Goal #8Global Partnership
Introduction
The Millennium Goals represent a global partnership for development. The deal makes clear that it is the primary responsibility of poor countries to work towards achieving the first seven Goals. They must do their part to ensure greater accountability to citizens and efficient use of resources. But for poor countries to achieve the first seven Goals, it is absolutely critical that rich countries deliver on their end of the bargain with more and more effective aid, more sustainable debt relief and fairer trade rules, well in advance of 2015.
The Targets
Goal 8 of the Millennium Development Goals sets out by the year 2015 to:
- Develop further an open trading and financial system that is rule-based, predictable and non-discriminatory. Includes a commitment to good governance, development and poverty reduction—nationally and internationally.
- Address the least developed countries’ special needs. This includes tariff- and quota-free access for their exports; enhanced debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries; cancellation of official bilateral debt; and more generous official development assistance for countries committed to poverty reduction.
- Address the special needs of landlocked and small island developing States.
- Deal comprehensively with developing countries’ debt problems through national and international measures to make debt sustainable in the long term
- In cooperation with the developing countries, develop decent and productive work for youth.
- In cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries.
- In cooperation with the private sector, make available the benefits of new technologies—especially information and communications technologies.
Did You Know?
The United Nations estimates that unfair trade rules deny poor countries $700 billion every year. Less than 0.01% of this could save the sight of 30 million people. (Source:ChristianAid)
In 1970, 22 of the world's richest countries pledged to spend 0.7% of their national income on aid. 34 years later, only 5 countries have kept that promise. The UK hasn't. (Source:Save The Children)
Achieving the Goals
Debt relief has helped millions in developing countries provide for their people.
Nigeria is using $750 million in debt savings from 2006 to train and recruit new teachers, while Cameroon is debt savings to launch a national HIV/AIDS plan for prevention, education, testing and mother-to- child transmission abatement.
Read more examples of effective aid from the One Campaign
Goal News
Nairobi, November 30, 2009: The United Nations Millennium Campaign in Africa is delighted to announce the recent appointment of Charles Abugre as its new Deputy Director for Africa. The The position of Deputy Director for Africa was formerly held by Dr. Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem, who passed away in a road accident in Kenya on May 24.
As work to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger and achieve other Millennium Development Goals enters its final five years, attention is turning to the one in 10 people around the world with disabilities.
Twenty-five-year- old Katuri Kodanda Pani from the village of Ipurupalem in Andhra Pradesh who is preparing for the civil service exams, won the first prize in the nation-wide contest, titled Mera India Bridge the Gap. The contest asked young people in the 18 to 35 year age group to think of ideas, which could help India, meet its commitment on millennium development goals (MDGs).
Bangladesh can still achieve its millennium development goal to cut poverty by half before the deadline in 2015 if the government follows right policies, ensures accountability and reaches resources to the disadvantaged people, a UN official said.
Minar Pimple, deputy director of United Nations Millennium Campaign, Asia, said Bangladesh has to identify challenges ahead and give a big push to achieve the target in the remaining six years.
The UN official spoke to the FE last week while he was in Dhaka to attend a seminar on poverty.
The United Nations Millennium Campaign is disappointed that the recently concluded G-20 meetings ended with nothing more than vague commitments to the needs of the world’s poorest represented by the Millennium Development Goals.
