Knowledge Partnership Programme: Research as an Approach to Strengthen the Recommendations for Southern-led, Southern-Focused Post-2015 Development Agenda

Aims & Objectives: Wada Na Todo Abhiyan (WNTA), a coalition of over 4000 Indian civil society organizations, and IHD had jointly initiated a dialogue on the post-MDG 2015 development perspective involving experts from the Global South. This study aimed at examining the overall macroeconomic development framework and focusing on key questions within thematic areas to envision an alternative development agenda.

Discussion: The activities undertaken were:

• In the first phase, ‘Think Pieces’ on themes like poverty and inequality reduction; creation of quality jobs, sustainable livelihoods & equitable growth path; promotion of gender equality-rights; education; food security and nutrition; health and global partnerships for development were invited from experts. They were compiled and presented to the UN Secretary General’s office;
• In the second phase, an international symposium was organized in April 2014 to reflect on the issues pertaining to development and those relevant for the MDGs;
• The deliberations of the symposium plenary and the dedicated thematic working groups generated crucial opinion and evidence on the development pathways for the developing world in the post-MDG era and
• Some important issues relevant for the post-MDG era were taken up for further discussion during the symposium in the form of theme papers and perspective papers during the plenary sessions that invited commentaries and open dialogue during the parallel working group meetings.