High-Level Event on the MDGsWorld leaders came together in New York on 25 September 2008 for a high-level event convened by the UN Secretary-General and the President of the UN General Assembly to renew commitments to achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and to set out concrete plans and practical steps for action.
What's Going On?
Global Youth MDG Summit
The Global Youth Millennium Development Goals Summit taking place in Mumbai, India, from 7 to 11 November presents an opportunity for young people around the world to take action and make their voices heard. At the event, organized by the World Federation of UN Associations in collaboration with the Indian Federation of UN Associations, participants will attend hands-on workshops on film making, visual communications and editing, and create short films on the MDGs to be screened in New York and Geneva and posted on the WFUNA website.
Stand Up Against Poverty
Over 100 million people mobilized under the slogan “Stand Up - Take Action” at events in more than 100 countries around the globe between 17 and 19 October to demand that world leaders do not use the financial crisis as an excuse for breaking the promises they made in 2000 to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. "In rich and poor countries, at concerts and sporting events, in universities and in houses of worship, millions of people showed that they will not remain seated in the face of poverty and broken promises to end it” said Salil Shetty, Director of the UN Millennium Campaign.
International Review Conference on Financing for Development:
As a follow-up to the 2002 Monterrey Consensus, an International Review Conference on Financing for Development will take place in Doha, Qatar, from 29 November to 2 December, to address progress made, reaffirm goals and commitments, share best practices and lessons learned.
High-level Meeting on Africa’s Development Needs Concerned by the deepening effects of the global food crisis and climate change on Africa’s ability to eradicate poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals, world leaders attending a high-level meeting of the General Assembly on 22 September recommitted themselves to strengthening a “global partnership of equals”, based on shared responsibility and determination to mobilize resources. They adopted a political declaration on “Africa’s development needs: state of implementation of various commitments, challenges and the way forward."
The Millennium Development Goals Report 2008 [PDF]
The world has made strong and sustained progress in reducing extreme poverty, but this is now being undercut by higher prices - particularly of food and oil - and the global economic slowdown, according to the UN’s Millennium Development Goals Report 2008.
Delivering on the Global Partnership for Achieving the MDGs
A new UN report finds significant progress in providing debt relief to the world’s poorest countries, but not in fulfilling trade and development aid commitments. Donors will need to increase their development assistance by $18 billion a year between now and 2010 if they are to meet their previously agreed pledges.
MDG Gap Task Force report [PDF]
Achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Africa
The MDG Africa Steering Group, convened by the UN Secretary-General, issued its recommendations, laying out practical steps, strategies and costed programmes needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in Africa, in a landmark report produced and endorsed by the United Nations and other major development institutions.
