The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) establish a new round of development targets for the world to meet by 2030, following on from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in place since 2000. With the goals now agreed, the focus is shifting to how they will be implemented.

Few would question the idea that the ambition of the SDGs is necessary to address some of the world’s most serious development challenges. But unless clear intention, early plans and great effort are made to realise the goals and targets, the SDGs will remain little more than an ambitious vision.

The first days of SDG implementation are critical, with initial actions taken by government, civil society and the private sector setting the foundation for success or failure in the years to come. To this end, ODI and Southern Voice on Post-MDG International Development Goals, along with the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), The Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) and Centro de Pensamiento Estratégico Internacional (CEPEI), have organised a series of regional dialogues focused on identifying priority actions on SDGs during the next few years, with the aim to set out a 1000-day agenda. 

In order to help delegates prepare and take time to reflect on key topics prior to each event, this paper provides background and contextual material. It follows the structure of the agenda for the two-day meetings, so that topics covered are closely linked to those under discussion during the dialogues.

This paper was updated on 17 May 2016 and 8 June 2016 to include recent developments.