Poverty is an old enemy that has many faces

Poverty is an old enemy that has many faces. What is unprecedented is the commitment of world leaders to agree on setting a deadline for human development.

From 1990-2015, the Millennium Development Goals 15 year project provides a framework for the entire UN system to work together towards a common purpose. The UN Development Group (UNDG) ensures that the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) remain at the center of those efforts.

 

The eight internationally agreed targets are to reduce poverty, hunger, maternal and child deaths, disease, gender inequality and environmental degradation.



The Eight Millennium Development Goals

These targets are to be achieved by 2015, from their level in 1990:

1.     Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger- In 1990, 57% of Sub-Saharan Africa was living below $1.25 a day, in 2010 48.5%

2.     Achieve universal primary education- In 1999 40 million children were not in school in Sub-Saharan, in 2014 22 million children were not in school in Sub-Saharan which is a substantial improvement.

3.     Promote gender equality and empower women- 23% of poor girls in rural areas completed primary education. Adolescent fertility rate women ages 15-19 in 2012 were 45% of all births. In 2013 22% of seats held by women in national parliaments.

4.     Reduce child mortality- Sub-Saharan Africa made major strides lowering the under five mortality rate by 48% from 1990 to 2013.

5.     Improve maternal health- Africa has reduced its maternal mortality rate from 870 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 460 in 2013, a 47% reduction.

6.     Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases- In 1990, Africa had the highest burden of HIV and malaria of all regions of the world, accounting for more than half of global incidence. In 2012, globally, 25 out of 35.3 million people living with HIV were concentrated in Southern, East, Central and West Africa; Africa quadrupled its 1990 level of 5.7 million. In the same year, this same region accounted for 1.6 million HIV deaths out of a total of 2.3 million living with HIV. Additionally, more than two thirds of HIV/AIDS deaths among children and adults occurred in the same regions of Africa. These facts warrant continuous efforts in the battle against HIV/AIDS. Between 2000 and 2012, Africa (excluding North Africa) reduced its malaria incidence rate by an average of 31% and death rate by 49%.

7.     Ensure environmental sustainability- Many African countries are reducing their CO2 emissions and use of ozone depleting substances and increasing the protection of territorial and marine areas. The world met the MDG target for drinking water in 2010, but 45 countries (20 of which are from Africa) are still not on track to meet the target by 2015.

Palm Oil Seeds an export of Africa

8.     Develop a global partnership for development- Official Development Assistance (ODA) declined 6% from 1990 to 2012 African countries used funds from oil and mining projects to successfully finance new  industrialization. However not every country in Sub-Saharan Africa is on equal ground when it comes to a reduction of ODA and income subsidizing the poor.