It is with great pleasure that the Oslo Governance Centre invited Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, to host an interesting roundtable discussion on emerging priorities and development pathways in Asia. 

The roundtable discussion gathered selected researchers, experts, policymakers and practitioners to share reflections on the multiple crises facing countries in Asia, and how governments can navigate pathways out of these often mutually reinforcing crises to ensure more just and equitable development outcomes for all.

At the turn of the 21st century, Asia pulled one billion people out of poverty in one generation, a meteoric rise suddenly stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has exposed the fragility of such development achievements accrued over decades. The Great Upheaval argues that governments must play a more proactive role in enhancing capabilities, building agency and promoting human security by protecting against downside risks. Such risks are most dramatically illustrated today by Sri Lanka which is facing a debilitating debt crisis, the roots of which lie in economic mismanagement and governance failures. Public protests over the rising costs of living, fuel shortages and soaring inflation are demanding accountability and calling for sweeping political change. Other countries in the region are poised to face a similar future. What are the pathways out of these multiple crises? And how do we ensure inclusive, effective and accountable governance systems in the process?

Thanks to all the participants, and we hope to continue our discussions at a later convenience! 

Click here to read more about The Great Upheaval

For more information, please contact emilie.andresen@undp.org