In 1990, more than half the population of Asia was living in extreme poverty. By 2015, it will be less than 10 per cent. Instead of almost one billion Asians existing in extreme poverty, the number will be down to around 160 million. The scale of Asia’s growth over the coming decades will make it the world’s biggest economic zone, increasingly able to address its own poverty challenges.

Meanwhile, in the Pacific island countries, development progress has been much slower and many people face chronic poverty of opportunity.

The international development community is also transforming. There are now many more active actors, ranging from the traditional donor countries through to the emerging economies, private sector bodies, think tanks, and civil society organisations.

What does this all mean? Virginia Haussegger, an award winning journalist and presenter of the 7pm ABC Canberra News, will moderate a one-hour discussion on the future of aid in the Asia-Pacific, which will be broadcast on ABCNews24 and ABC Radio National. Six leading figures in the international development arena will join Virginia:

• Dr Jimmie Rodgers, Director General, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea
• Mr Kazu Sakai, Director General, Strategy and Policy, Asian Development Bank, Manila
• Professor Stephen Howes, Director, Development Policy Centre, Australian National University
• Professor Eun Mee Kim, Dean, Graduate School of International Studies; Director, Institute for Development and Human Security, Ewha Womans University, Seoul
• Ms Samah Hadid, Australian Director, Global Poverty Project, Melbourne
• Dr Alison Evans, Independent Advisor on Development, London

The panelists will be debating the issue in front of a public audience. We invite you to attend and participate in what will be a very informed and lively discussion on this topic. We also invite you to submit an insightful question for the panel – Some members of the audience will be selected to raise a question to the panel during the debate.

Registration is free and open to the public. Places are limited.

Further Enquiries Jonathan Cheng

E jonathan.cheng@anu.edu.au / T +61 2 6125 2295