The largest 'MDG deficit' is in states with weak institutions and governance, and often in conflict-the "fragile states." With 9 percent of the developing world's population, they account for over onefourth of the extreme poor and nearly one-third of child deaths and 12-year olds who do not complete primary school. Efforts to support their transition from fragility must be deepened through improving response time to crises and opportunities, increasing field presence, better interagency collaboration, and building on lessons from successful state-building transitions.