Millennium Development Goals; a set of UN devised targets to cut the world poverty in half by 2015.

In 2000, most of the countries of the world agreed to cut world poverty in half by the year 2015.

Development experts looked at different problems that make and keep people poor. They came up with 8 targets that would help most people meet basic needs. If met, these targets would get poor people out of poverty and into a better life as well as enable people to contribute to their society in a more productive way. These targets are today known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The goals also help development experts measure how much progress has been made in reducing poverty over the years.

The 8 Millennium Development Goals are:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
2. Achieve universal primary education.
3. Promote gender equality and empower women.
4. Reduce child mortality.
5. Improve maternal health.
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.
7. Ensure environmental sustainability.
8. Develop a global partnership for development.

Read about the challenges and opportunities in each region of the world.

Five years from the target date for the MDGs, in spite of big improvements in some areas, it is not at all clear that the goals will be met.

As a result of the recent global economic crisis, 53 million more people will remain in extreme poverty by 2015 than otherwise would have. Even so, by 2015 the number of extreme poor could total around 920 million, marking a significant decline from the 1.8 billion people who lived in extreme poverty in 1990.

But many countries in the world won't be able to attain the rest of the goals, especially the goals of reducing child mortality, combating disease and ensuring environmental sustainability, according to the Global Monitoring Report 2010.

Check out where the countries stand on reaching these goals.

Raising public awareness would help achieve the goals because public opinion and pressure would keep governments accountable to making sure they are on top of achieving the goals.

Except for those individuals working in international development, most of the public around the world doesn't know about these global targets. 88% of respondents in 25 European countries had never heard of the MDGs, according to a European Commission survey conducted in 2005.

Achieving the MDGs is possible—if everyone does their share: Developing countries must be firm on their commitment to governance reform. And their partners—the developed countries and international organizations—need to support them.

Development aid and private charitable donations from developed countries are the main source of external financing for the poorest countries. Official development assistance (ODA) reached $119.6 billion in 2009, but much more is needed.

In 2009, the largest donors by volume were the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Japan. Five countries exceeded the United Nations ODA target of 0.7% of gross national income: Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

This money, of course, has to be well spent and managed in an accountable and transparent manner. Also, in addition to more aid, countries of the world have to reform global trade and make it more equitable for all countries.

Leaders from around the world will be meeting at the United Nations in September 2010 to review  progress and find ways to accelerate action on the MDGs between now and 2015.

If you live in a developed country:

• Find out what is your country doing to make the Millennium Development Goals happen.
• Find your national volunteer service and volunteer.
• Or search through the UN Volunteer or Idealist websites to find volunteer opportunities worldwide to encourage sustainable development.
• Check out additional sites on our Take Action resources page.
• Learn how much money your government gives through bilateral and multilateral assistance, and lobby your government to give more. View official development assistance (ODA) levels by country.

If you live in a developing country:

• Stay in school—study and learn.
• Volunteer to help those in need.
• Encourage other kids and young people to stay in school and to volunteer.
• Learn how much money your government receives in development assistance and take action to ensure government funds are properly spent.