Integrating Peacebuilding and Sustainable Development Policies in Least Developed Countries
Publisher: Journal of Peacebuilding & Development
Author(s): Jacob Assa
Date: 2017
Topics: Conflict Prevention, Economic Recovery, Programming
The least developed countries (LDCs) have recently been referred to as the battleground on which the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be won or lost. Figuratively this suggests that the LDCs will serve as a litmus test for meeting the SDGs, but a more literal interpretation might imply that conflicts in LDCs are inextricably linked to development in these countries, making their resolution a key to implementing Agenda 2030. Without addressing both development and conflict in the world’s poorest countries, they may not be able to break out of their poverty and conflict traps, and since the success of the 2030 Agenda is based on ‘leaving no one behind’, this would imply failure to meet the SDGs for the world as a whole.