Redefining Development: The Extraordinary Genesis of the Sustainable Development Goals

"This once-in-a-generation detailed insider's look at how a critically important UN decision was made will be valuable to both scholars and students." —Craig Murphy, Wellesley College"Bridging the worlds of academia and practice, Caballero and Londoño provide illuminative insights on the role of small countries in shaping the UN development agenda in the broader context of the informal processes of multilateral diplomacy." —Jacques Fomerand, former director, UNU Office in North AmericaThis extraordinary first-person story of what can be achieved through informal diplomacy traces the improbably successful struggle to achieve acceptance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—and thus transform the global development agenda—against all odds. Moving from the framing of the SDG concept through the entire negotiation process (including a trove of key documents), Paula Caballero and Patti Londoño's vibrant narrative provides rare insight into informal diplomacy and multilateralism in action. Their insiders' account provides a unique perspective on how global movements and agendas can be built and impelled forward. Not least, it also serves to prove that just a few committed individuals can generate radical change.CONTENTS: Foreword—Juan Manuel Santos.The Sustainable Development Goals: The Roadmap for Our Time.The Merits of Informal Diplomacy.Getting Governments on Board.Getting the World to Understand the SDGs.Lobbying for the SDGs.A Tortuous Process.Evolution of the Negotiation Text.Breakthrough in Rio.Creating the Open Working Group.Transformative Implementation.