The report entitled "A future within reach: reshaping institutions in a region of disparities to meet the Millennium Development Goals in Asia and the Pacific " is the second in a series of regional reports on the MDGs in the region. As an advocacy document, it is intended to provide government policy makers and other development stakeholders with the most comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the region's progress towards the MDGs. It also offers a range of policy options for improving the region's prospects for meeting the goals, particularly those related to providing basic services on health, education, water and sanitation and to enhancing regional cooperation.