“Our vision and our responsibility are to end extreme poverty in all its forms in the contextof sustainable development and to have in place the building blocks of sustained prosperityfor all.”  The Panel came together with a sense of optimism and a deep respect for the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs). The 13 years since the millennium have seen the fastestreduction in poverty in human history: there are half a billion fewer people living belowan international poverty line of $1.25 a day. Child death rates have fallen by more than30%, with about three million children’s lives saved each year compared to 2000. Deathsfrom malaria have fallen by one quarter. This unprecedented progress has been drivenby a combination of economic growth, better policies, and the global commitment tothe MDGs, which set out an inspirational rallying cry for the whole world.