Helen Clark takes the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) to explore the human development progress over the past decade, as well as challenges of the 21st century. She bases her analysis on a rich source of insights, the annual Human Development Report, produced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on issues as diverse as gender, water, human rights, climate change and migration. She notes that people today are, on average, healthier, more educated and wealthier than ever before. While the income divide has generally worsened, gaps in health and education outcomes between developed and developing countries have narrowed. Looking ahead, it remains vital that all partners in development work together to nurture resilient, accountable institutions and systems that are capable of meeting sustainable development objectives, responding to citizens’ needs, dealing with shocks, promoting social cohesion and peacefully mediating tensions and disputes.