Global Monitoring Report 2013: Rural-Urban Dynamics

Not only is the theme highly relevant for assessing progress within the current MDG framework, but it also has the potential to inform discussions about the post-2015 development framework in which urbanization will be a major factor. The report calls for complementary rural-urban development policies and actions by governments to facilitate a healthy move toward cities without short-changing rural areas. Besides introducing the key findings of the GMR 2013, this roundtable discussion touched on the central challenges facing countries in the MENA region in their progress toward achieving the MDGs. The objective is to help explore the development assistance these countries need in order to accelerate their progress toward attainment of the MDGs.