Millennium Development Goals report card: learning from progress

This paper reviews the progress on three indicators of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), beside some factors contributing to that progress. The paper shows that most countries are making progress on most MDG keys, which confirms the old message that MDGs are achievable.

In terms of eradicating poverty and hunger, the document highlights that countries in Asia performed best since the early 1990s, while several African countries have also made strong relative progress. Furthermore, the under-five mortality rate (U5MR) fell by 30% globally between 1990 and 2007, and child immunisation has expanded dramatically.

Nevertheless, the paper notices that there are wide disparities between rich and poor, male and female, and rural and urban populations. For example, reductions in child malnutrition and improvements in child survival in particular have not always benefitted the poorest. Similarly, while strong progress has been made on gender equity in primary education, disparities remain more severe in child nutrition and health.

To help achievie the MDGs, the document suggests the following contributing factors for governments and other parties: 

• consistent leadership committed over an extended period of time to reducing poverty, backed by strong implementation and human capacity
• sound macro-economic policies, open trade, and recognition and active management of the complementary roles of market and state
• long-term institutional reform aimed at making the public sector accountable to citizens, and devolution of responsibility and accountability to local levels
• prioritisation of investment in human development, and protection of budgets in health and education
• active community and civil society participation, encouraged by government
• support from, and partnership with, the international community including government and non-government agencies
• openness to new technologies, and support for innovation, adaptation, and scaling up