INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS| FES GENEVA Least Developed Countries in the Next Decade What is there in the Istanbul Programme of Action? DEBAPRIYA BHATTACHARYA AND SYED SAIFUDDIN HOSSAIN November 2011 n In 1971 the world was first introduced to a specific category of countries styled as »least developed countries«(LDCs). This category, established by the United Nations General Assembly, comprised 25 low-income countries facing severe structural im­pediments to growth. These countries were»at a very early stage of economic and social development«(UN 1970). Over the last four decades, the number of LDCs has grown to 48. n Around 12 per cent of the world's population lives in the LDCs, with more than half of them belonging to the extreme-poor category. The LDCs account for less than 2 per cent of the world's GDP, and around 1 per cent and 0.5 per cent of world trade in goods and services respectively. n The Istanbul Programme of Action(IPoA), adopted at the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries(LDC IV), states that»a successful renewed and strengthened global partnership that effectively addresses the special needs of least developed countries will contribute to the cause of peace, prosperity, and sustainable development for all«(UN 2011a). n How effective will be the decisions of the LDC IV in catalysing an accelerated, inclu­sive, and sustained development process in this most disadvantaged set of countries in the coming decade? Could the authors of the outcome document of LDC IV design an adequate institutional approach that will overcome the earlier observed shortcomings of the implementation and follow-up mechanism? Will there once again be a deficit of political will on the part of all concerned parties towards reali­sation of the agreed goals and targets?