This overview by the DAC Chair looks at two broad areas where the policies of DAC members could significantly improve the prospects of progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, recognising that the prime responsibility lies with developing countries themselves. These are the coherence, from a development standpoint, of DAC members’ overall policies, and the volume and effectiveness of development co-operation. In each case, the overview looks in particular at where collective action could add value to the efforts of individual members. It concludes by addressing a number of policy issues which have proved divisive within the development community, and suggests areas of common ground that might enable the policy debate to be more fruitful and constructive...