2015 is a key year in the fight against global poverty. Governments will adopt a new set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the period to 2030. Prospects for achieving those goals will be greatly enhanced by a successful outcome at the United Nations’ Financing for Development summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The year will close with the Paris climate change summit. To mark this crucial year, ODI has launched #GlobalChallenges – a new debate series bringing together the world’s most influential thinkers, decision makers, business leaders and opinion makers to discuss both the opportunity and challenge that this year presents. The aim is to share ideas, debate and highlight practical action on these major global issues that often don’t get air-time in the domestically focused public agenda.

The first of these events, Financing for sustainable development, will focus on the critical role of international public finance as a driver for poverty eradication and sustainable development.

Chair: Kevin Watkins - Executive Director, ODI Keynote speaker: Professor Jeffrey Sachs - Director of The Earth Institute, Columbia University and key architect of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)