Achieving the Millennium Development Goals

We are the first generation in history that can truly end poverty. Hunger in the world is no longer a physical problem of lack of resources, but a political problem of lack of will to distribute our resources more equitably.

In September 2000, the Heads of State and Government of 189 countries signed the United Nations Millennium Declaration that committed them to fight against global poverty and deprivation. Together with many international organizations, they agreed to make progress on eight measurable objectives, known as the Millennium Development Goals, by 2015. These are:

In 2008, now past the midpoint to their target date, implementation of the Millennium Development Goals is far behind schedule in many countries. Indeed, for some countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, several of these goals seem out of reach.

While goals 1 through 7 refer to the slowing and reversal of poverty, hunger, and disease, goal 8 explicitly recognizes that all the other seven goals can be achieved only through more formal means of cooperation. In this new global partnership, the primary responsibility of poor nations is to ensure greater accountability to their citizens and the efficient use of resources. However, for poor countries to achieve the first seven goals, it is also critical that wealthier countries deliver on their end of the bargain through more effective aid and cooperation, alternative sources of multilateral financing, sustainable debt relief, and fairer trade and financial rules. We must all pursue this kind of 'global deal' to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and reach beyond.

The Millennium Development Goals are an important starter. However, in the long term, we must envision more comprehensive goals. For example, the ultimate objective must not be to halve poverty and hunger, or to halt the spread of HIV/AIDS, but to totally eradicate them.

Global development assistance should also be undertaken by means other than bilateral aid, the free market, philanthropy, or World Bank assistance. Special consideration should be given to the establishment of a multilateral clearinghouse for the resources needed in fighting global poverty. Managed by a qualified international group representing the interests of the global commons, it would function as a warehouse and distribution center for both disaster relief and the dispersal of resources necessary in achieving the MDGs. Through this multilateral pool, the world community would decide the best means of dispensing aid to meet its specific development goals.

Join the discussion in the appropriate forums:

• Achieving the Millennium Development Goals forum.
  • Eradicate poverty and hunger forum.
  • Achieve universal primary education forum.
  • Promote gender equality forum.
  • Reduce child mortality forum.
  • Improve maternal health forum.
  • Combat AIDS and other diseases forum.
  • Ensure environmental sustainability forum.
  • Develop a global partnership for development forum.
    

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