What Is It?

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

Get on target: learn about the Millennium Development Goals
Read about the challenges and opportunities in each region of the world

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Why Should I Care?

As of July 2007, the world is halfway to the target date of 2015.

The first goal of halving extreme poverty and hunger will probably be reached in all countries except Africa, which lags behind on all goals. Today there are 135 million fewer people living in extreme poverty than in 1999. By 2015 another 500 million people will have climbed out of the worst poverty.

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 2007.

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.

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What Is the International Community Doing?

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 $103.9 billion in 2006, but much more is needed.

Donor countries and the United Nations agreed to raise their ODA level to 0.7% of national income to combat global poverty. But only 5 countries—Denmark, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden—have done so.

In 2005, donors pledged to live up to their promises and increase aid levels, although as of now (July 2007) this doesn't seem to be the reality.

Also in 2005, the G8 leaders of industrialized nations agreed to double aid to Africa to US$50 million by 2010. But, during 2005 and 2006 ODA to Africa remained flat at about US$35 billion, according to the World Bank's 2007 Global Development Finance (GDF).

At the most recent G8 Summit held in June 2007, leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Africa. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's message was, "We are aware of our responsibility and we will honour our commitments." The G8 needed to "fulfill the promises we made," she said.

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.

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What Can I Do?

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.

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