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Are the MDGs the right framework for development?

This entry was written by Franziska Seel and Vidar Ekehaug as the introduction to the September edition of YouthLink Express - GYAN's monthly newsletter. Click here to subscribe.

Last week saw the opening of the General Assembly at the United Nations Headquarters here in New York, the time of the year when world leaders speak about their commitments to development, peace and security. At the center of many statements were the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs came out of the Millennium Summit in 2000, and represented a major shift in commitments from governments. For the first time in history, governments recognized that there are enough resources to end poverty, provide education and health care for all, achieve gender equality, and ensure a sustainable development. Also for the first time, there was an actual deadline – 2015 – for making significant progress.

Yet, today, we are far away from reaching the MDGs. What is going wrong? Are the MDGs after all just an unrealistic dream? While governments continue to repeat their commitments to the goals as they have done the last few years, there also seems to be a growing sense of helplessness among many of them. Civil society leaders, on their part, are increasingly concerned that the strategies to achieve the MDGs focus too much on economic growth as a catalyst for development, and ignore the human aspect. The MDGs represent a tangible and deliverable commitment from governments to create a better world, but they are also just a series of numbers, targets and indicators.

The MDGs can be a strong advocacy tool to hold governments accountable, but is the MDG policy framework enough to eradicate extreme poverty and growing inequality? Or do we need to change the whole debate? Please share your opinions with us!

September 30, 2008 | 3:58 PM Comments  3 comments

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samiraisir Samira Hassan
December 4, 2008 | 3:00 AM
MDGs
For sure it is unrealistic to achieve it by 2015, with all what is happening around the world unemployment, inequality, wars & Conflicts, increase of motarality rate , pverty, health, and the list goes on. There is many things our leaders has to give attention too, they make Uncommitted commitments for the sake of seeking more monies on the MDGs!! and who suffers the beneficiaries/communities, but our leaders don't care as much as they can still drain money from the international communities.

I wish that those who come up with the MDGs to be more involved in the outcomes, see if there is a change.

We need our leaders/government to be accountable and use the tool efficiently.
ValerieB ValerieB
May 4, 2009 | 1:49 PM
MDGs
I read recently that they have stopped referring to the MDGs as being achieved by 2015 because they know they will not be able to. I think the MDGs are a great idea in theory, but they are just the latest in a long line of standards set by the international community, but never actually met.
sasef SASEF
May 19, 2009 | 6:53 AM
MDGs
Are they reachable by 2015? At the current rate we are going no but the MDGs provide us with a road map of “how to” work towards eliminating global poverty. The MDGs have galvanized hundreds of thousands of people all over the world to "do something" to make a difference. The MDGs will do more than help us end poverty (maybe not in my lifetime) but we believe they will stimulate an entire generation to become active in public service. Yes I am my brother’s keeper!
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