03 Millennium Development Goals
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The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight goals to be achieved by 2015 that respond to the world's main development challenges. The MDGs are drawn from the actions and targets contained in the Millennium Declaration that was adopted by 189 nations-and signed by 147 heads of state and governments during the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000. The MDGs aim to spur development by improving social and economic conditions in the world's poorest countries.
- synthesize, in a single package, many of the most important commitments made separately at the international conferences and summits of the 1990s;
- recognize explicitly the interdependence between growth, poverty reduction and sustainable development;
- acknowledge that development rests on the foundations of democratic governance, the rule of law, respect for human rights and peace and security;
- are based on time-bound and measurable targets accompanied by indicators for monitoring progress; and
- bring together, in the eighth Goal, the responsibilities of developing countries with those of developed countries, founded on a global partnership endorsed at the International Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey, Mexico in March 2002, and again at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development in August 2002.
The eight MDGs break down into 21 quantifiable targets that are measured by 60 indicators.
| Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger |
| Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education |
| Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women |
| Goal 4: Reduce child mortality |
| Goal 5: Improve maternal health |
| Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases |
| Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability |
| Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development |
How Youth Organizations Can Play a Role to Achieve MDG‘s
To contribute to achieve the millennium development goals an organization can take many innovative steps and make interventions in the progress structure of the organization. The interventions can be:
- Sensitization Sessions
Hold the sensitization sessions with the youth groups and young people associated with the organization regarding the importance and attainment of the MDG’s.
- Workshops and Conferences
Organize the workshop based conferences on the theme of MDG’s to develop future development action plans in collaboration with the partner organizations. - Involve Print and Electronic Media
Write articles in the news paper about the vital and effective role, youth can play to participate in the attainment of the MDG’s. Arrange and conduct radio and television talk shows and forums with youth as the audience and decision makers for the final verdict.
- Information on Website
Develop a complete, dedicated information page on MDG’s on the organizational website.
- Theme Based Activities
At various educational level and institutes , conduct the innovative activities like essay competition, poster designing and stamp designing etc with MDG’s as the theme, to induce the sense of responsibility in the youth and children for their role towards the MDG’s. - Promotion through Campaigns
Campaigns can be designed and run to promote the MDG’s and their importance in the developing countries. - MDG’s Based Social Action Projects
Develop and encourage the social action projects which focus on the MDG’s to add into the achievement process of the MDG’s at the national level. For projects linked directly to the different MDGs, you can consult the other documents of the online tool kit: Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, Goal 2: Education, Goal 5 und 6: Health promotion, Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability.
The role of the organization can extend to the unlimited horizons of the innovations to inculcate the spirit of knowing the MDG’s and taking actions to achieve them.
Links:
Millenium development goals
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
Good Practice Case Study: Ethiopia - Linking the National Poverty Reduction Strategy to the MDGs, May 2005
http://www.undp.org/mdg/goodpractices/Ethiopia-casestudy.pdf
Good Practice Case Study: Brazil - Campaigning with Partners for the MDGs (Portuguese campaign Web site)
http://www.nospodemos.org.br
Regional Report: Meeting the Millennium Development Objectifs in Latin America and the Caribbean Toward universal primary education: investments, incentives, and institutions
Taking action: achieving gender equality and empowering women
http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/reports/tf_gender.htm
Who's got the power? Transforming health systems for women and children
http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/reports/tf_health.htm
UNDP's work on HIV/AIDS
http://www.undp.org/hiv/
Environment and human well-being: a practical strategy
http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/reports/tf_environment.htm
Health, dignity, and development: what will it take?
http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/reports/tf_watersanitation.htm
A home in the city
http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/reports/tf_slum.htm
UNDP's Environment and Energy Publications
http://www.energyandenvironment.undp.org
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