International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries
Intergovernmental think tank headquartered in Ulaanbaatar
The International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries (ITTLLDC) is an intergovernmental organisation and a centre of excellence for research and policy advice for landlocked developing countries, headquartered at UN House in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (UN-OHRLLS; Multilateral Agreement, Article I). It uses top-quality research to support policy formulation, organises regional and international seminars and conferences, and works with governments, the United Nations system, universities, research institutes and the private sector (UN-OHRLLS).
First proposed by the Government of Mongolia in 2006, the Think Tank was launched in Ulaanbaatar in July 2009 by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and was transformed into an intergovernmental organisation when the Multilateral Agreement for the Establishment of an International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries entered into force on 6 October 2017 (UN-OHRLLS, inaugural meeting press release, 11 June 2018; UN Treaty Collection, Chapter X, No. 19). Mongolian government officials have described it as the first intergovernmental organisation headquartered in Mongolia.
PEOPLE
Dulguun Damdin-Od
Executive Director - elected Executive Director in February 2022 (iKon.mn, 17 February 2022, via the Think Tank entry); named as Executive Director in the UN Mongolia launch of the LLDC Research and Innovation Network and in UNDP and UN reporting from 2023 to 2025
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RECORD
Inaugural meeting in Ulaanbaatar - 11 to 12 June 2018 - DOCUMENTED
The Think Tank held its inaugural meeting in Ulaanbaatar on 11 to 12 June 2018. UN-OHRLLS described it as the first intergovernmental body of the landlocked developing countries group, strengthening the analytical capacities of the world's landlocked nations in economic growth and poverty reduction, with Foreign Minister Damdin Tsogtbaatar calling it the birth of the very first intergovernmental international organisation of the LLDCs' Group with headquarters in Ulaanbaatar (UN-OHRLLS press release, 11 June 2018).
Treaty in force and observer status - DOCUMENTED
The Multilateral Agreement entered into force on 6 October 2017 after Nepal deposited its instrument on 7 August 2017; it is registered in the United Nations Treaty Series under number 54748. The Think Tank has held permanent observer status in the United Nations General Assembly since December 2018, under Resolution 73/217 adopted on 20 December 2018. As of 2026, 15 states are parties to the Agreement (UN Treaty Collection, Chapter X, No. 19, via the Think Tank entry retrieved 30 September 2026).
Role described by UN-OHRLLS - DOCUMENTED
UN-OHRLLS states the Think Tank is the first intergovernmental body of the LLDCs, is located in Ulaanbaatar, provides a centre of excellence using top-quality research that will translate into policy formulation and ultimately into action, and has worked in collaboration with UN-OHRLLS since 2014. UN-OHRLLS was granted observer status in its Board of Governors in July 2019, and the two signed a Memorandum of Understanding in November 2020 (UN-OHRLLS, The International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries).
Research and Innovation Network launch - DOCUMENTED
UN Mongolia reported the launch of a new Research and Innovation Network for landlocked developing countries, with focus areas including trade, transport, economic diversification and digital transformation. Executive Director Dulguun Damdin-Od said the network would support LLDCs in improving human development and addressing the economic and social impacts of their geographical challenges, and that a call for experts and researchers would follow (UN Mongolia, Empowering Landlocked Developing Countries).
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