The uncertain global economic recovery and the worsening Eurozone crisis continue to undermine those factors  that enabled the least developed countries (LDCs) as a group to attain higher growth rates between 2002 and 2008.  Despite seeing real gross domestic product (GDP) grow slightly faster in 2010, the group as a whole performed less  favourably in 2011, signalling challenges ahead. Indeed, with the world’s attention focused on Europe, there is a  danger that the international community may lose sight of the fact that in recent years, LDCs have been most affected  by inancial crises caused by other countries. 
With less diversiied economies, LDCs have neither the reserves nor  the resources needed to cushion their economies and adjust easily to negative shocks. Furthermore, if another global  downturn hurts the growth prospects of emerging economies, LDCs, as major commodity exporters, will be directly  affected. Therefore, LDCs require increased external assistance to better protect their economies against external  shocks and help them manage volatilit