africa/global: The MDG Drumbeat gets Louder – But is the World Bank Listening?

In 2000, there were 1.2 billion people living in absolute poverty – that is, on less than $1 per day. This is a well known and oft-quoted fact – but one that should not fail to shock, nevertheless. In a world that is richer than it has ever been, at least in economic terms, the fact that almost a quarter of the population cannot even meet their basic needs should act as a wake-up call to the world's leaders.