The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are the eight international development goals that were established, following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, aimed at making aid more effective and focusing it more on poverty reduction. Now, it’s time to see whether the goals have been achieved or we still have a long way to go. 2015 is the year when countries have shaped and adopted new development agenda of Sustainable Development Goals to finish the job and leave no one behind. This blog is to give an idea about the achievements of MDGs and how the SDGs have been framed to reach the unfinished targets.
MDG1: Though number of poor people have been reduced, number of undernourished and underweight children is quite sizeable
In the MDG1 poverty and hunger were lumped together as if solving one will automatically solve the other. Though the number of people living on less than $1.25 a day has been reduced by half, there has been no significant reduction in the number of undernourished (795 millions) and underweight (113.4 millions)children. The sustainable development program talks about ensuring food production systems to fight hunger and achieve food security. It treats poverty and hunger as separate issues and targets to end it by 2030 in all its forms everywhere.
MDG2: In spite of the increase in literacy rate, quality of education is still a matter of concern
Though the global literacy rate among youth has increased to 91.5% in 2015, 57 million children are still out of school. The SDGs ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development for primary education and access to affordable technical, vocational and tertiary education for employment and decent jobs.
MDG3, 4 and 5: Though women empowerment has taken place, child and maternal health are yet to improve
The third, fourth and fifth MDGs are to a large extent interdependent on each other and comprehensive policies should be designed which will have a mutual spillover effect. Though there has been positive improvements in terms of gender parity in primary education, share of women in wage employment in non-agricultural sector and in the National Parliament are at 39.9% and 22.4% respectively. The targets to reduce child mortality and maternal deaths has also not been achieved. The SDG 5 wants to enhance the use of information and communication technology in empowering women and recruitment, development and training of health workforce in developing countries.
MDG6: A sizeable population is still suffering from different kinds of diseases
The target of halting HIV, AIDS by 2015 have also not been achieved and 2.1 million people are still affected by HIV. SDG3, the overarching goal on health issues, seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages by targeting neglected tropical diseases, hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.
MDG7: Unimproved sanitation is still a major challenge in ensuring environmental sustainability
In ensuring environmental stability though the target of drinking water has been achieved, coverage of improved sanitation is yet to be met. Besides, climate change all over the world is disrupting national economies and affecting lives. SDGs have its target to mitigate this problem by considering both life below water and life on land.
MDG8: Urgent actions needed to develop inclusive partnerships build upon principles, values and shared vision
A successful sustainable development agenda requires partnership among government, private sector and civil society at global, national, regional and local level. The SDG17 has targets to develop partnerships in finance, technology, capacity building, trade and other systematic issues.
But the success of SDGs depend on collection of better, real time and geospatial data which will help in monitoring different aspects of development leading to proper decision making. We are eagerly looking forward to find out ways which will safeguard the vitality of the ecosystems and will improve the lives of people everywhere.
