Transcript of Video Statement

Many global public goods must be built from the ground up.  Centralized efforts, such as international bail-out facilities or elite centers to combat disease outbreaks, have a role to play.  But  such efforts frequently ignore the root causes of international crises.

A more effective and ultimately more efficient approach is to strengthen national capacities to contribute to a broader global policy objective. In practice, this means improving national health services, and strengthening national banking supervision.  For cooperation to work, all nations must be represented at the table, and each must be able to participate in the outcome.

Thus, while international cooperation for the more equitable management of global public goods will require new and additional types of financing arrangements, traditional development assistance or aid focused on national capacity building will remain as important as ever. As interdependence deepens, improving human security will depend on joint efforts to combat inequality and improve the condition of the weakest among us. 

This book provides an important step forward towards achieving this goal.

Eimi Watanabe
Bureau for Development Policy
UNDP