With quiet passion and determination, keynote speaker President Kim of the World Bank Group stated “We don’t yet have all the solutions. But we know one thing. We must find answers to global, regional and national challenges together, through collaboration and the sharing of knowledge. In today’s interconnected world, no country, company or social group can decide its destiny in isolation.”  President Kim’s inspiring speech titled “Solidarity and the Imperative for Development” readied participants for a forum where experts shared diverse approaches to change.

The two-day knowledge forum “Expanding the Frontiers in Development Policy under Korea’s Knowledge Sharing Program (KSP)” was held on October 15th-16th at the Grand Intercontinental Hotel, Seoul. The forum, hosted by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the World Bank Group, and the Korea Development Institute, set a rigorous agenda bringing together development specialists from all sectors.

Setting Dr. Martin Luther King’s “why we can’t wait” as the theme for the forum, President Kim reminded participants of the seriousness of the forum. Poverty and inequity seriously affect people’s daily lives. It is only through “solidarity“ that we will truly achieve global development and make a difference in individual lives.  Dawit Ayele, a student participant, shared his views on the forum; “It was very enlightening and provided me with new perspectives on development in a changing world of technology and climate change. I also had the opportunity to network with other participants and speakers.”

Discussions were grouped under the topics of:

• Development Consensus and New Challenges
• Key Development Policy Issues in a Post-Crisis World
• Institutional Development and Public Sector Performance
• Global Development Debate “Is there a new consensus on development?”
• Building a Competitive Workforce
• Sustainable Development: Regional Development/Green Growth
• Creating an Innovative Eco-system

The KDI School professors were there in full force, proudly representing the School. The conference was moderated was Professor Hai-young Yun, and discussants also included Dean Sang-woo Nam, Prof. Hyeok Jeong, Prof. Joon-Kyung Kim, Prof. Dong-Young Kim, Prof. Taejong Kim and Prof. Sung-Joon Paik.  Among other speakers were Dr. John Williamson who coined the term “Washington Consensus,” and Dr. Michael Kremer whose O-ring theory many of us pondered in IDP. When asked about her experience as a participant of the forum, Ji-hyeon, (2012 MDP, South Korea) spoke of her appreciation for the rare opportunity to interact with top professors and officials. “I found it informative, I gained new insights and I was able to meet persons of top position in their respective fields.”

A message for all of us at KDI as we enter into our various work fields is the importance of building on the networks we formed at the forum, so that we can better effect the changes required in our respective corners of the world. In the words of President Kim, “Today, the time is ripe for a renewed global fight to end poverty by building shared prosperity. The World Bank Group is committed. Join us. Together, we’ll use time in the most creative way possible: by connecting our skills and our passion to make a better world.”

By Florence Goldson 2012 MDP, Belize