Publication

In the midst of the hectic search for solutions to the Euro debt crisis, the G20 Summit in Cannes provided very little space for the first anniversary of the Seoul Consensus on Development. Though, the applause would probably have been lukewarm even in the best scenario. The G20 development agenda has had so far limited added value to ongoing global development processes. It lacks both institutional strength and a convincing narrative. Moreover, short-lived celebrity initiatives, such as the financing report submitted by Bill Gates, cannot distract from the weak performance of the G20 as a development driver. However, the run up to the Mexico Summit in June 2012 provides a number of short-term opportunities for world leaders to engage more effectively in shaping the global governance of development.