General with regard to the
repositioning of the United Nations development system, acknowledging the progress
achieved thus far in advancing the mandates of its resolution 71/243 of 21 December
2016 and its resolution 72/279 of 31 May 2018, and welcoming in this regard the
discussions at the operational activities for development segment of the 2025 session
of the Economic and Social Council,
Noting with appreciation the convening of the fourth high-level meeting of the
General Assembly, under the theme “Addressing structural barriers to sustainable
development in middle-income countries”, held on 1 April 2025,
Welcoming the convening of the Fourth International Conference on Financing
for Development from 30 June to 3 July 2025 in Sevilla, Spain, and reaffirming its
outcome document, the Sevilla Commitment, endorsed by the General Assembly in
its resolution 79/323 of 25 August 2025, which sets forth a renewed global framework
for financing for development, building on the 2015 Addis Ababa Action Agenda, 5 to
close with urgency the estimated annual 4 trillion United States dollar financing gap, 6
and catalyse sustainable development investments at scale in developing countries
and continue the reform of the international financial architecture through continued
and strong commitment to multilateralism, international cooperation, and global
solidarity,
Welcoming also the convening of the Summit of the Future on 22 and
23 September 2024 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, at which
resolution 79/1 entitled the “Pact for the Future” and its annexes were adopted,
Taking note of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization
Strategic Framework for Partnering with Middle-Income Countries, adopted by the
General Conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization at its
eighteenth session, held in Abu Dhabi from 3 to 7 November 2019, in its resolution
GC.18/Res.9 of 7 November 2019,7 and the decision of the fifty-third session of the
United Nations Industrial Development Organization Industrial Development Board
on inclusive and sustainable development in middle-income countries,
Emphasizing that cohesive, nationally owned sustainable development
strategies, supported by integrated national financing frameworks, will be at the heart
of efforts by Member States, reiterating that each country has primary responsibility
for its own economic and social development and that the role of national policies
and development strategies cannot be overemphasized, highlighting the need to
respect each country’s policy space and leadership in the implementation of policies
for poverty eradication and sustainable development while remaining consistent with
relevant international rules and commitments, recognizing that national development
efforts need to be supported by an enabling international economic environment,
including coherent and mutually supporting world trade, monetary and financial
systems and strengthened and enhanced global economic governance, and
highlighting the fact that processes to develop and transfer knowledge and
technologies on mutually agreed terms, as well as capacity-building, are also critical,
including pursuing policy coherence and an enabling environment for sustainable
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5 General Assembly resolution 69/313, annex.
6 Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2024 (United Nations publication, 2024),
figure I.1.
7 See GC.18/INF/4.
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development at all levels and by all actors and reinvigorating the Global Partnership
for Sustainable Development and for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda,
Recognizing that, as per capita income increases above low-income thresholds,
access to external public finance decreases and middle-income countries are
increasingly cut off from concessional finance, especially in the form of grants,
Recognizing also that the enhanced and revitalized Global Partnership for
Sustainable Development, led by Governments, will be a vehicle for strengthening
international cooperation and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, while noting
that multi-stakeholder partnerships and the resources, knowledge and ingenuity of the
private sector, civil society, the scientific community, academia, philanthropy and
foundations, parliaments, local authorities, volunteers and other stakeholders will be
important in mobilizing and sharing knowledge, expertise, technology and financial
resources, complementing the efforts of Governments and supporting the achievement
of the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular in developing countries,
Recalling that the most vulnerable countries and, in particular, African
countries, the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small
island developing States deserve special attention, as do countries in situations of
conflict and post-conflict countries, and that there are also serious challenges within
many middle-income countries,
Recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to development and that
development cooperation by the United Nations development system should respond
to the varying development needs of programme countries, including those of middle-
income countries, in a manner that addresses their specific challenges while mindful
of their diversity, and recognizing also that revitalized, strategic, flexible and results-
and action-oriented United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation
Frameworks should be prepared and finalized in full consultation and agreement with
national Governments and aligned with national development plans, strategies and
circumstances in support of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda,
Noting that, over the past ten years, eight low-income countries have
transitioned to middle-income country status, and the middle-income country
category currently comprises 104 countries, encompasses 73 per cent of the global
population and accounts for 40 per cent of global economic output,
Noting also that national averages based on criteria such as per capita income
do not always reflect the actual particularities and development needs of middle-
income countries and that, despite notable progress in reducing poverty levels in both
absolute and relative terms, poverty remains a problem in many middle-income
countries, as they are still home to 62 per cent of the world’s people living in poverty,
Recognizing with concern that the prevalence of hunger and malnutrition has
been increasing in many countries, exacerbated by the coronavirus disease
(COVID‑19) pandemic, including in middle-income countries, with most relying
heavily on international trade in primary commodities,
Recognizing that inequality, or even a rise in inequality, remains pervasive in
middle-income countries, even in those with high levels of economic growth, that
further investments in social services, social protection systems, decent work
opportunities and economic opportunities are needed in order to reduce inequalities
and that economic growth needs to be sustained, inclusive and equitable,
Stressing that middle-income countries continue to face a set of common
structural barriers that hamper further economic transformation, and challenges
related to, inter alia, job creation, natural resource management, reliance on primary
commodity exports, the adverse effects of disaster risks and climate change, high
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levels of external debt and the volatility of exchange rates and capital flows, and, in
this regard, efforts to create a national enabling environment for development should
be complemented by an international enabling environment,
Stressing also the importance for middle-income countries of having access to,
and development of, better technologies, research and innovation and better
management practices, which can foster skills development, boost productivity and
achieve sustainable and inclusive growth,
Recognizing that connectivity through quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient
infrastructure, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all, contributes to
the sustainable development of middle-income countries,
Recalling that, for all countries, public policies and the mobilization and
effective use of domestic resources, underscored by the principle of national
ownership, are central to our common pursuit of sustainable development, including
achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,
Recalling also the resolve of Member States to enhance and strengthen domestic
resource mobilization and fiscal space, including, where appropriate, through
modernized tax systems, more efficient tax collection, the broadening of the tax base
and the effective combating of tax evasion and capital flight, and reiterating that,
while each country is responsible for its tax system, it is important to support national
efforts in these areas by strengthening technical assistance and enhancing
international cooperation and participation in addressing international tax matters,
Recalling further the importance of international support, in various forms,
including North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation, that is well aligned
with national priorities to contribute to addressing the development needs of middle-
income countries, including through capacity-building,
Recognizing the need to better understand the multidimensional nature of
development and poverty, and acknowledging the significant role that the United
Nations system has played and should continue to play in this regard, including the
analytical and technical support provided by the Department of Economic and Social
Affairs of the Secretariat,
Recognizing also the growing political momentum for measuring progress in
sustainable development using metrics that complement or go beyond gross domestic
product, including multidimensional vulnerability, given the broader recognition that
relying solely on economic or income-based indicators such as gross domestic product
and gross national income fails to capture the full complexity of countries’
development realities, structural vulnerabilities and needs, and noting ongoing efforts
to identify and promote the use of measures of progress on sustainable development
that complement or go beyond gross domestic product, including the Beyond GDP
Global Alliance created under the Sevilla Platform for Action,
Expressing concern that climate change is adversely affecting productivity in
every country, in particular developing countries, including middle-income countries,
as extreme weather shocks directly affect productivity through the destruction of
infrastructure and labour force displacement, and that a number of middle-income
countries have sizeable sectors that are exposed to climate change, such as agriculture,
construction, mining, tourism and transport,
Reaffirming that achieving gender equality, the empowerment of all women and
girls and the full realization of their human rights are essential to achieving sustained,
inclusive and equitable economic growth and sustainable development, and in that
regard reiterating the need for gender mainstreaming, including targeted actions and
investments in the formulation and implementation of all financial, economic,
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environmental and social policies, and recalling the call of the Sevilla Commitment 8
to promote gender-responsive solutions across the financing for development agenda,
investment in the care economy and the full participation of women and girls in
sustainable development processes,
Noting with concern that public debt burdens have increased in many middle-
income countries, with the median debt-to-gross domestic product ratio reaching 54.8
per cent, up from 53.7 per cent in 2023, and, while this remained below the 2020
peak, higher interest expenditures pose a growing risk to debt sustainability,
Reiterating the pledge that no one will be left behind, reaffirming the
recognition that the dignity of the human person is fundamental, and the wish to see
the Goals and targets met for all nations and peoples and for all segments of society,
and recommitting to endeavour to reach the furthest behind first,
Welcoming the political declarations of the high-level meetings on health
convened by the General Assembly during the seventy-eighth session9 as efforts to
highlight the importance of health in the high-level political agenda,
Welcoming also the Secretary-General’s efforts to address the Sustainable
Development Goal financing gap through a Sustainable Development Goal stimulus,
Noting with concern that the COVID‑19 pandemic, apart from creating an
unprecedented global public health crisis and affecting the most vulnerable
populations, has had a devastating effect on the economies of middle-income
countries, including those moving into higher income, through the introduction of
lockdowns and suspensions of economic activity leading to rising extreme poverty
and food insecurity, gender inequality, unprecedented job losses, disruptions in
regional and global production chains and stagnating international trade, excessive
volatility of commodity prices, shrinking remittances and numerous other channels, a
decline in global foreign direct investment, the sharp contraction in the already
limited fiscal space and the bleak economic outlook that has suppressed investment,
undermining future growth prospects and long-term productivity trends,
Recalling the resolve to redouble our efforts to reduce remittance costs to less
than 3 per cent of amounts transferred by 2030,
1.
Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;10
2.
Acknowledges the efforts made and successes achieved by many middle-
income countries in eradicating poverty and achieving the internationally agreed
development goals, as well as their significant contribution to global and regional
development and economic stability;
3.
Also acknowledges that identifying structural gaps can improve the
understanding of development needs of developing countries, including middle-
income countries;
4.
Underlines that, for many middle-income countries, official development
assistance, including financing on concessional terms from different multilateral
financial institutions, remains important;
5.
Also underlines the need for sustained efforts towards achieving debt
sustainability in middle-income countries in order to avoid a debt crisis, and the
importance of debt restructurings being timely, orderly, effective, fair and negotiated
in good faith;
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8 Resolution 79/323, annex.
9 Resolution 78/3, annex, resolution 78/4, annex, and resolution 78/5, annex.
10 A/80/418.
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6.
Calls for improved international debt mechanisms to support debt review,
debt payment suspensions and debt restructuring, as appropriate, with an expansion
of support and eligibility to vulnerable countries in need, commits to continuing to
assist developing countries in avoiding a build-up of unsustainable debt and in
implementing resilience measures so as to reduce the risk of relapsing into another
debt crisis, recognizes the importance of new and emerging challenges and
vulnerabilities in regard to developing country external and domestic debt
sustainability, and calls for strengthened multilateral actions and coordination by all
creditors to address the deteriorating debt situation, noting that, while there has been
some progress in reforming the sovereign debt architecture, there is significant room
for improvements;
7.
Recognizes that, with 62 per cent of the world’s poor population
concentrated in middle-income countries, development cooperation, policy dialogue
and partnerships with those countries can contribute to the achievement of the
internationally agreed development goals, including the Sustainable Development
Goals and targets;
8.
Welcomes the solidarity of middle-income countries with other developing
countries, in particular the financial, technical, technology transfer on mutually
agreed terms and capacity-building support being provided by middle-income
countries, particularly to the least developed countries, including through South-
South and triangular cooperation, while stressing that South-South cooperation is a
complement to, and not a substitute for, North-South cooperation, and in this regard
calls upon the United Nations development system to continue its ongoing efforts to
mainstream support to South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation;
9.
Also welcomes the outcome document of the second High-level United
Nations Conference on South-South Cooperation, held in Buenos Aires from 20 to
22 March 2019, 11 and notes decisions 22/1 and 22/2 adopted by the High-level
Committee on South-South Cooperation at its twenty-second session, held from 27 to
30 May 2025;12
10. Recalls that the creation, development and diffusion of new innovations
and technologies and associated know-how, including the transfer of technology on
mutually agreed terms, are powerful drivers of economic growth and sustainable
development;
11.
Requests the United Nations development system to ensure that it
addresses the diverse development needs of middle-income countries in a coordinated
manner through, inter alia, an accurate assessment of the national priorities and needs
of these countries, taking into account the use of variables that go beyond per capita
income criteria;
12. Reaffirms the political commitment to fully and timely implement the
commitments contained in resolution 79/1 to establish measures of progress on
sustainable development that complement or go beyond gross domestic product to
have a more inclusive approach to international cooperation, including in the
consideration of informing access to development finance and technical cooperation,
welcomes the establishment of an independent high-level expert group to develop
recommendations for a limited number of country-owned and universally applicable
indicators of sustainable development that complement and go beyond gross domestic
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11 Resolution 73/291, annex.
12 Official Records of the General Assembly, Eightieth Session, Supplement No. 39 (A/80/39),
chap. I.
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product, and looks forward to a subsequent United Nations-led intergovernmental
process;
13. Calls upon the United Nations development system, in line with its
resolutions 71/243 and 75/233 of 21 December 2020, to continue to support
developing countries in their efforts to achieve the internationally agreed
development goals and their development objectives, requests the development
system to address, within existing resources and mandates, the special challenges
facing the most vulnerable countries, as well as the specific challenges facing middle-
income countries, in line with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third
International Conference on Financing for Development 13 and the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, 14 and in this regard takes note of the report of the
Secretary-General, which presents a detailed overview of the current support
available to middle-income countries, including relevant indices, indicators and tools;
14. Encourages all United Nations entities, funds and programmes to further
develop specific strategies to engage and provide tailored support to middle-income
countries, including for leveraging and mobilizing finance for sustainable
development;
15. Reiterates the request to the United Nations development system to
continue to develop its support to middle-income countries with respect to their
specific challenges and diverse needs, recognizes that a gradual shift from a
traditional model of direct support and service provision towards a greater emphasis
on integrated high-quality policy advice, strengthening institutions, capacity
development and support for the leveraging of partnerships and financing is needed,
including through additional support for integrated national financing frameworks at
the country level, and invites the United Nations Sustainable Development Group,
under the leadership of the Secretary-General, to develop a joint framework of
collaboration with multilateral development banks to improve synergies at the
regional and country levels, including specific attention to middle-income countries,
as set out in the Secretary-General’s road map for financing the 2030 Agenda, 2019–
2021;
16. Invites the Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group to
consider filling leadership gaps on middle-income countries’ issues within existing
resources, such as through the appointment of a focal point on middle-income
countries;15
17. Invites the President of the General Assembly to convene a meeting during
the eighty-first session of the Assembly, within existing resources and in a format
decided by the President, to discuss the support needed in pursuing the middle-income
countries agenda, including the advancement of a strategic plan of action, as called
for in the 2024 Rabat Declaration on Middle-Income Countries and reaffirmed in the
2025 Makati Declaration on Middle-Income Countries, that would guide development
cooperation with middle-income countries and support national strategies to achieve
sustainable development, and requests the Secretary-General to consider these
discussions in the drafting of his report on the implementation of the present
resolution;
18. Recognizes that middle-income countries face specific challenges and
require support to pursue their development trajectories, and, in this regard, requests
the Secretary-General to conduct consultations with Member States, the United
Nations development system and relevant stakeholders on advancing the work
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13 Resolution 69/313, annex.
14 Resolution 70/1.
15 Resolution 79/226, para. 55.
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towards the development of a strategic plan of action for middle-income countries,
with a summary of those consultations and set of recommendations to be shared with
Member States;
19. Welcomes the convening by the President of the Economic and Social
Council of a specific segment on accelerating achievement of the Sustainable
Development Goals in middle-income countries during the 2025 high-level political
forum on sustainable development, and encourages the upcoming presidencies of the
Council to continue this good practice so as to advance the efforts to address the
diverse and specific development needs of middle-income countries at the United
Nations;
20. Recognizes the importance of the role of the private sector, as well as of
the role of public-private partnerships, in meeting the challenges of sustainable
development for middle-income countries and other developing countries;
21. Encourages Member States to advance innovative pathways to achieve
sustainable consumption and production, in line with United Nations Environment
Assembly resolution 4/1 of 15 March 2019;16
22. Welcomes the Technology Facilitation Mechanism, which includes the
multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation for the Sustainable
Development Goals, the inter-agency task team on science, technology and innovation
for the Sustainable Development Goals and the operationalization of the online
platform;
23. Notes that digital-led growth in the services sector, notwithstanding its
challenges, can help middle-income countries to achieve sustainable development and
harness opportunities in the global market;
24. Recognizes the great importance of providing trade-related capacity-
building for developing countries, including African countries, the least developed
countries, landlocked developing countries, small island developing States, countries
in conflict and post-conflict situations and middle-income countries, including for the
promotion of regional economic integration and interconnectivity;
25. Acknowledges that good governance and the rule of law at the national and
international levels are essential for achieving sustainable development in its three
dimensions, including sustained and inclusive economic growth and the eradication
of poverty and hunger;
26. Encourages shareholders in multilateral development banks to continue
developing graduation policies that are sequenced, phased and gradual, and
encourages multilateral development banks to explore ways to ensure that their
assistance best addresses the opportunities and challenges presented by the diverse
circumstances of middle-income countries;
27. Urges multilateral development banks to bring forward actions to mobilize
and provide additional financing within their mandates to support developing
countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, reiterates the call in the Pact
for the Future for multilateral development banks to present options and
recommendations on new approaches to improve access to concessional finance for
developing countries, including projects with positive externalities in middle-income
countries, in consultation with the Secretary-General, and requests the latter to update
Member States on progress, with full respect for the independent mandate and
authorities of the respective governing body of each multilateral development bank;
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16 UNEP/EA.4/Res.1.
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10/10
28. Recognizes that Governments will have the primary responsibility for
follow-up and review at the national, regional and global levels in relation to the
progress made in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and targets and
that quality, accessible, timely and reliable disaggregated data, including through
strengthened capacity in improving access to data at the national and local levels, will
be needed to help with the measurement of progress and to ensure that no one is left
behind, and in this regard reiterates the commitment to intensifying efforts to
strengthen statistical capacities in developing countries, including middle-income
countries, and encourages multi-stakeholder partnerships and the localization of the
Sustainable Development Goals, in order to ensure that no one is left behind;
29. Welcomes progress by middle-income countries in implementing the
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 and in reporting through
the Sendai Framework monitor, and encourages the United Nations system to continue
to support middle-income countries to develop national and local disaster risk
reduction strategies;
30. Reaffirms the commitment at the very heart of the 2030 Agenda to leave
no one behind and commit to taking more tangible steps to support people in
vulnerable situations and the most vulnerable countries and to reach the furthest
behind first;
31. Recognizes that more needs to be done for a sustainable recovery for
middle-income countries from the impact of the COVID‑19 pandemic with regard to
resource mobilization efforts from all sources, poverty eradication, tackling food
insecurity and malnutrition, universal health coverage, strengthening health systems,
pandemic response and preparedness, returning children to school, gender equality
and the empowerment of all women and girls, the promotion of decent jobs and social
protection, achieving debt sustainability, the reduction of inequalities, closing digital
divides and enhancing North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation, and in
this regard calls for support to middle-income countries in pursuing approaches to
enable equitable, inclusive and just transition pathways for sustainable development;
32. Looks
forward
to
the
elaboration
of
a
specific
inter-agency,
comprehensive, system-wide response plan, aimed at better addressing the
multidimensional nature of sustainable development and facilitating sustainable
development cooperation and coordinated and inclusive support to middle-income
countries based on their specific challenges and diverse needs;
33. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its
eighty-second session, within existing resources, an action-oriented report on the
implementation of the present resolution, taking into account the consultations
relating to the consideration of the elaboration of a strategic plan of action for middle-
income countries;
34. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its eighty-second session,
under the item entitled “Globalization and interdependence”, the sub-item entitled
“Development cooperation with middle-income countries”.
64th plenary meeting
15 December 2025
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UN Project. “A/RES/80/149.” UN Project, https://un-project.org/votes/resolution/A-RES-80-149/. Accessed .