1 August 2014
At UN-backed summit, least developed countries highlight principle of shared responsibilities and need for greater collaborating
At the closing of a conference in Benin, ministers, senior government officials and United Nations representatives called on donor countries to fulfil their commitments and go even further, by allocating at least 50 per cent of their overseas development assistance (ODA) and ‘aid for trade’ disbursement, to the world’s least developed countries (LDCs). The LDCs represent 48 countries in total.
Delegates at the conference raised serious concerns over a drop in aid to the LDCs and discussed proposals to enhance the ability of poor countries to overcome structural constraints, especially in the UN post-2015 development agenda. They agreed that a greater level of global support through aid, market access and investment would assist in the increased production of goods and services and improve trade performance.
Participants highlighted the principle of shared responsibilities and the need for greater collaborating among government, the private sector and civil society.