Changes in the terms of development partnership

Abstract

Achieving more sustainable economic growth, accelerated poverty reduction and better progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) requires action by both the least developed countries (LDCs) and their development partners. The fundamental priority for LDC Governments is to formulate and implement national development strategies that effectively promote development and poverty reduction. Their development partners need to (a) scale up aid flows to meet their commitments within the Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2001–2010; (b) align aid flows with the priorities expressed in LDCs’ national development strategies; and (c) deliver aid in ways which respect country leadership in the formulation and implementation of national development strategies and help to strengthen their capacity to exercise such leadership. Moreover, the international community needs to design international regimes for trade, investment and technology which address the special needs of the weakest members of the international community and which reinforce, rather than work against, the positive impact of national development strategies and official development assistance (ODA).