Leadership Dialogue 2 is focused on “Achieving a sustainable and inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic”. It will address the specific actions needed to build back from the pandemic and its adverse impacts on people, planet, and prosperity and to put the world back on track to deliver the SDGs. This Dialogue will also explore how best to transform high impact sectors of the economy. Recognizing the diversity of approaches, the Dialogue will identify recommendations for achieving a sustainable and inclusive recovery in line with long-term climate and resilience objectives, as well as the SDGs. Recommendations will also focus on the framework conditions for environmentally friendly, sustainable, inclusive, and just development. This background paper provides context for the Dialogue.