Giving Compass' Take:

• Brookings explores the main principles of the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically making sure that every citizen across the globe has the opportunity to succeed.

• The Development Cooperation Report 2018, released by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), offers a framework, but it's up to funders, policymakers and other stakeholders to put it into action.

• Here are some lessons in international development from 2018.

Arguably the most radical aspect of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — and what most distinguishes today’s development doctrine from that of earlier generations — is the concept of universalism. This universalism shows up on two levels. First, the SDGs explicitly apply to high-income countries, rather than just low- and middle-income countries. That is, “development” is not just something that happens “over there,” a means by which poor countries can someday hope to look more like rich countries, but rather a communal, collective, and enduring process, with shared obligations and responsibilities across societies.

Second, is the mantra of “leave no one behind.” This reflects the fact that, though in aggregate the world witnessed rapid development gains over the last three decades, many individuals, communities, and countries made little progress. Leaving no one behind means prioritizing global development efforts on the poorest countries, tackling inequality within countries, and fighting for the inclusion of marginalized people everywhere.

While the development community has embraced the principle of leaving no one behind, what should it entail in practice? And what specific policies and actions should development agencies adopt to realize it?

Read the full article about leaving no one behind in global development by Geoffrey Gertz and Homi Kharas at Brookings.