Last 10^th of March, 2015, the KDI School hosted a video conference on the integration of development as per the G20’s growth agenda. As part of the G-20 Global Leadership Program, the discussion was shared by the KDI School to the GDLN network to expand its reach and impact.

Ms. Anne Marie Sloth Carlsen, Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Seoul Policy Centre introduced key points about the G-20 Agenda and the post 2015 development agenda. She explained that the core of the G20 agenda was growth with a focus on inclusiveness, implementation, and investments. The Post 2015 agenda, which the United Nations (UN) is heading, on the other hand, had two main topics: (1) economic and social growth, and (2) environment and development.  

She pointed out that there are overlaps within these two initiatives, both ultimately supporting the eradication of poverty. She centered her discussion on two potential entry points; first, for the G20 to apply and develop all the objectives and strategies related to the SDGs. Secondly, through the G20 members’ voluntary participation in the monitoring and reviewing process in order to enhance the availability, coverage, and quality of disaggregated data.

She maintained that the G20 should support the post 2015 development agenda by, for example, supporting the UN in development initiatives by setting up a common approach and mobilizing resources. Additionally, she encouraged more political guidance to be given through a vision statement made during the 2015 G-20 Antalya summit, a sign of strengthened commitment to the quality of growth and the alignment of the G20 agenda with global development goals.

The following March 12^th, food security had found its way back to the top of the global agenda. Peter George Warr, the John Crawford Professor of Agricultural Economics of the Australian National University, also the Director of the Poverty Research Centre, was the presenter of this topic.

Food security is a condition associated with the supply and access of food. The session started with a discussion on the importance of real commodity price data concerning food security, discussing the movement of the real prices of rice, wheat, and maize.

He went on to connect growing food security problems with the high prevalence of undernourishment. He provided evidence of undernourishment across the world, such as numerical data on how about 60% of the undernourished were living Asia. He cited this as proof of how higher food prices significantly increase undernourishment in developing countries. He argued that it was not sufficient to rely on aggregate economic growth to deliver improved food security. He also claimed that the growth of aggregate food supply within developing countries would be strongly helpful to reducing undernourishment across the globe.

Mr. Peter encouraged more attention and investment on stimulating agricultural output, but cautioned that this must be done without raising domestic food prices, as increasing agricultural prices has resulted in more harm to the most vulnerable portion of the population. He recommended increasing investments in research and infrastructure as a means of raising agricultural productivity, and setting food safety nets to help those who are unable to benefit from economic growth.

By Marjorie San Pedro (2014 MDP, Philippines)