11 February 2013: The World Bank’s Development Prospects Group has released the January 2013 edition of its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Beyond newsletter. The four-page publication features articles by the World Bank’s recently appointed Special Envoy on the MDGs, and on water and sanitation and the MDGs.

Mahmoud Mohieldin, the World Bank Group President’s Special Envoy on the MDGs, outlines his intention to provide meaningful, coordinated input into the UN-led post-2015 development agenda. He also notes the establishment of the World Bank’s Post-2015 MDG Working Group, whose activities include: drawing lessons from the implementation of the MDGs; integrating the concepts of social, economic and environmental sustainability in supporting the UN’s effort to merge the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and MDG processes; and putting the World Bank’s analytical and implementation experience to work for the UN-led process.

Eduardo Perez, Lead Water and Sanitation Specialist, World Bank, outlines the consequences of failing to meet the Sanitation MDG and its relationship to the attainment of the other goals. He calls for treating sanitation and hygiene as “equal partners” with access to safe water in the post-2015 development agenda. [Publication: MDGs and Beyond, Issue 4] [Newsletter Archives] [World Bank Prospects for Development Group]