For the past half century, the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) has monitored development assistance finance and advised on appropriate development policies with the objective of ensuring better lives for people in developing countries. As James Wolfensohn writes in this chapter, the DAC has provided the necessary information and analysis, and has helped other institutions to set objectives and programmes to meet development challenges. The decades to come will see profound changes: by 2050, the world’s population will grow to just over nine billion people – most of whom will be in developing countries; and by mid-century, ours will be a significantly Asian world in terms of both population and economic strength. The DAC must continue its tradition of providing monitoring, analysis and guidance that will help facilitate a peaceful adjustment to these changes and promote a more equal and stable world.