Most people in three African countries have an optimistic outlook despite continuing anger at corruption and economic woes, a survey has found. South Africans, Nigerians and Kenyans all say healthcare and education will be better for the next generation.

This report explores for the first time the scale of the challenge for 20 cities across the world to reach selected targets set out in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More than half of the targets included will require a profound acceleration of efforts if they are to be achieved by the majority of selected cities.

India has been listed in 87th place in a global gender gap index study conducted by the World Economic Forum (WEF). India has gained 21 spots from 108th position in 2015 and overtook China (99) with improvements across Economic Participation and Opportunity and Educational Attainment.

India’s rapid economic growth is helping drive down the number of poor people living in Asia, a new report says. The number of people living below the poverty line, on $1.90 a day or less, in South Asia decreased by 37 million in 2013 from a year earlier according to World Bank.

This publication is the last in a series of MDG reports.

Africa’s positive economic growth over the past two decades has shown resilience in the wake of the international crisis of 2008. However, this positive performance has not yet translated its economic gains into meaningful social development.

The new Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report by UNESCO, shows the potential for education to propel progress towards all global goals outlined in the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs).