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LDC Conference 2011: DCED Event on PSD and Peace

 
The fourth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Istanbul (9-13 May 2011), made a strong endorsement of the private sector as a key driver of sustainable economic development and poverty reduction in the world’s poorest countries. The outcome documents  of the Conference are available here.

It was the first UN LDC conference to include a private sector track with a number of forums and events that served to discuss the role of the private sector in economic growth and sustainable development in LDCs, and to identify concrete ways to promote this role. The events covered a broad range of themes, such as productive capacities, climate change and good governance, as well as specific sectors, including agriculture, tourism and telecommunications. Click here for the summary report of the private sector track.

As part of the private sector track, the DCED in collaboration with the UN Global Compact organised an event on "The role of the private sector for peace and development. Delivering for results, beyond economics". The goal of the event was to discuss and showcase the important role the private sector can play in enhancing peace and stability in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCS). In two panel discussions, the DCED, UN Global Compact, IFC, UNDP, as well as multinational and local companies in LDCs presented their approaches to fostering peace and develpment in FCS. More than 80 participants from the private sector, civil society, donor and development agencies attended the event and contributed to the discussion. Key conclusions of the event include the following:
  • the private sector can play a key role in contributing to peace and development, for example by promoting jobs and economic opportunity, creating linkages between conflict-affected groups, contributing to infrastructure and service provision, and fostering good governance
  • private sector development in post-conflict countries should be on the agenda of donor and development agencies at an early stage
  • donors need to explore how to better leverage the private sector's capacity to adopt conflict-sensitive business practices and to actively contribute to peacebuilding
  • public-private partnerships are an important way to increase the private sector's involvement in peacebuilding projects.
Some of the presentations held at the event and related resources are listed below: