I feel very much at home here, and in tune with the purpose of your meeting.
I have been among the first women in several positions, which was not always easy, including certain minor inconveniences: when I became a Member of Parliament in the Netherlands in 1981, there was only one toilet – for the men – near the Plenary. When I became a member of the World Bank Board of Executive Directors in 1991, it was the same: One labeled “Gentlemen” in the antechamber of the Board Room – I had to walk a corridor to the “Women”…

I welcome very much the opportunity to address this audience. Decades of efforts to raise the political importance of development cooperation and to understand what our role as donors is, are at stake in the present economic crisis. I will start first with a few words on the Millennium Goals,particularly on actions needed on Goal 8 and how to convey these to the general public. Then I will address our challenges in this time of crisis, and will end with comments on Moyo’s “Dead Aid.”

I. The Millennium Development Goals.