We must focus on the UN goals that are the best value for money
Ten months ago, world leaders gathered at the United Nations to adopt 169 targets that will shape much of the $2.5tn expected to be spent on development assistance over the next 15 years, along with many trillions of dollars of national budgets.
This week government ministers return to discuss the implementation of the sustainable development goals, amid growing recognition of the challenges of pursuing so many well-meaning ambitions at once.
During the drawn-out process in which donor and recipient nations, NGOs and advocacy groups struggled over which development goals would be given the UN stamp of approval, we looked closely at the value for money of more than 100 proposed targets. They were certainly not all equal. Some targets generate much higher economic, social and environmental benefits than others.