The document illustrates the impact of UNDP-Planning Commission partnership in mainstreaming human development in government policies and planning. It also highlights successful strategies and constraints reported by the states in achieving sustainable human development.

High economic growth coupled with rapid urbanization and a rising middle class have created considerable demand for housing and housing finance in South Asia. More than 14% of low-income families in the region have no home. While housing and housing finance markets have grown at a rate of 30%, it is the upper-income families that benefitted the most.

Biodiversity and ecosystems are crucial for understanding how the world's natural capital is linked to financial markets. This CEO Briefing underscores the critical natural capital that underpins our economic activity and financial capital. As the finance sector we need to ensure that we operationalise this thinking in the management of investment and lending activities.

Financial development enhances domestic resource mobilisation and also allows these resources to the most productive uses. While there is little doubt that financial development leads to higher economic growth which may then lead to poverty reduction, financial development in itself will allow developing countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

This paper examines some of the key technical, institutional, policy and financial responses required to achieve the transformation to 'climate-smart' agriculture.