Must-watch Asia-Pacific development issues in 2016

The past 12 months saw development and humanitarian actors pull together as never before to adopt international actions plans — from the Sendai disaster management framework in March, to the Sustainable Development Goals in September, and the Paris climate agreement in December — in an attempt to foster sustainable livelihoods and a more sustainable planet for future generations.

If 2015 can be considered a pivotal year that saw the launch of a raft of crosscutting, comprehensive agreements and frameworks, the next 12 months pose an arguably even bigger challenge, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region: implementing those agreements effectively to produce inclusive results.

Such implementation efforts come atop a number of other key development talking points in the region that warrant further attention and scrutiny in the coming year, including the rise of new multilateral institutions, the continued rise of economic players in the region, as well as perennial issues such as infrastructure, education, health, environmental protection and resilience.