September 2013: The latest issue of ‘Making It,’ a magazine from the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), focuses on issues relating to middle income countries, including the role of development cooperation in these countries. A keynote feature on poverty reduction, sustainable industrial development and the role of international public finance discusses development cooperation that continues when countries move from “low” to “middle” income’ status.

In the feature, Jonathan Glennie, Overseas Development Institute (ODI), questions the thresholds used for determining when countries should no longer be considered “poor,” asserting that wealthier countries and individuals remain obliged to support development in other countries until global living standards are more equal. He also highlights the need for continuing development cooperation in order to ensure industrial development in the context of environmental sustainability in these countries, and to promote the transition from low-tech to high-tech production.

The magazine also features a policy brief on the opportunities and challenges for business engagement in the post-2015 development agenda. Betty Maina, Kenyan Association of Manufacturers and member of the UN High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (HLP), and Stefano Prato, Maina’s HLP adviser, highlight that increased private sector engagement in development comes with possible opportunities and benefits, both economic and social, such as sustained growth, expanding markets, and increased delivery of health and education. Also noting challenges and trade-offs, they urged the private sector to “move beyond the current understanding of corporate social responsibility into a new socially and environmentally sensitive business model.”

Other articles in the magazine discuss the role of industry in the new global development agenda, and the use of subsidies to promote green technology. [Publication: Making It, No. 14]