Mapping Progress: Evidence for a New Development Outlook

In recent years, countries previously stricken by war, poverty and famine have made remarkable progress across different sectors of development, including growth, education, healthcare, governance and agriculture. The Overseas Development Institute’s (ODI) report, “Mapping Progress: Evidence for a New Development Outlook,” identifies the crucial role of effective leadership, smart policies, proper institutional foundations and international partnerships in driving development progress. Progress comes in many forms and the report categorizes countries into four categories: stars, surprises, potential performers and conundrums.

On October 7, Global Economy and Development at Brookings and ODI hosted a discussion of Mapping Progress’s findings. Liesbet Steer, development progress project director and research associate with the poverty and public policy group at ODI, presented the report. Following the presentation, panelists including Mark Suzman, director of policy and advocacy at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Charles Kenny, senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, and Renosi Mokate, executive director, Angola, Nigeria and South Africa at the World Bank, discussed the report’s conclusions. Senior Fellow Homi Kharas, deputy director of Global Economy and Development, moderated the discussion.

After the program, participants took audience questions.