Istanbul Turkey hosted the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries from 9-13 May 2011. The purpose was to bring together international leaders from government, business and civil society to focus on actions and opportunities to help the nations termed the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) – achieve sustainable economics and advances in social development. The conference of “least-developed countries” lists 48 members. Thirty-three are in Africa, 14 are in Asia and one, Haiti, is in the Americas.

This conference is held every ten years and allows for the role of private sector investments in the LDCs to propel the realization of the development objectives. In the past ten years, the United Nations has increasingly engaged the private sector as a partner, recognizing that capacity building and effective partnerships are the solution for these complex issues. Across the UN System, private sector collaboration has become a common and effective way of advancing societal goals at both the global and local levels.

The New Future Foundation’s delegation headed by Queen Mother Dr Blakely was present and represented by our members of African nations.