Ambassador Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, a macro-economist and public policy analyst, is a Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue in Bangladesh. He is also the Chair of two global networks, Southern Voice on Post-MDG International Development Goals-a network of 50 think tanks serving as an open platform to stimulate and disseminate high-quality evidence-based analyses for discussions on the Sustainable Development; and LDC IV Monitor-a partnership of seven think tanks and international organisations, seeking to contribute to the effective implementation of commitments envisaged under the Istanbul Programme of Action. He was also the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the World Trade Organization and the United Nations.
One of the derived wisdoms from the experience of implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) suggests that the absence of an apriori understanding on the financing possibilities of the global agenda did affect its delivery. Thus, widespread satisfaction was expressed when the third Financing for Development (FfD) conference was held in Addis Ababa in July 2015, ie before the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). As the SDGs are rolled out at the country level over the next three years, it may be observed that the state of financing of the SDGs, particularly in the developing countries remains problematic—like clouds and wind without rain.