Development Asia—Beyond the MDGs

November 2013

This issue of Development Asia discusses the post-2015 development agenda and its implications for Asia and the Pacific. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have served humanity well. They galvanized global attention for helping the world's poor and vulnerable. In less than 3 years, a new development agenda will take up the challenge of delivering a sustainable future for humanity. The successor goals will benefit from the MDG's focus. But they must accomplish much more in a world that has changed dramatically since the MDGs were conceived. A global conversation is underway to frame the new goals. It's early days, but the vision is bold: a world without acute poverty, where the marginalized lead productive lives, and where economic growth doesn't strain the planet to breaking point. The goals will likely be universal, measurable, few in number, and easily understood. The developing world's strong voice in the consultation process is likely to result in goals that are both emphatic and far-reaching. The post-2015 development agenda, and the goals that will drive it, will be a moment of truth for the world. This issue of Development Asia goes further into these pivotal issues and their implications for Asia and the Pacific.