The World Development Foundation Creates a new Conference Series at UN Headquarters, Aug, 2017

WDF continues to present a new series of conferences featuring ways to work together with private investors and corporations. Often omitted from UN policy discussions for fear that the private sector will inevitably control the discussion, WDF has sought to work on strengthening the institution of the UN (SDG 16) in order to affect meaningful public-private partnerships that permit private and corporate stakeholders to join others, leading to march toward new, sustainable development throughout the world.

• Public Private Partnerships
Member State Initiatives to Support the SDGs invite in private investors and companies willing to prosper by following SDG guidelines.


Government officials, corporate leaders, NGOs and investors from around the world gathered at the United Nations on 23 May 2017 to engage in a focused dialogue on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): Member State Initiatives to Ensure the Success of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) hosted by the Permanent Mission of Suriname, in cooperation with the World Development Foundation. This began a new series of conferences dedicated to SDG 16 and 17: strong institutions ought to pursue public private partnerships for global development.

• Honoring the Sustainable Tourism Goals of UNWTO
WDF and WDF LA& C are working with national Ministries to establish the Caribbean Guyana Shield as the world’s next great tourism area.
The project is being developed during an important and related “Year” for the UN World Tourism Organization. The Guyana Shield hopes to emulate the best and most important aspects of the UN WTO International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, 2017 goals throughout its development, marketing, and implementation. Next steps include a public statement of cooperation among all parties, introducing the services and beauty abounding within the Shield areas of Guyana, Suriname, and French Guyana – and joining with private partners to release and market this new tourism product to the world. The World Development Foundation has agreed to assist in supporting these initial efforts throughout 2017.