The Obama administration will host an international conference this month to develop economic solutions for South Sudan, the world’s newest country and one of its poorest.

The United States is joining with Britain, Norway and the European Union for a South Sudan Economic Partners Forum to be held on April 16 in Washington, the State Department announced Friday. 

The creation of South Sudan was one of President Obama’s most notable foreign policy successes during his first term. Since then, however, the land-locked country of about 8 million has struggled to keep the peace with neighboring Sudan and alleviate widespread poverty.