GENEVA, May 28, 2010 (IPS) - The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) came into existence in the right place, the United Nations, but at a most unpropitious time, in September 2000, when ideas about the invincibility of market forces still held sway in the world.

GENEVA, May 31 (IPS) - The Group of 20 should show its concern about those that the global economic crisis "is leaving behind" by putting the plight of least developed countries on the agenda at its meeting later this month.

How far is it a benefit to be classified as a least developed country (LDC)? After nearly four decades of existence of the LDC category, and after three decade-long Programs of Action adopted by the United Nations since the 1980s to support the development and eventual graduation of the LDCs, there is no clear answer to the above question. The Fourth United Nations Conference on the LDCs planned for mid 2011 is expected to approve a fourth Plan of Action.

NAIROBI, May 27, 2010 (IPS) - Women provide up to 90 percent of the rural poor's food and produce up to 80 percent of food in most developing countries, and yet they are almost completely ignored when policy decisions are made about agriculture and biodiversity.

MONROVIA, May 26 (IPS) - In a small office tucked behind the stairwell in Liberia’s Ministry of Education, the once-proud staff of the Girls’ Education Unit appear defeated.