Preparing for Life After the MDGs
The establishment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the United Nations in 2001 was a defining moment. It rallied a global effort in the fight against poverty, hunger, and disease, while promoting universal education, gender equality, and environmental sustainability. However, new challenges have emerged while remaining ones are complex. Meanwhile, the 2015 deadline for achieving the MDGs is almost upon us, raising the question: where do we go from here?
Kazakhstan – Historic Venue for Fertile Ideas
Almost 1,500 years ago in the sixth and seventh century, southern Kazakhstan was part of the famous Silk Road that carried goods, ideas and cultural influences from as far as China to Europe.
Emerging Asia Should Brace for Higher Global Interest Rates
The US Fed has been winding down its bond purchase program, widely known as “quantitative easing,” since December 2013. The program was introduced in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis to fight the recession and foster a rapid economic recovery. With the improvement in the US economy, the Fed suggested at its policy meeting in March that the program may end this coming fall and it may start raising interest rates about six months from then.
Making Private Sector Investments Deliver Development Impacts
For development institutions, private sector investments offer plenty of potential for promoting inclusive and environmentally sustainable growth at a profit. But how successful are they in achieving actual development gains?
How Private Companies are Helping Papua New Guinea Improve Rural Health Services
Using public-private partnerships, Papua New Guineau is taking innovative approaches to bringing health care to some of its most remote areas.
How Social Enterprises Contribute to Training and Job Creation: Examples from the United Kingdom and Asia
Social enterprises play an important role in building human capital and creating a more inclusive labor market. They also inject new talent into the services sectors that face a growing shortage of appropriately skilled workers.
The Social and Economic Development of Bhutan Offers a New Model for the World
Bhutan’s development has been guided by its philosophy of gross national happiness—of striving to balance spiritual and material advancement through four pillars: sustainable and equitable economic growth and development, preservation and sustainable use of the environment, preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, and good governance.
Should the Eurozone Crisis Dissuade Asia from Integrating?
Asia should not be dissuaded by the European challenges. Yet, Asia should not rush to integrate either.
Inclusive and Green Growth: Why is it So Elusive?
“Inclusive growth” and “green growth” are two buzzwords that we often hear in the development sphere nowadays. This is not surprising since these two form key part of many development strategies. While Asia has done extremely well in expanding its economies in the last two to three decades, rapid growth has brought with it rising inequality—within and across countries. It has also badly damaged the environment along the way.