The Starling Institute hosted a luncheon in partnership with the International Peace Institute on the sidelines of the 2nd Preparatory Committee of the 4th Financing for Development Conference. The lunch was an opportunity for LDC and SIDS representatives to react to the publication of the Elements Paper and discuss priorities for the upcoming negotiations. 

It was agreed that a successful conference would not solve all development finance issues but instead should be seen as planting the seeds for continued progress. The importance of LDC and SIDS collaboration and ability to advance common proposals was also highlighted, as was the need to focus on making Overseas Development Assistance more effective rather than just looking at aid volumes.