Note on MDGs

Achievements

1. Achievements in reducing poverty have continued after a blip during the
2008-9 recession. The world is well on track to meet to the 2015 targets
of a reduction on 1990 levels by 23%. Should fall well under 15% mainly
due to rapid economic growth in Asia esp. China
2. Great gains have been made in achieving universal primary education,
particularly in poorest countries Burundi, Madagascar, Rwanda,
Tanzania all nearing UPE. Ethiopia, Burkina Faso etc. still working
towards it but great progress has been made.
3. Huge declines in child mortality in the last decade. Child mortality fell
from 12.4 million to 8.1million represents 12,000 per day fewer
children dying. Vaccinations improving survival rates e.g. 78% reduction
in measles deaths due to vaccination programme.
4. Deaths from malaria reduced by 20% worldwide mainly through
distribution of insecticide treated nets. Largest drops in Africa 11
countries saw 50% drop.
5. New HIV infections steadily declining, led by sub-saharan Africa. In 2009
2.6 million new people infected, a drop of 21% since 1997. Huge increase
in access to ARV therapy as a result no of AIDS related deaths decreased
by 19% from 2004-2009
6. Deaths from tuberculosis decreased by 1/3 since 1990 due to better
treatment.
7. Every region has better access to clean drinking water. Sub-Saharan
Africa nearly doubled the number of people using an improved drinking
source 252million 492 million in 2008.

Challenges: reaching the most vulnerable

The poorest of the poor and those disadvantaged by sex, age, ethnicity or
disability are among those to benefit least.

1. Poorest children have made slowest progress on nutrition. Southern Asia
has the highest rate of children underweight due to a combination of lack
of quality food and poor feeding practices, plus poor sanitation. No
meaningful improvement was seen in this region between 1995 2009.
Children living in rural areas of developing countries are twice as likely to
be underweight.
2. Still wide gaps in womens access to employment. Economic downturn
2008/9 hit women harder and it is taking longer for them to recover.
3. Although UPE improved fairly rapidly, progress is now slowing and the
target for 2015 is unlikely to be met. The poorest children, girl children
and children living in war-zones are the least likely to go to school.
4. Improvements in sanitation are bypassing the poorest. In Southern Asia,
the richest 40% benefited from improved sanitation whilst the poorest
40% barely changed. Those in rural areas still much less likely to benefit
from improved sanitation.
5. Progress in improving the conditions in slum housing has not been
sufficient to compensate for the rapid growth in slums. There is no 828
million living in slum conditions as compared to 657 million in 1990.
6. Safe drinking water is harder to find in rural areas





MDGs

Goal one:
Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

Overview: the aim of the goal is to reduce poverty and hunger compared to 1990
levels. In doing so the Goal is seeking to increase the level of income among the
very poorest. Increasing employment opportunities for all, including women and
young people and reducing vulnerable employment (e.g. informal working, lack
adequate social protection, low pay, difficult working conditions). Also reducing
undernutrition measurement of hunger.

Target 1: By 2015 halve the number of people living on less than $1 per day.
(from 46%)
Target 2: Achieve full, productive and decent employment for all, including
among women and young people.
Target 3: By 2015 halve the number of people suffering from hunger (from 20%
in dvping regions)

Progress:

Where and why positive progress made
Target 1: Economic growth was strong at the beginning of the decade and has
remained positive in developing countries despite the global economic turndown
in 2008/9.
Reduced the number of people living on less than $1.25 per day from 1.8 billion
to 1.4 billion. Corresponding poverty rate dropped from 46% to 27%. Should be
below 15% target by 2015.
Fastest reductions in East Asia esp. China (under 5% by 2015). India falls by 51%
50 22%
Sub-saharan Africa projected 36% on <$1.25 per day by 2015. From 58% in
1990 and 58% in 2005.
Target 2:
Target 3: South Eastern Asia, Eastern Asia, Latin America nad the Caribbean
likely to meet 2015 targets.

Where and why disappointing progress made.
Target 2: Economic recovery has not translated in to improved employment
opps. For all. Employment generation in developed countries slow to recover
after recession, lag in jobs, therefore high unemployment esp. among youth.
Number in vulnerable employment has increased since recession (MEDC &
LEDC).
Slowdown in progress on reducing poverty. WHY? (because takes longer to
reach hardest to reach e.g. low hanging fruits). Still 1 in 5 workers in poverty.
Target 3: Proportion of people hungry has plateaued at 16% despite reductions
in poverty. Actual number increased (due to pop growth), % reduced by only
4%. Sub-Saharan Africa will not meet the target by 2015.
of children under 5 in developing countries remain undernourished (declined
7% from. Urgent concerted action needed in this area. Southern Asia esp.
Poorest children making slowest progress in reducing underdevelopment.
Displaced people contribute 43 million. 4 out of 5 in developing countries.



Goal 2:
Achieve Universal Primary Education
Overview
Aim for children everywhere to complete a full cycle of
Primary schooling. In developing countries currently only 87% complete full
primary education. In particular looking at the poorest, females and those in
conflict zones since these are most likely not to complete UPE. Refugee children
are also particularly disadvantaged.

Target1:
By 2015 children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full
course of primary education.

Where and why positive progress made
Sub-Saharan Africa has made the biggest gains in primary school enrolment 58%
- 76%
developed regions have fallen by 1%
Increase has been made but slowly 82%-89%
Sub-Saharan Africa some poorer countries close to full UPE e.g. Tanzania,
Rwanda, Burundi. Good progress made in some LDCs eg. Ethiopia, Benin,
burkina Faso, Guinea.
Worldwide literacy rate increasing fastest in North Africa and Southern Asia


Where and why disappointing progress made
Just 2% overall increase in developing countries since 2004
Unlikely to meet MDGs by 2015
In half of the least developed countries children two out of every 5 children drop
out before finishing
In least developed countries still 20% children excluded from school. Despite
improvements half the children out of school come from Sub Saharan Africa.
Still being poor, female or in a war zone greatly reduces your chances of going to
school.
Refugee children face very step barriers to getting a UPE if they do get to school
may face stigma and discrimination. Refugees have little money therefore also
need children to bring income. Governments might prohibit refugee children
from going to school. Lack of teachers.
Of those children out of school some will never enter a school whilst others will
go later on at some point. Many attend and then drop out esp latin Am
90% of illiterate youth live in just two regions Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.



Goal 4:
Reduce Child Mortality
Overall aim: reduce deaths of under 5s per 1000 live births through action on
the leading causes of death, these are diarrhoea, malaria, pneumonia
responsible for over 50% deaths in SS Africa. In South-Asia better post-natal
care needed since most children who die do so within the first month of life.
Focus on special efforts to fight pneumonia, diarrhoea and malaria, whilst
bolstering nutrition,

Target: Reduce by 2/3 the child mortality rate by 2015

Where and why positive progress made
Steady progress being made in reducing child deaths.
Globally its reduced by 1/3 - 89 in 1990 to 60 in 2009.
Greatest success in Northern Africa and eastern Asia declines by 68% 58%
respectively.
Countries with v high child mortality rates reduced by 60% e.g. Bangladesh,
Eritrea, Lao, Madagascar, Timor-Lest


Where and why disappointing progress made
Highest rates found in sub-Saharan Africa. Still 1 in 8 children dies before reach 5
(129 per 1000 live births) but reduction are being made in this region.
Children in rural areas at greater risk of dying even where child mortality s low.
2 to 3 times more children die from poorest households than richest (this is why
such an indicator of poverty/development).
Children from uneducated mothers are more likely to die. Some level of
education important, survival increases with secondary education. Equality in
other areas of society also improve child survival.
Children who are poorest and hardest to reach still lack access to lifesaving
measles vaccines. 80% of children in the right age group got the vaccination but
poorest 20% hardest to reach. Measles vaccines has reduced child deaths but
funding is key (represented of all child deaths).


Goal 6:
Combat HIV/AIDS malaria and other diseases
Overview:
Reducing the number of deaths and the spread of diseases. A range of
techniques is used including raising awareness and increasing availability of
ARVs (HIV), distributing insecticide treated mosquito nets.



Target 1: have halted and begun to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS
Target 2: By 2010, achieve access to HIV/AIDS medication to all who need it.
Target 3: Have halted and begun to reverse by 2015 the incidence of malaria and
other major diseases.

Where and why positive progress made
New infections of HIV are declining, esp. in sub-Saharan Africa and also in
Southern Asia.
Incidence of HIV globally declined by 25%
The number of people with access to ARVs has increase 13 fold, this has led to
reductions AIDS related deaths but increases the number of people living with
HIV/AIDS

Where and why disappointing progress made
On the rise in Eastern Europe and Central Asia after previous decline.
Unchanged in Eastern Asia, Western Europe, Central Europe and North America