This conference treats development and culture in their broadest terms. Culture is defined as the basis of collective identity; the repertoire of attributes that distinguish groups from each other such as kinship, ritual, race, caste, taboo, collective memory, religion, aesthetics, and heritage. Culture is dynamic and contested, linked to political and economic inequalities, and of direct practical relevance to development effectiveness. We need both new ways of conceptualizing the role of culture in development and also new methods by which culture can be incorporated into public action for the reduction of poverty and inequality. This conference will bring together the perspectives from a distinguished roster of anthropologists, economists and development practitioners. While the approaches and angles differ, all fall within an overall concern to understand the relationship between culture and the development process and to examine the implications of this understanding for policy design for development effectiveness and future policy-oriented research.