Policy Brief. The Least Developed Countries: Biggest Challenges, Least Assistance?

Inadequate social services, weak governance, limited revenue bases and volatile economic growth — persistent economic and social challenges remain in many of the least developed countries (LDCs). International aid, on which LDCs are highly dependent, has been insufficient to help address these challenges, and all too frequently the quality of the aid received has been poor. This agenda is doubly important at a time when the aid budgets of many bilateral donors are being squeezed, and many LDCs are struggling to cope with the aftershocks of the global economic crisis.