Beyond 2015: Reducing poverty after the MDGs

03 November 2012

The High Level Panel on the Post 2015 Development Agenda concluded its first set of meetings with a promise to work together to fight global poverty and the aspiration to end extreme poverty within a lifetime.

Panel co-chairs: British Prime Minister David Cameron, Liberian President Johnson Sirleaf and Indonesian President Yudhoyono. Picture: M Castro/UN Photo.

Co-chair of the High Level Panel Prime Minister David Cameron said:

"There is more progress to be made between now and 2015, but we are clear the next stage should be aiming to eradicate absolute poverty in our world.

"That is something politicians have been talking about for a while, but for the first time I believe this generation really has the opportunity to do it."

The meetings covered food, energy, education, jobs, health care and how best to reach those excluded from the traditional pathways out of poverty.

The panel will continue discussions over the next eight months before meeting again in Monrovia, Liberia, early next year. Individuals, businesses and charities can continue to contribute to the debate online over the next two days.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said:

"We cannot afford to exclude anyone from the next stages of the MDG agenda and I believe we all have a crucial role to play.

"I look forward to hearing your ideas on ways for us to work more collaboratively to improve the lives of the worlds' poorest."

Catch up with each of the day's events in the summaries below, or jump to:

• The United Nations' concluding statement
• A full transcript of the co-chairs' statements
• Justine Greening's blog on the role of business
• Day-by-day coverage of the meetings on Storify
• The online consultation – have your say by 7 November

02 NOVEMBER 2012

Today the UN panel hears from young campaigners, charities and businesses, setting out their priorities to beat poverty from 2015.

Watch the town hall meeting with panellists and participants as it happened below.

01 NOVEMBER 2012

David Cameron is co-chairing the UN High Level Panel on the post-2015 development agenda to explore the best ways to fight poverty.

Panel co-chairs: Indonesian President Yudhoyono, British Prime Minister David Cameron and Liberian President Johnson Sirleaf. Picture: Patrick Tsui/Foreign Office

Today's talks will address what should replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) when they expire in 2015.

Visit the Number 10 website for more information on today's meeting

31 OCTOBER 2012

Today International Development Secretary Justine Greening opens key talks to help shape the future of international development.

London is hosting the discussions this week as the United Nations Secretary General's High Level Panel (HLP) meets to consider what should replace the Millennium Development Goals when they expire in 2015. 

The HLP held its first meeting at the end of September 2012 in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, but this is the first of three discussions on poverty eradication to be hosted in the countries of the HLP’s three co-chairs – the British Prime Minister David Cameron, Liberian President Sirleaf and Indonesian President Yudhoyono.

New agenda to reduce poverty

The HLP will then present recommendations to the Secretary General of what could feature in a new development agenda.

This week the HLP panellists will have the opportunity to engage with leading international experts on development to consider how key issues including justice, transparency and accountability could be addressed in a new international framework.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening said:

"The High Level Panel’s work will be vitally important to shape the future of
development.

"The focus of those meeting in London will be the individual and household
poverty. It is only right that we put this at the heart of any new development agenda so we can shape a better future for everyone, wherever they are born." 

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, appointed the HLP on 31 July 2012 to develop 'a bold vision to advise on global development after the Millennium Development Goals expire in 2015.' 

This second meeting of the Panel in London will last three days and is an opportunity to listen and discuss key issues and views.

• 31 October will be a day of seminars for panel members to engage with leading international experts and discuss how a new international framework could drive poverty eradication. It will focus on issues such as transparency, access to justice and personal security, which are key to lead to sustained prosperity.
• 1 November will be a full day of discussions among panel members of issues related to individual and household level poverty, including a particular focus on human development including jobs and livelihoods.
• 2 November stakeholders from civil society, youth and the private sector will be able to engage panellists to set out their views on what key issues should be prioritised in a new development framework.

What happens next?

Future meetings of the HLP will be in Monrovia in January/February 2013 with a focus on national development and in Bali in March 2013 with a focus on global partnerships.