A WORLD VISION JOURNAL OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

First Quarter, 2004

Priorities for meeting the MDGs JohnJohn McArthurMcArthur && JeffreyJeffrey Sachs,Sachs, Earth Institute/Millennium Project the Goal 8 - critical issues for trade and finance Millennium Martin Khor,Third World Network Development Goals Embracing Africa’s MDG challenge Wiseman Nkuhlu, NEPAD Secretariat — more broken Will the MDGs reach the forgotten poor? promises? Sylvia Beales, HelpAge International Reality check

In this edition of Global Future, our contributors grapple with what it First Quarter, 2004 means to have a set of Millennium Development Goals that supposedly The Millennium Development Goals belongs to all of humanity and in – more broken promises? unprecented ways.

Priorities for meeting the Millennium Development Goals McArthur and Sachs, Shetty, John McArthur & Jeffrey Sachs ...... 1 Ramphele, Kastberg and Bradbury emphasise ways that government and No excuses! Salil Shetty...... 3 civil society can own and implement the Goals. Nkuhlu reminds us that Goal 8 – critical issues for trade and finance Martin Khor ...... 6 Africa adds important dimensions to this global effort. Will the MDGs reach the forgotten poor? Sylvia Beales...... 9

Why the serial target-setting must finally produce results Clearly, there is no shortage of Alan Whaites ...... 11 resources to meet the Goals, even before 2015. But it is not just a Embracing Africa’s MDG challenge Wiseman Nkuhlu ...... 13 matter of "more funds", and the MDGs are not a global shopping list. The MDGs – under threat They claim space amid all the other Patricia Forner ...... 15 real-world structures that seem bent on making or breaking human The MDGs in an unaccountable global order development (and human hearts). Tim Kessler & Nancy Alexander ...... 16 Such as trade and finance systems Turning our challenges into opportunities Mamphela Ramphele...... 17 that, Khor and other contributors argue, are antagonistic to the Goals The MDGs and human rights Kirsty Nowlan...... 18 and may scupper them unless urgent steps are taken. Such as exclusion Development of people, not just pockets Nils Kastberg...... 20 and discrimination, which Nowlan argues make it critical to link the The MDGs and NGOs Jaisankar Sarma ...... 22 MDGs with human rights law; and while the Goals’ emphasis on Seizing the time – global advocacy on the MDGs Steve Bradbury ..... 24 children is a triumph, Beales reminds Faith to reach out Dean Hirsch ...... 25 us of other vulnerable people to whom they must apply.

Global Future is published quarterly by World Correspondence/donations should Vision to encourage debate and discussion on be addressed to: What does all this add up to? That development issues. even as we aim squarely and Global Future purposefully at achieving the Goals, Publisher Dean R. Hirsch World Vision International Editor Heather Elliott peripheral vision and lateral thinking 800 W. Chestnut Ave. will show us that we are pressing up Contributing correspondents: Kelly Currah, Monrovia, California 91016-3198 against structures and mindsets that Melanie Gow, Brett Parris, Matt Scott, Don Brandt, USA simply have to change. Joe Muwonge, Siobhan Calthrop, Ruth Kahurananga, Telephone (1) 626-303-8811 Haidy Ear-Dupuy, Alan Whaites. Fax (1) 626-301-7786 e-mail: [email protected] Are the MDGs, as Whaites asks, just All opinions expressed in Global Future are more "serial target-setting"? Are those of the authors and do not represent the OR: opinions of the World Vision organisation. they, along with countless other Articles may be freely reproduced, with World Vision unfinished or unsupported human acknowledgement, except where other copyright is indicated. 6 Chemin de la Tourelle ventures, destined for history's 1209 Geneva, Switzerland recycling depot? Or will we seize the Global Future is distributed to many NGOs and challenge that they throw to us? non-profit organisations in developing countries. www.globalfutureonline.org Donations to support our production and mailing costs are very welcome (US$20 suggested). ISSN 0742-1524 - Heather Elliott

COVER DESIGN BY : FRIEND CREATIVE (Melbourne, Australia) / Images by: Jerry Galea, G8 leaders - www.g8.fr/evian/english/ Priorities for meeting the Millennium Development Goals

John McArthur and Jeffrey Sachs PHOTO - DUANE FLUEGGE / WORLD VISION

THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT can the international system reduce Goals (MDGs) are more than mere poverty?" to "Is there really an aspirations. They are indeed more international system?" Rich countries than shared global goals.They are the failed to follow through convincingly international community’s time-bound on their Monterrey commitment on and quantified commitment to cut official development assistance. In the sharply the extent of extreme poverty realm of trade policy, they likewise in the world by 2015. The MDGs are failed to follow through on their 2001 achievable, but many parts of the pledge at Doha to address the trading Subsistence farmer in Ecuador.Will the world are not on track to achieve system’s marginalisation of the least- MDGs be missed in the Andes and other them. What is needed – urgently – is developed countries. The Cancún, poor countries? international follow-through on the Mexico, meetings of the WTO failed commitments. even to improve market access for G The international community – tropical agricultural exporters like including poor countries, rich Today, international momentum the impoverished cotton-growing countries, and the international towards the MDGs is in an entirely countries of West Africa. agencies – needs a clear operational different state than even two years framework upon which to base ago. The year 2002 was a watershed The significance of these political policies, programmes and year for global development policy.At failures was underscored by the development assistance for achieving the Financing for Development release of the UNDP Human the MDGs. conference in Monterrey, Mexico, Development Report 2003,which consensus was forged on the need for showed that under current conditions global partnership in order to achieve the MDGs will be missed in nearly 60 Not: "What is the best the MDGs.The rich countries pledged countries, especially the poorest ones we can do to reach significant increases in development in sub-Saharan Africa, the Andes and the MDGs?" but: "What assistance – specifically, to "make Central Asia. concrete efforts towards the target of resources do we need 0.7 percent of gross national product With only 12 years to go before the to reach them?" [in official development assistance]" – MDG deadline, a year lost is one too while the developing countries many, and the direction of global This latter operational point is crucial committed themselves to sound events is even more foreboding with in every developing country. Under governance and use of resources. At regard to the prospects for achieving current conditions, poor countries the World Summit for Sustainable the MDGs. are told by the international system to Development in Johannesburg, South ask the following question: "Given the Africa, all member countries of the financial resources that we have, what Regaining momentum in 2004 United Nations reaffirmed their is the best we can do to reach the commitment to reducing poverty and At the beginning of 2004, there is a MDGs?" Starting in 2004, these protecting the environment, again critical need to re-establish the MDGs countries need to ask a different placing the MDGs at the centre of as the core objective of international question: "Given the urgency of international development policy. development policy, and an even more achieving the MDGs, what resources, urgent need to re-establish including increased development By the end of 2002, it looked as if the international development as a core assistance, do we need to reach the world had not only agreed on the objective of an international system MDGs?" The International Monetary centrality of the MDGs, but was also that has completely focused on war in Fund (IMF) and the World Bank would gearing up to take the actions needed recent months. Success will require then take on the role of helping to to achieve them. two things: raise the needed increment in financial resources – assuming that 2003 – a year lost G There must be a highly visible call each developing country concerned is In 2003, however, global momentum by leaders of the developing world to fulfilling its part of the bargain through on the MDGs was eclipsed by the war return development issues to the top good policies and honest and in Iraq. Debates shifted from "How of the international agenda. transparent governance.

Global Future — First Quarter, 2004 1 While target-setting, deadlines and G promotion of non-traditional service delivery. Rich country planning for success are industries and exports, especially in governments are responsible for commonplace in business and many the rapidly growing urban areas of providing the extra financial resources other activities, planning for poverty the poor countries, through a needed to support the plans of reduction targets has not been favourable business environment and countries with committed political common at the IMF, World Bank or increased market access in the rich leadership, and for opening their other international institutions. In countries; markets to exports from the low- other words, these agencies have not income countries. G been properly goal-oriented towards promotion of small farm the MDGs. It’s time to make the productivity in marginal agricultural The $87 billion international system goal-oriented, lands where large numbers of poor specifically around the goal of farmers struggle in extreme poverty; appropriation for Iraq achieving the MDGs. For each low- this includes technological and Afghanistan is a income country, we need constantly investments to promote a still- glimpse of the vast to be asking the question of what needed Green Revolution for Africa; resources available more should be done to achieve G special attention to the specific success by the target year of 2015. infrastructure (including roads, Won’t it be too expensive to achieve energy, and irrigation) and other local the Goals? Not at all. The policy and Planning for success needs of structurally distressed technological solutions are available How should a country plan for countries or regions, particularly to cut poverty, hunger and disease, success? What steps are really needed small island states and places that are and the costs are incredibly modest to achieve the MDGs in impoverished landlocked, disease-burdened, compared to what can be achieved. countries that are currently off track? conflict-affected, or experiencing The rich countries have committed to We believe that the MDGs can be met sprawling growth in slum development assistance reaching up in every country if the plan is correct populations; and to 0.7% of GNP, or about US$175 billion of donor aid per year. This and if it receives adequate G international support. But there is no increased focus on environmental would represent an increase of "magic bullet", no single strategy. sustainability, including reforestation, roughly $120 billion over the current watershed management, coastal levels of roughly $55 billion. protection, protection of fish stocks, In fact, we think that success must be and reduction of airborne pollutants. guided by both a 10-year horizon, Our own very preliminary analysis since human resources and basic indicates that less than 0.7% of GNP Developing country governments infrastructure can only be built up will in fact be needed to achieve the need to draft plans around these six over the course of a decade, and a MDGs. The incremental amount areas, and need to be given the space broad-based strategy that combines needed might be as low as $75 billion to do so with an ambition actions across several policy per year, for a total aid flow of around commensurate with achieving the "clusters", with priorities differing $130 billion per year, equal to 0.5% of MDGs. In many instances countries from one region to another. GNP of the donor countries.That the already have bold sectoral plans, for US has recently appropriated an example to scale up their public For last year’s Human Development additional $87 billion for Iraq and health services, but these plans sit in Afghanistan offers a glimpse of the Report, we helped to identify six major drawers since the countries are too policy priorities: vast financial resources that are in fact poor to implement them on their available. Only a fraction of that own and are not receiving the official G increased public investments in ambition will be required to achieve development assistance needed from the international commitment to the basic human needs – particularly rich countries. health (including reproductive health Millennium Development Goals, and and health systems), nutrition, thereby to improve dramatically the Supporting actors lives of more than one billion people education, water and sanitation, I energy services and waste treatment What role should key institutions play in the world today. – backed by a doubling or more of in putting these bold programmes into official development assistance practice? The multilateral system – directed at the poorest countries; including the specialised UN agencies, Professor Jeffrey Sachs is Director of the Earth the IMF and the World Bank – should Institute at Columbia University, USA, and Director G increased emphasis on human provide countries with the technical of the Millennium Project. John McArthur is rights for women and other excluded expertise needed to develop the best Manager of the Millennium Project – see groups, with a special focus on the possible MDG plans. Civil society www.unmillenniumproject.org.The views expressed critical role women will play in organisations are crucial both for here are their own. achieving the MDGs and the actions ensuring transparency in the needed to ensure women’s access to development of national plans and for economic and political opportunities; assisting, where appropriate, with

2 First Quarter, 2004 — Global Future Declaration are human rights, peace, No excuses! gender equity, environment and the pressing priorities of the Least Salil Shetty Developed Countries and Africa. The eight Millennium Development Goals, a minimal set of inter-linked outcomes

PHOTO - ANTONIO SUAREZ that have to be met by 2015, are derived from the Declaration.

Civil society reaction to the Millennium Goals has been mixed. Whilst national governments’ signing up to the Goals was seen as an important sign of commitment, there has been justifiable concern at the apolitical, quantitative and minimalist nature of the Goals and targets. Some worry that the Goals could end up being another set of donor conditionalities.

Oh no, not more UN commitments... Given the proliferation of UN Conferences and commitments, it’s important for us to understand the uniqueness of the Millennium Goals in many respects:

G They do represent, at the government level, a compact – not only between rich and poor countries and the UN system based on shared responsibility, but also with the key institutions that determine the economic fate of the developing world: the World Bank, the IMF, the regional development banks and, increasingly, the World Trade Organisation. For the first time, the IFIs and rich-country governments have made explicit what they can be held accountable for: not just in process terms, but in outcomes.

G The world has never before seen so much prosperity.The hundreds of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in Bolivia for the Ibero-American Summit, in front of billions that are being spent in Iraq the Millennium Campaign logo have put things in perspective: we might not need more than about WHEN 189 GOVERNMENTS extreme poverty, to which more than US$100 billion of additional aid per from the North and South, as a billion of them are currently year to meet the Goals. Financially, in representatives of their citizens, subjected". the grand scheme of things, we are signed up to the Millennium Declaration talking small change. in the United Nations Millennium The Declaration built on pledges General Assembly of September 2000, made in the series of important UN G Performance against the goals will there was a palpable sense of urgency. Conferences of the 1990s, and seeks be monitored.These goals are not Urgency to "free our fellow men, to recognise the rising tide of just lofty statements of intent; precise women and children from the abject discontent with the lopsided benefits monitoring mechanisms have been and dehumanising conditions of of globalisation. At the heart of the put in place, in the form of national

Global Future — First Quarter, 2004 3 Millennium Goals reports and the Secretary-General’s reports to the General Assembly. Many civil society actors are starting to look at independent tracking processes. At the time of writing, 58 reports have already been produced at the national level. With today’s resources and knowledge, to set the bar any lower would be morally unacceptable

G The goals are clearly achievable.In fact, civil society actors have The Millennium Campaign logo criticised them as being not "millennium" but "minimum" backbone of the international Assistance Committee on monitoring development goals. lndeed, we believe campaign. The nationalised approach performance against Millennium Goals that to set the bar any lower than also allows for the Goals and their in a more systematic manner. this would be morally unacceptable. strategies to be defined and adapted Individual Goals have already been to local contexts. The first sparks of Growing civil society interest achieved in the space of 10–15 years national-level Campaigning are visible There are many reasons for the by many countries, including China, in countries in countries as diverse as growing interest amongst key civil Sri Lanka, Uganda and Ghana.And Italy, El Salvador, Kenya, Albania and society organisations (CSOs), such as today, we have not only the financial Cambodia, to name a few. Social Watch, Third World Network, wherewithal but also the technical Civicus and Oxfam International, to knowledge to realise the Goals. In developing countries, the focus is engage with and campaign around the on the rights of poor people to realise Millennium Goals: Of course, it is equally true that at our the Goals: are the appropriate policies current trajectory – if we carry on in in place? are institutions responsive to G The Goals have become part of a "business as usual" mode – the goals the legitimate aspirations of poor and the dominant development will not be achieved by 2015, whether marginalised people? is there discourse, not just with donors but in Sub-Saharan Africa or for large adequate public accountability and also with many developing-country numbers of poor people living in Asia transparency in budgeting processes? governments.The UN system is fully or Latin America. But it has been clear from the outset geared up behind the goals. that the credibility of the global "No Excuses" – the Millennium Campaign hinges on creating pressure G CSOs that are struggling to make Campaign for the achievement of Goal 8 in rich Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers What is keeping the world from countries. and national-level plans and policies achieving the Goals is not lack of meet the needs of poor and finances or technical capability,it is the The Campaign has tried to make Goal excluded peoples are finding the lack of political will.This is not news. 8 – which had been left delightfully Millennium Goals an important point What is news is the explicit vague – much more specific on aid, of leverage.They recognise the Goals recognition of this fact at the highest trade, debt and technology transfer. as a legitimate alternative frame of levels of the UN system, and this is National Millennium Goals reference – one that can create symbolised in the conception of the performance monitoring reports will unfettered policy space to discuss Millennium Campaign. be published not only in the South, but with governments the underlying also in rich countries, albeit currently structural impediments to poverty The Campaign’s explicit objective is to on a voluntary basis. Denmark has eradication. In this frame, for encourage and facilitate "we, the already published its report and those example, trade liberalisation can only people" to hold their governments of Belgium, the Netherlands and be a means – the end being and other key actors to account for Sweden are in the pipeline. Canada, achievement of the Goals for all. their promises in the Millennium Germany and the UK are actively Declaration and the Millennium Goals. considering this, and work is G Recognising the threat to National campaigns will form the underway at the OECD Development multilateralism as much in the

4 First Quarter, 2004 — Global Future development arena as in the realm of security and trade, many CSOs have opted to stop simply criticising the UN for being ineffective and instead to work with the UN to make it more effective. PHOTO - DANIELE - MASTRAPASQUA PHOTO The Goals can provide civil society with policy space to discuss impediments to poverty eradication

G The Millennium Goals do not require CSOs to start new campaigns. Many organisations are linking their existing campaigns on health, education,AIDS, trade, peace and aid to the Goals. Christian First sparks of the "No Excuses 2015" Campaign in Italy were visible at the networks, like CIDSE/Caritas and the Biannual Peace March, where over 100,000 people walked from Perugia to Assisi Evangelical grouping of "Micah alongside eight Millennium Goals "Gates", each representing one of the Goals. Challenge", see clear linkages with the Jubilee movement (where the job starting to harness its Ambassadors’ has been less than half done) and find rich network of sports, film and music that the Goals offer a very useful celebrities to campaign for the Goals. overarching framework for many of Legendary West African musician Baba their existing campaigns.With so Maal has already done his first piece many of the Goals directly linked to on the Goals with the BBC. child rights, numerous organisations see the potential for using the space It is civil society that extracted the offered by the Goals to advocate and commitments from governments campaign on child rights issues. which are now distilled into the Millennium Development Goals. It is New allies easier to campaign for clearly But the most important reason for committed targets than for flatulent the recent surge in interest is the promises.The Millennium Campaign is potential that the Millennium Goals now at an early stage of its evolution. offer to bring new public Civil society, with its intellectual and constituencies and coalitions into moral muscle and its boundless campaigning on poverty and justice at organising energy, can shape it. the national and international levels. The contours of a new global anti- Traditional campaigners from poverty movement are beginning to development NGOs and the human take shape.We are the first generation rights, environment and women’s that has a real opportunity to actually movements are finding new allies in see poverty eradicated. And this time youth groups, peace movements, around, there are No Excuses. I trade unions, parliamentarians, local authorities and faith-based groups around the Millennium Goals.There is Salil Shetty is director of the United Nations also enormous media interest, led by Millennium Campaign. See www.undp.org/mdg/ the BBC with its systematic or email [email protected] international programme around the Goals. Key web-based campaigning organisations like OneWorld are also seeing the potential.The UN system is

Global Future — First Quarter, 2004 5 The WTO problem. It is now widely Goal 8 – critical issues for accepted that the rules and processes of the multilateral trading system are trade and finance imbalanced, and must be improved. Failure to rectify the problems caused by existing agreements will hinder the Martin Khor realisation of several MDGs, including Goal 8. Developing countries’ concerns include: MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT decline), or when domestic policies Goal 8, to "develop a global and laws are amended in line with G that the expected benefits of the partnership for development", is WTO rules or loan conditionalities. Uruguay Round – rich countries critical as the only MDG that generally opening their agriculture and textiles and specifically covers international The commodities problem. The markets – have not been realised; relations. The external economic continuous decline in prices for environment impacts tremendously export commodities is possibly the G that implementing WTO on developing countries – particularly most important trade issue for obligations – such as prohibiting those that are dependent on the developing countries. It has led to investment measures and many types international financial institutions (IFIs) falling incomes for millions of small of subsidies – make it harder to or members of the World Trade producers, deprived countries of encourage domestic industry, let Organisation (WTO). export earnings, and reduced their alone to pursue development debt repayment capacity. strategies or meet development Perhaps the most important set of needs; and development policies that a country Between the 1960s and the 1980s, G has to decide is around whether, how attempts to stabilise commodity that they are under immense and when to integrate its domestic prices at reasonable levels were a pressure from developed countries economy with the international concrete form of "global partnership to support an expansion of the economy. Yet most developing for development". This partnership WTO’s mandate to non-trade issues, countries cannot freely choose their took the form of several producer in exchange for granting access to approach to economic integration, –consumer commodity agreements Northern agriculture markets or for because of loan and aid under the United Nations Commission considering "implementation issues" conditionalities or the rules they have on Trade and Development favourably. agreed to in the WTO. (UNCTAD) umbrella, and a Common Fund for Commodities. Most of the Review and reform of the WTO are all Underlying Goal 8’s global partnership agreements closed or became the more critical given the failure of for development must be an ineffective, however, when consumer the Cancún Ministerial Conference – understanding that developing countries withdrew their interest a wake-up call to consider what kind countries have the right to take an and commitment – returning of trade system would serve appropriate, pragmatic and selective commodity prices to the vagaries of development. We propose the approach to integration. Unless the demand and supply. following WTO reforms: policies, rules and conditionalities of international trade, finance, To stem, and if possible reverse, such 1. Developed countries should investment, aid, and intellectual huge income losses by poor commit to meaningfully opening their property rights reflect the realities countries, Goal 8 should include a markets in sectors, products and and needs of developing countries, it target to "ensure that commodity services in which developing countries may even be impossible to attain Goal 8. prices are stabilised at levels enabling are able to benefit (including textiles, adequate incomes for the exporting agriculture, products processed from Trade and development countries and producers". Countries raw materials, and labour services). The international trading system has could initiate a new round of many benefits, but it is imbalanced in producer–consumer commodity 2. The WTO review processes should ways that disadvantage many agreements aimed at rationalising the consider: developing countries. Two aspects of supply of raw materials while ensuring this imbalance are the decline in fair and sufficiently high prices. Or, (a) giving developing countries commodity prices and the rules of the export commodity producers could adequate flexibility in implementing WTO. Development needs are often act to rationalise their global supply to their Agriculture Agreement compromised when a country better match global demand. obligations, on the grounds of food participates inappropriately in Developed countries should not security, rural livelihoods and international trade (for example, by discourage producers from taking poverty alleviation (e.g. food being too dependent on export their own initiatives to improve produced for domestic commodities whose prices are in commodity prices. consumption, and small farmers’

6 First Quarter, 2004 — Global Future PHOTO - JOSEPH PERERA / WORLD VISION

Coconut processing in Sri Lanka. Developing countries must be allowed to benefit from trade in agricultural and other sectors.

products, should be exempted from 3. The WTO’s operation and rules prices, while involving itself deeply in the Agreement’s disciplines on should be re-oriented so that domestic issues such as intellectual import liberalisation and domestic development becomes the overriding property laws, domestic investment subsidies); principle. Rules that are"development and subsidy policies. Non-trade issues distorting" should be removed, and should not be introduced in the WTO (b) amending/clarifying the TRIPS developing countries should aim for as subjects for rules. Agreement to take into account "appropriate" rather than "maximum" development, social and liberalisation. With these changes, the WTO could environmental concerns (e.g. so better contribute to the design and that member countries can provide 4. The WTO proposal to begin maintenance of an international affordable medicines, prohibit negotiations on "new issues" should trading system that would support a patenting of life forms, or protect be withdrawn, as these would add global partnership for development. traditional knowledge and practices); new heavy obligations on and bring and reviewing the appropriateness little benefit to developing countries. Need for global financial reform of the WTO’s mandate over intellectual property issues; 5. WTO decision-making should be Reform of the global financial democratised, more transparent, and architecture is embedded within the (c) amending the TRIMS Agreement enable full participation of developing first target under Goal 8: "Develop to reverse the prohibition on countries. In contrast to the current further an open, rule-based, "investment measures", which "consensus" system, all members must predictable, non-discriminatory causes developing countries to lose be allowed to participate in meetings, trading and financial system". A note some important policy options for have their views adequately reflected elaborates that this "includes a pursuing industrialisation; and in negotiating texts, be free from commitment to good governance, pressure to accept other members’ development and poverty reduction, (d) exempting essential services for positions, and be given adequate time both nationally and internationally". the public, especially the poor, such to consider proposals. as water supply, health care and Lack of regulation and predictability in education, from the general rules 6. The scope of the WTO’s mandate the global financial system has been a and specific sectoral schedules of should be re-thought. It fails to source of financial and economic the General Agreement on Trade in seriously address some key world destabilisation for many developing Services (GATS). trade issues, including commodity countries. Financial speculation has

Global Future — First Quarter, 2004 7 burgeoned, with investment funds and financial crises, including by regulation National-level measures. In the speculators moving rapidly across and control of the type and extent of absence of such international borders in search of profits. Many foreign loans that the public and measures, developing countries may developing countries were advised to private sectors are allowed to obtain; have no choice but to institute deregulate and liberalise their financial domestic measures to protect systems, relaxing controls over the 2. enable countries that do themselves from conditions that can inflow and outflow of funds. This led experience debt repayment crisis to lead to financial crisis and debt to excessive short-term borrowing by manage this effectively, with debtors repayment problems. local firms and banks, and to and creditors sharing the burden international players investing, equitably; In particular, they should consider speculating and manipulating regulating the extent of public and currencies and stock markets. 3. freely permit developing countries, private sector foreign loans; Meanwhile, the international financial without fear of penalties, to establish prohibiting manipulation of their institutions and major developed systems of regulation and control currencies and stock markets; and countries, eager for more market over the inflow and outflow of funds, treating foreign direct investment access, promoted liberalisation as especially speculative ones; selectively to avoid build-up of foreign debt. They must have scope to adopt beneficial and posing little danger. 4. oblige governments of countries macro-economic policies to counter that are sources of internationally recession whilst reducing the risks of International-level measures. mobile funds to discipline and regulate volatility in the exchange rate and Measures are required at international their financial institutions and players flow of funds. No country should be level to avoid new policies or to prevent them from unhealthy under pressure – particularly from agreements that would "lock in" or speculative activities abroad and from IFIs – to refrain from making use of pressurise developing countries into causing volatile capital flows; further financial liberalisation: such controls. 5. control the activities of hedge 1. The IMF should cease pursuing the funds, investment banks and other In conclusion, it is patently clear that amendment of its Articles of Agreement highly leveraged institutions, offshore the world’s trade and finance systems to give it jurisdiction over capital centres, the currency markets and the require an overhaul. More detailed account convertibility, with the aim of derivatives trade; targets, more accurate measures, disciplining developing countries to policies and frameworks, and better open up their capital account and 6. create an international monetary indicators should be developed under markets. system that enables the stability of Goal 8 to make the financial system a currency exchange rates; key component in a "global 2. OECD countries should stop any partnership for development" rather attempt to revive their proposed 7. reform the IFIs, especially the IMF than the problem it now is. I Multilateral Agreement on Investment, and the World Bank, to allow which would give unfettered freedom developing countries a fairer and to capital flows. more effective role in IFI policies and Martin Khor is Director of the Third World Network processes, and a greater proportion of (TWN) which he has led since its inception in 3. Nor should the proposal for a the total shares in IFI equity; 1984.TWN researches economic, environmental multilateral investment agreement and social issues and advocates Southern 8. review and modify conditionalities under the aegis of the WTO proceed, perspectives at international fora. See accompanying IMF–World Bank loans as this would put intense pressures on www.twnside.org.sg. Mr Khor has also been a so that recipient countries can "own" developing countries to deregulate member of the UN Secretary-General's Task Force the priority-setting, the policy inward and outward financial and on the Environment and Human Settlements, and assumptions, and the choice of investment flows. of the Commonwealth Expert Group on financial, macro-economic, trade and Development and Democracy. A longer version of other policies; 4. The WTO’s financial services this paper was published in UNDP’s Development Policy Journal, April 2003. agreement should be reviewed in light 9. "deal comprehensively with the of the lessons on negative effects of debt problems of developing financial liberalisation learned from countries through national and the latest financial crisis. international measures in order to make debt sustainable in the long run" To develop a stable and development- (Goal 8,Target 15); and oriented global financial system, measures or mechanisms are needed 10. identify the sources of these that: problems, including those outside the financial arena (such as trade policies) 1. assist developing countries to to prevent future debt problems and prevent or avoid future debt and financial crises.

8 First Quarter, 2004 — Global Future chronic poverty, poor access to health Will the MDGs reach the services and transport, gender-based discrimination and social and political forgotten poor? exclusion. The impact of HIV/AIDS on children Sylvia Beales is beginning to highlight the needs and rights of their primary carers, who are in the main grandparents and older PHOTO - JAMES EAST / WORLD VISION relatives. However, age-based abuse and the violation of fundamental human rights are under-reported and experienced widely across the developing world. Currently, poverty reduction programmes rarely mention older persons despite the growing evidence that the older poor number amongst the very poorest. Poverty programmes rarely target older people, nor benefit them, even indirectly. How can the MDGs help change this situation?

Older people are the fastest-growing group in the developing world, yet poverty efforts rarely target them

Off the margins Nepali grandmother Laxmi (aged 75) helps a young village boy clean his teeth. In July 2003, at a special meeting in Cape Town on MDG achievement, Dr AS THE GLOBAL CAMPAIGN Being "left out" is the one of the most Kenneth Kaunda declared: for the Millennium Development consistent themes to emerge from Goals gets underway in the South and our many years of consultations and North, HelpAge International is participatory research carried out "Friends, crucial to the success of asking how MDG programmes will with poor older women and men. the Millennium Development change to reach out to the least Sarah from Kenya told us: "We have programmes is participation. powerful: the forgotten poor. voices, we want to be heard and most People from all walks of life need importantly to be understood." 2 to be involved in finding solutions The Secretary-General of the United to their lives.We need to bring to Nations in his 2003 report on the The over-60s are the fastest growing the centre all the people on the implementation of the Millennium population group in the developing margins.These include young Declaration said that the MDG road world, with numbers set to double persons, the elderly, women, map was the "best hope for the from 30 to 60 million in under 50 people of various ethnic groups, world’s poor"’. 1 But those of us years. Nearly 80% of the world’s older people from other religions and working with older women and men, people will be living in less developed spiritual beliefs, the poor…" who are often the very poorest and countries. The highest growth rate of most marginalised in very poor any age group will be among those These words go to the heart of the countries, have found that MDG aged 80 and over, with older women MDG challenge. The problem is not programmes to date take no account outnumbering older men.3 Older only the shamefully limited resources of the growing numbers of older poor. women and men continue to work that are being invested in equitable Their issues are not being addressed and contribute to family and development.The core of the problem and they are not included in poverty community throughout their later is that the poorest and the most and MDG consultations – they are left years. Yet their longer life is often marginalised are not being reached by, on the margins. associated with deep and pervasive and are excluded from, MDG and

Global Future — First Quarter, 2004 9 other poverty-related programmes. reduction and MDGs, but this poor and incorporate these in policies Reasons for this include: acknowledgement has not yet been and programmes that affect them translated into action. The 12 directly. I G limited disaggregation or analysis governments of Africa present of poverty’s impacts on different admitted the invisibility of older categories of the poor; populations in national poverty Sylvia Beales is Policy Development Manager programmes and their related MDG with HelpAge International, a global network of G lack of attention to issues of initiatives, and pledged to take action not-for-profit organisations with a mission to work difference, including age, gender, to correct this, calling on the with and for disadvantaged older people worldwide ethnicity and disability; international community and civil to achieve a lasting improvement in the quality society organisations for support. of their lives. See www.helpage.org or email [email protected] G MDG poverty-monitoring Older persons must be indicators not being inclusive of all 1Report of the Secretary General to the 58th Session poor groups; seen as contributors of the General Assembly, Implementation of the UN Millennium Declaration, A/58/323, 2 September 2003, to growth, partners in 2 G para 72 HelpAge International, The State of the World’s issues relating to older development, and Older People, 2002, page 35 3HelpAge International, populations, the disabled and agents for change 2002 minority communities not being picked up in MDG-related Civil society organisations present programmes and data; and called for inclusive approaches to policy development to ensure delivery G the poorest not participating in of the MDGs for all persons, and MDG consultations. offered their support to ensure that this happens. They pointed out the No wonder there are serious doubts need to co-operate in analysing as to whether the goals can be existing evidence on marginalisation, achieved by 2015. ageing and poverty, and demonstrated the benefits to development of Public policy on ageing is now increased budgetary allocations to all explicitly linked to the existing marginalised groups, including older international frameworks governing people, in poverty programmes. They rights and poverty. In 2002, the asked that older persons be accepted Second World Assembly on Ageing as contributors to growth at country committed all governments to level and that they be acknowledged explicitly include older populations in as partners in development and as MDG programmes and analysis. Both agents for change. consultation with the poor, and delivering their rights under the HelpAge International is calling for an Universal Declaration of Human Rights, affirmative rights-based framework to which is applicable to all people of all include older people and other circumstances, are essential to marginalised groups in MDG and achieving the MDGs. other poverty-related policy and programme development. This framework is based on two core A more inclusive approach principles: As John Hendry of the United Nations Development Programme G recognition and support of the (UNDP) put it at a UN/HAI/ contributions of marginalised people Government of Tanzania-sponsored to poverty reduction and MDG Ageing and Poverty workshop in achievement; and October 2003, held in Tanzania: "Because the Millennium G inclusion of the excluded in Development Goals are equated to be policy-making on poverty reduction universal rights, they should be and MDG programmes. achieved in every country, equally between both male and female We recognise that the key challenge is genders and for all age groups." At this to change policy makers’ "mindsets" – workshop, UNDP affirmed that ageing to be willing to seek out the views, is a relevant issue for poverty ideas and aspirations of the excluded

10 First Quarter, 2004 — Global Future also "policy coherence". Here we Why the serial target-setting encounter the thorny fact that some G8 countries undermine the good must finally produce results effects of their meagre levels of ODA by pursuing anti-developmental policies in crucially important areas Alan Whaites such as trade. Until the rich world is willing to align more of its policies in pursuit of pro-poor economic PHOTO - AMAN AYALEW / WORLD VISION growth, the MDGs will be tough to achieve.

The MDGs will be tough to achieve until the rich world’s policies are aligned

The UNDP campaign will not have an easy ride. In addition to the problem of pressing the G8 to act in pursuit of the MDGs, it must also secure important changes from their cousins in the multilateral system: the international financial institutions.

In principle, the World Bank and International Monetary Fund are fully committed to the MDGs. How could they not be, when the goals (as concepts) have reached a status akin to democracy and human rights? Yet neither institution has yet shown The MDGs spur us to tackle the world's skewed priorities which cause poverty. many signs of actually changing its practice substantially to bring the THE G81 ARE SERIAL TARGET- Copenhagen development summit Goals any closer. setters. Many politicians love targets – and subsequent initiatives on AIDS. they seem so decisive, optimistic and The World Bank maintains that its bold – but achieving them is usually The UN is realistic enough to know existing approach is already geared seen as a problem for the future, not that its commitment alone is not fully to poverty reduction. It also the present. Whether it is the sufficient to achieve the goals. Only if believes that its own Poverty environment, development, HIV/AIDS G8 governments are held to account Reduction Strategy Paper initiative is or trade, the G8 has set a raft of for their words do the goals have any an important part of developing the targets. The proliferation of targets chance of success. This means practical infrastructure that can work however, does not mean that the mobilising public opinion in richer towards the Goals. objectives can be divorced from some states. The United Nations form of organisational ownership. Development Programme (UNDP) The IMF has been less adept at has therefore embarked on an MDG painting its current activities as As is so often the case, this ownership campaign that intends to create the inherently MDG-friendly. Indeed, this is left with the multilateral system, momentum to put action behind the would be a difficult argument to sell, which must try to bring some kind of words. The campaign must first and given that the Fund has not yet fully substance to agreements that have foremost give meaning to MDG Goal 8, shown signs of integrating its 1999 been made. In the case of the concerning international cooperation commitment to poverty reduction Millennium Development Goals – the only MDG that has no numerical into all aspects of its work. But the (MDGs), the United Nations system targets assigned. most critical issue facing the Fund in has thrown itself into this task with relation to MDGs is the degree to considerable enthusiasm. The MDGs UN, IFIs and G8 – lack of policy which its lending advice actually leads have, after all, largely emerged from coherence to a stalling of the pro-poor growth processes that include the UN’s own For international co-operation, read that might hasten the achievement of

Global Future — First Quarter, 2004 11 the Goals. Recently both Oxfam and target of 0.7%. Richer countries need every child to live in this fullness of World Vision have released briefings to dig into their own pockets for the life. An inevitable part of their questioning the lending advice sensible amounts of funding that are mission must be pressing for real offered by the Fund, which usually needed to overcome the appalling action and commitment on the part favours a cautious, even manifestations of poverty that are of the G8. Governments in all nations contractionary approach. The Fund still with us. must be held to account for the itself has now recognised that the wrong priorities that allow low growth rates achieved by its After all, the G8 can view the task of preventable diseases to kill so many poorest clients mean a 40-year poverty reduction as a matter of children, that see two billion people timeframe for them to catch up with simple vested interest.The economic living on less than US$2 per day, and the current incomes of other poor gains that development brings to that tolerate the appalling costs of countries. richer states are well established, and conflict in many parts of the the benefits for international stability developing world. I The IMF’s influence on macro- have been much discussed. There is economic policy in developing states an underlying moral fissure in the will be a key determinant of the wholeness of a world in which an Alan Whaites is Director of Policy and Advocacy for degree to which they succeed in affluent minority stands by while its World Vision International. making the MDGs real. The Fund poorer neighbours struggle on with must consider carefully the problems that could be resolved 1Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the importance of issues such as income readily – for a fraction of the G8’s United Kingdom and the United States distribution, policy flexibility in expenditure on defence, or even of relation to inflation and fiscal policy, their population’s spending on and also the political economy of vacations and luxury goods. economic policy.

From words to action – the The MDGs should G8’s task not be allowed to But just as the UN cannot single- become another handedly achieve the MDGs, neither expression of the can policy changes on the part of the world’s fickleness IMF bring forward the Goals without the crucial actions that must be taken by G8 governments in the North. World Vision believes that the MDGs are one set of targets that should not These actions are not simply a be allowed to simply become question of money; the Goals cannot another expression of the fickleness be achieved just by an injection of of promises from the rich world.The cash.Yet it is also true that they won’t MDGs represent a real opportunity be achieved unless realistic levels of to make inroads into the terrible resources are available.The G8 made consequences of poverty. They also some very hopeful noises regarding spur us to tackle the causes of their overall levels of official poverty – the skewed priorities of a development assistance in 2002 at world in which indifference, ideology the time of the Monterrey summit on and selfishness are allowed to block Finance for Development, but this so many initiatives that might benefit has not yet proven to be more than the poor. another case of serial target-setting. Indeed, in recent years only the UK World Vision is committed to has made serious and consistent working for the realisation of the efforts to significantly increase its MDGs, both through its ODA. The UK, in many ways the programmatic commitment to the honourable exception among the G8, poor and also through its advocacy has also pressed the cause of an for a more just and equitable world. International Finance Facility that As a Christian organisation, World would substantially increase the Vision is conscious that each person resources available for development. is made in the image of God, and that God’s desire is for each child to be If the MDGs are to be achieved, then able to live life in all its fullness. other members of the G8 must also go beyond the perennial murmuring The MDGs offer a rallying call to under their breath about that original those who believe in the right of

12 First Quarter, 2004 — Global Future globalisation process, a process that Embracing Africa’s MDG needs concerted and far-reaching reform in order to reduce challenge disadvantageous developments and strengthen advantageous developments, but that also needs Wiseman Nkuhlu recognition as a process that cannot be reversed or ignored;

PHOTO - WINNIE OGANA / WORLD VISION G has to squarely face problems of structural transformation and social upheaval currently confronting individual African countries and groups of countries; and

G has to creatively, and whenever relevant collectively, search for practical ways to address these challenges.

The broadening of the agenda of development goals and targets creates major challenges for NEPAD, with its focus on the African development environment.

Mozambique continues rebuilding after a long civil war, but has widespread Africa’s country reports unemployment. Can its young people look forward to a bright future? will add value to MDG THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT the development-monitoring and reporting and provide Goals (MDGs), accepted by the development-facilitation process. new insights for others United Nations and its organisations in 2000, reflect the currently Monitoring development in Africa The United Nations Development dominant "human development" A key milestone in the New Programme and other international approach towards development Partnership for African Development institutions expect low-income facilitation. The eight MDGs (NEPAD) process is to develop an all- countries to each prepare an MDG incorporate a wide range of African monitoring framework with Country Report, outlining in a very subsidiary goals and touch on the full respect to progress in human concise way how (far) different spectrum of economic, social and development, which will help drive targets have been met – i.e. what the environmental governance goals. future continental, sub-continental different indicators reveal and how and national development and change reliable the quantitative results are. A comprehensive monitoring of processes. To be effective, it is NEPAD shall take the matter further development progress in individual envisaged that this approach: and as a value addition to the MDGs countries would have to focus on as shall: many of these goals and related G should not disregard realities, indicators as practically feasible, given facts, documented trends and G encourage countries to explain the problems of data availability and dynamics, whether negative or why (according to their own limited measurement capacity. positive for the advancement of the interpretation) they achieved (or continent and its states; In as far as available statistics may limit failed to achieve) the targets; the range of indicators relevant within G should fully recognise the primary G the MDG spectrum, or sensitivities challenges facing the continent at this show how strategies often about some of the indicators may put stage and in the foreseeable future, demand implementation at sub- limitations on their use by political viz: poverty, unemployment, national and local levels, rather than leaders, the question arises whether economic and social deprivation, merely at national level; alternative, adjusted or simplified sets inequalities, lack of democratic rights of indicators may suffice. Underlying and practices, etc.; G link the responses from groups of this question are a number of issues countries or regions on particular which seem relevant and important G has to appreciate African goals and targets to constitute for the overall momentum in countries’ precarious position in the bundles of real-life experiences;

Global Future — First Quarter, 2004 13 G help explain the successes or failures in the light of changing perceptions about existing strategies and further feedback from those countries; and

G propagate the "lessons from

experience" among regional or other PHOTO - ALISON PRESTON / WORLD VISION groupings of African states and provide wider feedback to all African states about new insights into obstacles and breakthroughs in the process of pursuing MDGs in Africa.

African ownership The MDG setting and monitoring process present challenges for NEPAD. African governments, state departments, parastatals, academic and research bodies, civil society organisations and private sector leaders have to be made aware of the evolution of the MDGs, their significance for the attraction of external development funds, and the challenges arising for each country out of those goals. African countries have to be assisted via the NEPAD process to initiate the necessary steps towards MDG acceptance, adjustment and implementation. This process is likely to be easier or more accessible if African countries co-operate at This trader in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, lost his small shop following a volcanic eruption which devastated 16,000 homes and the economy in this various levels – national, regional and area already ravaged by violent conflict. local authorities, civil society organisations, business communities, and so on.To be manageable, it will be necessary to simplify the range of Professor Wiseman L Nkuhlu is Chairman of the targets or indicators that are Steering Committee of the New Partnership for proactively pursued. African Development (NEPAD), and Economic Advisor to South African President Thabo Mbeki. See www.nepad.org NEPAD recognises the importance of Africans taking ownership of and establishing a long-term vision for achieving the development goals. This will be pursued in close co-operation with relevant (local and national) stakeholders. Such an approach will further open up opportunities for efforts to prepare and disseminate "case studies" of successful and unsuccessful strategy implementation, as a learning tool for member countries and policy stakeholders. And it will assist in drafting an African approach towards development strategising and the monitoring of development progress. I

14 First Quarter, 2004 — Global Future reforms. Fledgling democratic developing The MDGs – under threat countries must be allowed to decide for themselves – just as Europe and the US Patricia Forner did over the past century – which trade and investment mechanisms they will apply, and when, in order to grow their own domestic industries. They also need GIVEN THE RIGHT PUBLIC POLICIES, countries would experience a net gain of the freedom to access and develop and the political will to carry them out – in 6% in their GDP. For an African country technology for the benefit of their citizens wealthy and developing countries – the with an annual income per citizen of $500 at an appropriate pace and an equitable eight Millennium Development Goals in 2000, this translates to $503 [or $1198 4 price. can be achieved. Although poor-and compounded] by 2015. Clearly, halving middle-income countries are at different poverty can’t be accomplished by merely New threat to global partnership stages of social, political and economic tweaking the GDP. development, the MDGs have proven Indeed, the MDGs’ battle against poverty, adaptable. Highly indebted countries need special hunger and disease is now facing a new consideration for debt cancellation from threat. Terrorist violence has to date The first seven Goals are predicated on international financial institutions such as directly affected a small proportion of the developing country governments’ political the World Bank, the International world’s population.6 Yet the war on will for reforms and wealthy donor Monetary Fund (IMF) and the private terrorism, which is earning huge dividends nations’ desire to co-ordinate development banking sector. Many developing countries for the security industry, is also aid. Using the MDGs as a framework, suffer poverty not only because they can’t undermining foreign aid investments in developing country governments are export products for hard currency, but low- and middle-income countries that committed to cutting poverty and hunger also because they must service and pay account for more than one third of the in half, improving health care, attacking TB, the odious debts incurred by former world’s population. To prevent terrorism malaria and HIV/AIDS, increasing dictators and despots. In sub-Saharan from threatening the Millennium economic opportunities for women, Africa, the burden of unpayable debt is Development Goal of global partnership, promoting environmental sustainability more than the countries spend on health national leaders need to be reminded of and guaranteeing primary education for all care and education combined.5 Brazil, on the moral impetus for just social, political by 2015. In wealthy and developing the other hand, is a middle-income and economic reforms that work to countries, government and civil society country, but how can it meet the goal of reduce terrorism. This will take massive have the combined capacity to manage the primary education for all and cut hunger public pressure from voters in democratic resources and make the changes required by 50% through its Escolar and Zero Hunger societies everywhere. I to realise those goals. Meanwhile, Goal 8’s programmes while it is paying a 26% call for a "global partnership" is heavily interest rate on its market-imposed IMF dependent on the will of wealthy country loan, and producing 4.25% surplus of its Patricia Forner works with World Vision US as governments to honour just and fair annual budget (more than all investment Adviser for Public Policy and Advocacy in Latin trading rules and investment policies, as in poverty reduction) for lowered capital? America and the Caribbean. See developing countries improve their own www.seekjustice.org governance. Poverty will not 1 For an excellent discussion of this issue, see Oxfam be halved by merely International, Rigged Rules and Double Standards:Trade, Do we really mean business? tweaking the GDP globalisation and the fight against poverty, 2002, at Trade agreements between wealthy and www.maketradefair.com/assets/ english/Report_English.pdf 2OECD figures show 2002 poor nations do not always result in the The IMF continues to argue that fast OECD agricultural subsidies at $318 billion. 3"Africa’s poor (in either wealthy or poor countries) Elusive Dawn", The Economist, 24 February 2002 economic growth will alleviate poverty, 4 suddenly prospering. Exports from the and the US preaches the panacea of free M.Weisbrot and D. Baker (of the Center for Economic Policy Research,Washington, DC), "False developing world are hit with tariffs, trade. They believe that if developing quotas and other protectionist Promises on Trade", letter to the editor, New York Times, countries could increase their exports to 24 July 2003. Even the compounded projection of mechanisms in wealthy countries’ earn enough hard currency, they could $1198 may not reflect improvement in poor people’s 1 "competitive" markets. grow an economic base to break the incomes, since middle-class and wealthy people often poverty cycle. However, that has not benefit most from GDP increases. Purchasing power parity (PPP) is a more useful indicator of improvement Wealthy countries’ agricultural subsidies worked for Latin America, where most in poor people’s incomes. 5Ibid. 6See J. Sachs, "The amount to over US$300 billion a year – countries liberalised their trade policies in World Must Not Let America Set Its Agenda", The more than five times their total foreign aid the 1980s and 1990s, and where the Financial Times, 15 October 2003. It can of course be budgets,2 and $30 billion more than greatest inequality between rich and poor argued that "economic terrorism" affects far more people. Africa’s entire gross domestic product persists. (GDP).3 If wealthy countries eliminated their agricultural subsidies and tariffs on Inimical social, political and economic manufactured goods by 2015, the World structures need to die before they can be Bank estimates, low- and middle-income replaced with pro-poor policies and

Global Future — First Quarter, 2004 15 accountable for achieving them. Far The MDGs in an from using the international finance and trade system to reduce poverty, unaccountable global order powerful countries are pursuing realpolitik. Comments by a senior US Nancy Alexander and Tim Kessler trade official 7 suggest that only countries backing Washington’s policy of trade liberalisation should receive THE MDG CAMPAIGN IS NOT Washington Consensus, which trade-related assistance from the likely to achieve its noble goals if it promotes neo-liberal policies as World Bank and IMF – raising serious helps legitimise existing institutions solutions to virtually all problems.5 concern about the direction of US that govern economic policy. During Another UN official said: "Pursuit of trade policy. The World Trade the 1990s, 54 developing countries the MDGs could well be under- Organisation is asking that priorities suffered "negative growth", and 71 mined…if there is no change in from its trade policy review be experienced only 0–3% growth.1 The adjustment policies." 6 integrated into PRSPs, making a richest quintile increased its average mockery of "country ownership". per capita consumption by 18% between Poverty and realpolitik 1993 and 1997, while the poorest Although PRSPs have time-bound The MDGs may become a distant gained less than 2%.2 From 1980 to performance benchmarks – ostensibly dream if global governance 2000, growth in most countries to help reach MDGs – these are also institutions are not radically implementing neo-liberal policies used to discipline borrowing reformed. Economist Dani Rodrik declined significantly compared to the countries. And the IFIs "trump" the suggested a useful starting point: previous 20 years. As Jan PRSP in key policy domains: "International economic rules must Vandemoortele of the United Nations incorporate ‘opt-out’ or exit clauses Development Programme concludes: G The IMF’s PRGF Factsheet states that [that] allow democracies to reassert "the targets and policy conditions in a their priorities when these priorities "If the 1980s were the ‘lost decade for 8 development’, the 1990s were the PRGF-supported program are drawn clash with obligations to [IFIs]." directly from the country’s PRSP". In ‘decade of broken promises’." 3 Critics of development assistance practice, the reverse is true: the IMF rightly maintain that governments will requires that MDG goals in PRSPs be Clearly the Campaign must call for not achieve the MDGs until they are consistent with its prescribed budget alternatives to neo-liberal policies.Yet made accountable to their citizens. and structural policies. Since the IMF But that accountability cannot be these cannot be achieved while the does not publicly disclose its own imposed externally through international financial institutions goals, participants in PRSP (IFIs) undercut the creation of consultations proceed without blueprinted policies. national poverty plans. The IFIs participants knowing if there will be require that low-income governments resources to implement policy prepare a Poverty Reduction Strategy priorities. Nancy Alexander is Director and Tim Kessler is Paper (PRSP) – viewed as a "roadmap" Research Director with Citizens’ Network on Essential Services. See www.servicesforall.org/ to meeting the MDGs. Although G The World Bank’s Country Policy PRSPs are touted as country-owned, and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) 1"Human Development Report 2003 charts decade- can matter more than a PRSP in long income drop in 54 countries", press release, the IFIs must "endorse" them for 2 determining aid levels and policies. UNDP,New York, 8 July 2003 "MDGs at work at the governments to qualify for finance and country level", New Millennium, New Agenda, UNDP, The Bank has focused its policy 3 debt relief. As one World Bank official March 2002 "Are the MDGs feasible?", UNDP Bureau prescriptions on "weak" aspects of 4 noted: "The PRSP is a compulsory for Development Policy, July 2002 John Page speaking the CPIAs. Some borrowers, to make to NGO Forum at InterAction in Washington, DC, 12 process wherein the people with the their PSRPs acceptable, have included April 2000, quoted by Nancy Alexander 5Quoted in money tell the people who want the privatisation of social and infra- Naomi Koppel, "Programs to Help Poor Nations Criticized", press release, Associated Press, 8 July 2003, money what they need to do to get structure services – but without at www.pcusa.org/pcusa/wmd/hunger/undp-ap.htm 4 the money." adequate regulation, this is unlikely to 6 Richard Jolly, "Global Goals:The UN experience" for help meet the MDGs. UNDP Human Development Report 2003 The IFIs use PRSPs to promote 7 Deputy US Trade Representative Peter Allgeier quoted in "US links trade aid to support for its trade familiar structural adjustment policies, Only one MDG – a "global policies", Reuters,Washington, 5 November 2003, like privatising public services or partnership for development" – accessed via http://web.worldbank.org/ (News & cutting agricultural subsidies. UNDP addresses the accountability of rich Events, Press Reviews) 8Dani Rodrik, "Four Simple Principles for Democratic Governance of Administrator Mark Malloch Brown countries.This goal has commendable Globalization", unpublished paper, May 2001 was quoted as saying that a "guerrilla targets (e.g. debt relief, pro-poor assault" is needed on the so-called trade), but nobody is likely to be held

16 First Quarter, 2004 — Global Future development. Thinking about people, Turning our challenges into including people, empowering people, investing in people. Capacity, opportunities institutions, governance structures and MDG implementation must take people’s quality of life as the true Mamphela Ramphele measure of development. The challenge of developing-country SETTING OF QUANTITATIVE sustainable development, and empow- resource constraints must be faced goals as guideposts to assessing erment, equity and social justice. right now. Even under optimal development progress, such as the There is need for strong policy circumstances, many countries are Millennium Development Goals coherence as we advance the goal of unlikely to generate sufficient (MDGs), is a new approach to national poverty alleviation. This central domestic resources to finance the and global development. Our mission of the World Bank demands attainment of all of the MDGs. To individual and collective commitments that we create an enabling illustrate: Ethiopia currently spends to fighting poverty, universal primary environment to assist those in US$74 million per year on primary education, gender equality, child poverty, since poverty is not only a education (less than $14 per student); and maternal health, combating matter of income, but also of only 60% of the age group are HIV/AIDs, promoting environmental freedom, institutions, human rights, enrolled and only about 25% sustainability and development identity, opportunity and security. complete primary school. To reach partnerships are at the core of public the 2015 target of every child policy. But the imperative of meeting If our global society completing primary education, the MDGs can sustain momentum at expenditures would need to double, the institutional, operational and is to be more than quality and delivery of schooling policy levels, and increase our the sum of its parts, would need to be enhanced, and some awareness of the challenges ahead. we need to embrace US$200 million in external financing new values and new would be needed annually. If Ethiopia A global consensus on what the were to rely solely on its own MDGs are does not necessarily coalitions for change domestic resources, some estimates translate into a consensus on the how predict that the goal of 100% primary and who of their implementation.And Societies at the national level cannot school completion would not be it is here that our challenges lie. achieve this alone. If our global society reached before 2060. and environment is to be more than The first challenge is to create a long- the sum of its parts, we need global Just as critically, much of the $52 term context specifically translated goals to match global values and global billion of annual ODA is given under into a holistic, inclusive vision of practices to attain progress for global rules that make it difficult or development. The second is for the beings. Economic policies of some impossible for recipient countries to MDGs to be embraced and countries are essential to the spend it on their own terms and embedded within local, national and development of the rest of the world. priorities. Untying aid and ensuring global identities, with this ownership Not only must development assis- that it strengthens countries’ capacity driving MDG implementation. The tance help the poorest countries truly to tackle their own development third is to create civil, political and escape the traps of poverty, but trade challenges is key. institutional spaces so that every part policies must not work at cross of society actively participates in and purposes to development assistance. The MDGs must be pursued in a benefits from the implementation Agricultural subsidies and trade world of rights and responsibilities. processes; this will certainly make the barriers in rich countries run into the Sustainable betterment for humanity scaling-up process smoother, more hundreds of billions of dollars annually demands embracing new values and meaningful and effective.The fourth is – not only outweighing their aid new coalitions for change. Let us not that these spaces must be permeated budgets, but also directly undercutting forego this important moment. It is up by the transparency, good governance, incomes and jobs in developing to us to see that history is also and accountability of actors and countries. Other trade policies slow written by those who are powerless, processes. down technology and skills transfer voiceless and dispossessed. It is our that can accompany more liberalised moral and ethical ethos that is calling These issues form a quilt of trade – yet science and technology for action now. I opportunities, even in adverse are central to poverty alleviation and situations. It is essential not to forget can provide innovative tools for Ms Mamphela Ramphele is one of the four the macro aspects of development – empowerment and inclusion. Managing Directors at the World Bank. She leads the environment and conditions to the Bank’s policy formulation on health and education, fulfill these elements, including A concerted human development and is in charge of integrating, monitoring, and economic growth, investing in people, strategy is key to sustainable evaluating progress towards the MDGs.

Global Future — First Quarter, 2004 17 but existing inequalities are The MDGs and human rights entrenched or exacerbated.

Kirsty Nowlan 3. The MDGs offer human rights advocates an opportunity to strengthen arguments for the

PHOTO - PATRICIO CUEVAS / WORLD VISION legal status of economic, social and cultural rights (ESCRs). Debate persists around whether ESCRs occupy the same status in international law as civil and political rights, because the fulfilment of ESCRs is regarded as conditional on the capacities of duty holders (States). Although these arguments have been addressed through the development of the "progressive realisation" concept, and although the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action confirmed the indivisibility of human rights, the perception remains that ESCRs are dependent on the largesse of parties other than the duty holders (such as wealthy states).

Linking the Millennium Development Goals to human rights law will help ensure In the absence of an effective coercive that minority groups benefit. About 70% of Chile's Mapuche indigenous people authority to compel compliance, live in extreme poverty. addressing the fulfilment of ESCRs appears to be more a question of THOSE COMMITTED TO A 2. Although human rights are not politics than of law. What can solve rights-based approach to devel- explicitly referred to in the text this dilemma is a clear demonstration opment may find it useful to consider of the MDGs, they figure (in legal terms: "evidence") that action the numerous points of convergence prominently in the Millennium by developed and developing country between the MDGs and human rights. Declaration from which the Goals governments towards attaining the Primary among these are: are derived. MDGs is on the basis of international legal obligation.We need to establish a This framework is important to 1. The MDGs promote the public discourse that recasts achieving both the substance and realisation of the right to governments’ MDG commitments as spirit of the Goals.To illustrate: while development and also of specific legal, rather than political, acts. the MDGs focus on attaining economic, social and cultural aggregate increases in the well-being rights. Fulfilment of MDG obligations can be of populations, the (human rights law) The Goals relating to eradicating characterised as action in accordance hunger, reducing child mortality, We need to prevent with Article 2 of the ICESCR. The improving maternal health, and Millennium Declaration locates the combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and a scenario where MDG values and principles of the MDGs in other diseases (Goals 1, 4, 5 & 6) targets are achieved the "[c]ollective responsibility to address Article 25 of the Universal while inequalities are uphold the principles of human Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) exacerbated dignity, equality and equity at the and Articles 10 and 11 of the global level" and "respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms". International Covenant on Economic, principle of non-discrimination requires Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). disaggregation in implementation and monitoring of the Goals, to attend to Conceived through reference to Goal 2 (universal primary education) the experience of particular groups – international human rights law, the promotes the realisation of Article 26 such as minorities, indigenous MDGs recognise that poverty is a of the UDHR and Articles 13 and 14 peoples, women and children. violation of fundamental rights and of the ICESCR. And the commitment freedoms, and commit all nations to to building a global partnership for Incorporating the principle of non- act to substantially reduce poverty. development (Goal 8) is responsive discrimination into strategies to Arjun Sengupta has argued that if to the obligations outlined in UDHR achieve the MDGs will help prevent a poverty is identified as a violation of Article 28 and ICESCR Article 2. scenario where targets are achieved, human rights, "its eradication will have

18 First Quarter, 2004 — Global Future all the moral and legal force of human can communicate that developed rights obligations". 1 countries are required to commit resources, and make appropriate Kirsty Nowlan is manager of World Vision changes to their trade and debt Australia’s Advocacy department, and is currently "If poverty is a violation policies, not as a matter of charity, nor undertaking a PhD degree on the relationship of human rights, then even of good foreign policy, but in between free trade and human rights in poverty eradication has compliance with their international international law. human rights obligations. the moral and legal force 1Sengupta, Arjun K,‘Poverty Eradication as of human rights Implementing the Right to Development – Human Those in developing countries can Rights Approach to Development Cooperation’, obligations" (Sengupta) leverage existing initiatives aimed at Presentation to Human Rights in Developing empowering poor communities to Countries, www.dse.de/ef/human_rights/ hold the State accountable for rights sengupta.htm (downloaded 12 November 2003). Arjun Getting the message out. The Sengupta is Adjunct Professor of Development and violations. This will become burgeoning number of civil society Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health, increasingly important as resources organisations that are committed to and Independent Expert on the Right to Development are made available for achieving the in the Human Rights Commission, India. supporting the MDGs are uniquely MDGs.The imperative is to work with positioned to promote MDG local communities to ensure that those fulfilment as a realisation of resources are used for the purpose international human rights obligations. for which they were intended: the progressive realisation of ESCRs. I Those in developed countries can characterise commitments made under Goal 8 as a fulfilment of the ICESCR obligation "to take steps, individually and through international assistance" to achieve ESCRs. They

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Global Future — First Quarter, 2004 19 subsidies in Europe, the US and Japan Development of people, not – were to be negotiated within the World Trade Organisation (WTO), just pockets but the September 2003 talks at Cancún collapsed, and bilateral trade Nils Kastberg agreements being worked out do not give the human development dimension the space it deserves. THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT Children and adolescents are over- Goals to reduce poverty and hunger, represented among the poor: in Latin Fifty countries are poorer today than improve health and strengthen global America, for instance, while 44% of they were ten years ago; the gap partnership by 2015, are not the first the population lives in poverty, 59% of between rich and poor within promises governments have made in youth live below the poverty line. In countries and between countries has these areas. In health, education and terms of the MDGs, children and greatly widened; the HIV/AIDS child survival, to name a few, goals adolescents represent the highest pandemic is cutting average life were set in the 1970s and 1980s to be proportion of the poor and the expectancy by a decade or two in achieved by the year 2000. hungry (Goal 1), and of those without many countries.Worldwide, there are access to safe drinking water and who 190 million children under 15 in hard While significant progress was made live in slum areas (Goal 7); and labour; a culture of violence and in many areas of human development, UNICEF of course applauds the exploitation in families, communities, it was clear at major global MDGs’ explicit focus on the rights of towns and countries; conflict and war. conferences in the 1990s – on the young generation: universal Children and adolescents are Children, Human Rights, Food primary education (Goal 2), gender suffering, used and abused on an Security, Sustainable Development, equality in primary and secondary unprecedented scale. and other pressing issues – that the education (Goal 3), infant mortality many earlier targets would not be (Goal 4), maternal mortality (Goal 5) The Goals belong to all reached by the fêted "Y2K". So and youth employment (Goal 8). of us – they must not governments set new targets to be remain the talk of the achieved by 2015, using 1990 data as the Yet with so many past broken uncommitted, cynics or baseline, and summarised the broad promises at national and international ambitions of those conferences in the development enthusiasts levels, are the Millennium Declaration Millennium Declaration, and the many and its Goals also set for failure? Perhaps reinforced by these targets into the eight Millennium Goals. challenges to the spirit and letter of The Millennium agenda has a deeper A shaky start the Millennium Goals, the Secretary- significance, beyond the setting of Implementation has not started well. General of the United Nations, the targets. If the fight for human rights in Economic woes in the period UN agencies and organisations, and a earlier decades concentrated on civil following 11 September 2001 have broad spectrum of development, and political rights, the Millennium pushed many countries into humanitarian and other civil society Goals accord the economic, social and recession. On the issue of increased organisations, see the Millennium cultural rights the equal standing and development co-operation, the March agenda as an opportunity for change. recognition they should always have 2002 Financing for Development But how will this change happen? had. Furthermore, this simple set of Conference in Monterrey saw new Take it to the people! broad goals brings together North pledges of official development and South – not on the basis of assistance (ODA), yet many fear that First, the Millennium Agenda and charity or goodwill, but finally, in these pledges, if they materialise, will Goals do not belong only to the UN acknowledgment that both have concentrate into high-profile or to governments. They represent homework to do if justice and peace, commitments such as reconstruction the rights and the duty of all people. fair trade and prosperity are to be the in Iraq. And few developed countries Goal 8’s "global partnership" thus air we breathe in our countries, and have set a timetable to increase their concerns all: every church, every between our countries, in coming years. ODA to 0.7% of their Gross National non-governmental organisation, each Income, with only four having reached association of women and each UNICEF shares the firm belief, with or passed this target. individual. The goals must become many other development and known by all citizens, and not remain humanitarian organisations, that Meanwhile, trade issues – such as the talk of uncommitted governments, poverty can best be reduced if you developing countries’ access to cynical media or development start with children and their mothers. Northern markets, and agricultural enthusiasts.

20 First Quarter, 2004 — Global Future As citizens North and South learn in concrete terms what the Millennium Development Goals mean in their own contexts, they can start demanding that their politicians make the Goals national development priorities. In health, for instance, the PHOTO - SANJAY SOJWAL / WORLD VISION "Health For All" revolution of 1977 must now become the "All for Health" revolution.

Second, all governments should be required to have a national implementation plan. Some countries developing their national plans are aspiring to surpass the Millennium Goals: the effort of President "Lula" of Brazil, one of the world’s larger countries, goes beyond the Millennium Goal of reducing hunger in half by 2015 – he has made "Zero Hunger" Village girls studying at a World Vision evening class near Bangalore, southern his national agenda. India. Many of them left school to work as domestic servants. Local authorities and residents alike must support the goal of all children completing their schooling. Third, implementation must be measured, reported upon and political leaders held accountable for progress one we got. Even without economic accumulated, especially our debt to or lack thereof. The UN is setting in growth, the health of children can be the children and youth left behind and place a common system for reporting. improved if those sectors of the state excluded in the past decades of In 2005, the Secretary-General will budget are protected. This is an unfulfilled promises. advocacy challenge for us all! provide a "one-third of the way to But the Millennium dream will remain 2015" report to the world Floor, not ceiling a dream unless we all demand it and community. In conclusion, the Millennium hold governments, economic actors and all sectors of society accountable Fourth, we know that enormous Development Goals do not "design" a for making it a true priority. The disparities hide behind global development model, nor seek to Millennium Goals are a floor, not a averages, between and within replace the knowledge and ceiling – below which we cannot live in countries. Thus, the Goals must be experience gained in years of a true global world.The clock is ticking: translated to concrete, measurable development and community work. get involved and contribute! I targets all the way down to the local level. For example: if half of the school We must release children children within a municipality drop from"hereditary" poverty Nils Arne Kastberg is UNICEF Regional Director for out before completing primary – giving them a better Latin America and the Caribbean. school, municipal authorities and See www.unicef.org/infobycountry/latinamerica.html residents must be aware of and world than the support local targets to achieve full one we got enrolment. Rather, they provide a "meeting place" Fifth, countries with the highest for collective action and a beacon on achievements in human development the time horizon, by which to are those that have continuously and measure progress as we go along. efficiently invested in children and adolescents, creating decent paying Above all, they embody a new ethic – jobs for adults at the same time. that of placing people above pockets Investing in children is a way to and purses of money. Our work release them from the "hereditary" towards the Goals must be guided by poverty into which they were born – respect for human rights and respond to give them a better world than the to the enormous social debt that has

Global Future — First Quarter, 2004 21 the South in relation to the poverty The MDGs and NGOs reduction agenda. Operational NGOs envisage being able to demonstrate Jaisankar Sarma their effectiveness by measuring and reporting their own contributions towards achieving MDG targets. This PHOTO - ANDRES VERA / WORLD VISION article concerns itself with the latter.

Measuring NGO contributions On the practical level, there are inherent limitations in NGOs’ capacity to measure MDG indicators. The MDGs were developed for monitoring at macro levels. Many of the methods used to measure indicators of MDG attainment cover large populations, are expensive, and in some cases don't provide useful information for NGOs programme management purposes. It is important for outcome-oriented NGOs to be able to identify their contributions to the MDGs.The table on the opposite page shows a simple analysis of what might be possible for NGOs to measure. The table at right shows some possible NGO contributions

This woman in a World Vision-assisted community in Cochabamba, Bolivia, now In summary, the macro-level has clean running water at her house. Previously she walked two kilometres a day to collect water. objectives of the MDGs are beyond the reach of "hierarchy of objectives" SINCE THE MILLENNIUM explicit the links between their work programme designs developed by Development Goals (MDGs) were and the Goals. NGOs such as World Vision,but many agreed as a global agenda for poverty of the methods for measuring MDGs reduction, several governments and An immediate problem for both is involve secondary data collection multilateral agencies have adapted the that the MDGs exclusively focus on might provide opportunities for NGO Goals as a framework for policy and tangible aspects of development. The participation. It would be very difficult programme formulation. Targets and philosophy underlying the Goals does for NGOs to establish attribution, or indicators have been developed for not reflect the more holistic a cause–effect relationship, between monitoring and reporting progress understanding of poverty to which their programme interventions and towards the Goals. many NGOs subscribe, and which was MDG progress, however, and more seen in the earlier World Bank study work may be needed to convince Non-governmental organisations Voices of the Poor. It leaves out outome-oriented development (NGOs) are often mentioned as a key important dimensions of poverty such NGOs that their role in aligning their civil society actor in contributing to as isolation/exclusion, powerlessness work with the MDGs will be worth the achievement of the MDGs. and vulnerability. MDG targets and the time and effort required. I Presumably, their grassroots indicators have a heavy bias towards development experience and socio-economic development concerns. Dr Jaisankar Sarma is Director for Transformational knowledge can support the Development for World Vision International, and implementation. But how might this Nonetheless, advocacy NGOs has worked with World Vision Programmes in India, Cambodia and other offices in the Asia–Pacific actually happen? Many NGOs have recognise that the MDGs provide a Region. For more on World Vision's transformational begun to reflect on the relevance of platform for advocacy and public development principles and programmes, contact: the MDGs to their work, and to make policy work in both the North and [email protected]

22 First Quarter, 2004 — Global Future Millennium Development Goals / MDG indicators Comments targets ERADICATE EXTREME POVERTY AND HUNGER 1.Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion - Proportion of population below $1 a day ✗ - NGOs may not have the resources to study of people whose income is less than $1 a day - Poverty gap ratio (incidence x depth of poverty) poverty gap ratio at programme level. - Share of poorest quintile in national consumption - NGOs do measure underweight as part of their 2.Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion nutrition programmes. of people who suffer from hunger - Prevalence of underweight in children (under five years of age) ? - Measuring dietary energy consumption is not beyond - Proportion of population below minimum level of the realms of NGO programmes, however, this it is not dietary energy consumption a commonly used indicator in NGO programmes.

ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION 1.Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys - Net enrolment ratio in primary education -These indicators are regularly measured in NGO and girls alike, will be able to complete a full - Proportion of pupils starting grade 1 who reach programmes and there are standard instruments course of primary schooling grade 5 available. NGOs might be able to measure their contribution towards this goal. - Literacy rate of 15- to 24-year olds

PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN 1.Eliminate gender disparity in primary and - Ratio of girls to boys in primary, secondary, and - The only indicator that could be beyond the scope secondary education preferably by 2005 and in tertiary education of NGOs to measure is ratio of women in non- all levels of education no later than 2015 - Ratio of literate females to males among agricultural waged employment – this might require 15- to 24-year olds a complex method. Simple proxies could be researched and developed for NGO use. - Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector - Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament

REDUCE CHILD MORTALITY 1.Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, - Under-five mortality rate - Immunisation against measles is commonly the under-five mortality rate - Infant mortality rate measured in the health programmes of NGOs. - Proportion of one-year-old children immunised ? - Sampling for under-five mortality rate from within against measles NGO programme areas might be difficult. NGOs might be able to measure crude mortality rates.

IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH 1.Reduce by three-quarters, between 1990 and - Maternal mortality ratio ? - Mother and Child Health programmes of NGOs 2015, the maternal mortality ratio - Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel measure proportion of births attended by skilled personnel. However maternal mortality ratio might be beyond the reach of NGOs to measure.

COMBAT HIV/AIDS, MALARIA, AND OTHER DISEASES 1.Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the - HIV prevalence among 15- to 24-year old - All the indicators for this goal are specialised spread of HIV/AIDS pregnant women indicators and should / could be part of specific 2.Have halted by 2015 and begun to reverse the - Contraceptive prevalence rate NGO programmes aimed at these issues.These indicators should be the focus of programmes / incidence of malaria and other major diseases - Number of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS countries with high prevalence and the expertise - Prevalence and death rates associated with malaria to measure these things. - Proportion of population in malaria-risk areas using effective malaria prevention and treatment measures - Prevalence and death rates associated with tuberculosis - Proportion of TB cases detected and cured under DOTS

ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY 1.Integrate the principles of sustainable - Change in land area covered by forest - NGO programmes do study the issues of access to development into country policies and - Land area protected to maintain biological diversity improved water sources and improved sanitation. programmes, and reverse the loss of environmental resources - GDP per unit of energy use ✗ - Most of the environmental measurements are - Carbon dioxide emissions (per capita) national-level and sophisticated – not so relevant at 2.Halve, by 2015, the proportion of people the programme (micro) level. without sustainable access to safe drinking water - Proportion of population with sustainable access to an 3.Have achieved, by 2020, a significant improvement improved water source ? - Urban/rural disaggregation of several of the above in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers - Proportion of population with access to improved indicators may be relevant for monitoring sanitation improvement in the lives of slum dwellers) - Proportion of population with access to secure tenure

DEVELOP A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT

1.Develop further an open, rule-based, predictable, - Some of the indicators will be monitored separately ✗ - These are macro-level indicators beyond the scope of non-discriminatory trading and financial system for the least developed countries,Africa, landlocked NGOs to track. (includes a commitment to good governance, countries, and small island developing states. - However, NGO indicators on local community development and poverty reduction – both participation, CBO capacity building, etc., do measure nationally and internationally) civil society development, participation in local development processes, and ability to influence policy.

Global Future — First Quarter, 2004 23 persuaded that this may well be a Seizing the time – global God-given time of unique potential. Has there ever been an occasion advocacy on the MDGs before when the intentions of the world’s leaders echo something of the Steve Bradbury mind of the Biblical prophets and the teachings of Jesus concerning the poor? What better time, then, for NOW IS THE TIME. Now is the time.This same theme was Christians around the world – poor and The endorsement of the Millennium picked up by the authors of the 2003 rich – to raise our voices in a prophetic Development Goals by the world’s Human Development Report: and urgent call to governments, heads of state provides us with an insisting that they deliver on their extraordinary opportunity to "...today the world has an MDG promises to the poor? dramatically shrink the world of unprecedented opportunity to poverty. What makes these goals so deliver on the commitment to Has there been an remarkable is their clear commitment eradicating poverty. For the first time occasion before when to a timetable. there is genuine consensus among rich and poor countries that world leaders’ intentions By being so time-specific, they give us poverty is the world’s problem.And echoed the Biblical an exceptional set of "advocacy it is together that the world must prophets? levers". The development community, fight it." (emphasis mine) At the heart of the Micah Challenge is and all who are committed to working a deeply spiritual conviction: that the for a more just and compassionate Momentum for change Creator of the universe requires all world, can and must use these levers I hope and pray that over the next few governments to "give justice to the to hold our leaders accountable and years we will see the emergence of a weak and the orphan; maintain the insist that they fulfil their promises. If host of national and global grassroots right of the lowly and destitute", and we fail in this, the MDGs will campaigns clustered around the to "rescue the weak and the needy; undoubtedly go the way of many MDGs. Together, reinforcing one deliver them from the hand of the other "commitments" to end poverty: another, these campaigns could build wicked" (Psalm 82).That regardless of another set of broken promises to the an inexorable and irresistible their political ideology or religious poor, another tragic joke at their momentum for change. Now is the persuasion, all governments are expense. time. Poverty can be halved by 2015. accountable to God for their performance in delivering policies that In his compelling address at the In recent years we have seen the respond effectively to the needs of Annual Meeting of the World Bank in enormous potential for good of well- poor and oppressed communities.We September 2003, James D.Wolfensohn organised, IT-savvy global campaigns will insistently remind our leaders of stressed this time-sensitivity – the that express the widespread moral this accountability. urgency of acting now against poverty outrage in our communities against and injustice: the persistent violence of poverty.We Alongside the political dimension of can take heart from the achievements the Micah Challenge is its call to "It is time to take a cold, hard look of recent campaigns such as those at the future. Our planet is not Christians everywhere to commit to that have urged the elimination of work as agents of hope, for and with balanced.Too few control too much, landmines and cancellation of the and too many have too little to the poor. In the words of the prophet crippling debt repayments required of Micah (6:8), we are required to pursue hope for… If we act together now, most low-income countries. When we can change the world for the justice, be passionate about mercy, political will to fulfil the MDGs and walk humbly with God. The better. If we do not, we leave wavers, as it surely will, a massive greater and more intractable implications of this are profoundly grassroots campaign in support of spiritual, and practical: it is not enough problems for our children… There those goals will reinvigorate it. is no better time than now to join to "talk the talk"; we must also "walk I in a common effort to make a The Micah Challenge the walk" of justice and mercy. better world.You are the global This conviction is one of the core leaders to make it happen. Delay is motivations behind the Micah Steve Bradbury is National Director of TEAR reckless.This is time for courage Challenge, a global MDG advocacy Australia, Chair of the Micah Network, and and action – for a new vision of initiative of the Micah Network and International Co-Chair of the Micah Challenge. the future." (emphasis mine) World Evangelical Alliance. We are See www.micahnetwork.org

24 First Quarter, 2004 — Global Future Faith to reach out

Dean Hirsch

a cure for many of the symptoms and situations that surround AIDS.We can cure people of loneliness, of shame, of fear, and of isolation. We can provide emotional and material support to their families. And we can offer acceptance and love. PHOTO - JON WARREN / WORLD VISION A recent UNICEF study on the response of faith-based organisations to children orphaned or made vulnerable by AIDS in Africa had some noteworthy findings. While faith- based organisations –typically local churches – enjoy very little funding, they are very successful in addressing the multi-dimensional impact of AIDS on children. Local churches are providing food, shelter, counselling, foster care, school assistance, health services, and social and spiritual support to children and others Members of an HIV-positive AIDS support group in Malawi visit, talk and pray affected by AIDS. with HIV+ orphans and their caregivers, and help with tasks like carrying water and cooking.The group’s leader has strong words for Christians around the world who think the pandemic doesn't concern them. They’re able to provide these services because their members volunteer to do the work. And why do they IN THE GOSPEL STORY, One of the UN Millennium volunteer? Because like Jesus and the "a man full of leprosy" approaches Development Goals is to halt and leper who begged to be made clean, Jesus, falls prostrate to the ground and begin to reverse the spread of they are inspired by faith – a faith that pleads to be made clean. Jesus HIV/AIDS. To achieve this goal, we sees past the obstacles to the human stretches out his hand, touches the have tended to concentrate on heart. man and says, "Be made clean". And education (preventing HIV infection the leprosy is gone immediately. through abstinence, fidelity and Education and medicine are important condoms) and medical science (drug tools in combating the AIDS epidemic. I often think of that story when I treatments to prolong life and avoid But faith in a loving God who desires encounter people living with AIDS. In mother-to-child transmission). fullness of life for all His creation is many ways, those living with AIDS are equally important. I the lepers of today. They are often As vital as these approaches are, we shunned and feared. They suffer have often failed to reach out – as exclusion and discrimination. And Jesus did – and touch the people living Dean Hirsch is International President many die ashamed and alone, afraid to with this deadly disease.We currently of World Vision. reveal their disease. have no cure for AIDS,but we do have

WORLD VISION works with each partner community that poverty is not inevitable. Our is a Christian relief and development to ensure that children are able to Mission Statement calls us to partnership that serves more than 85 enjoy improved nutrition, health and challenge those unjust structures that million people in nearly 100 countries. education. Where children live in constrain the poor in a world of false World Vision seeks to follow Christ’s especially difficult circumstances, priorities, gross inequalities and example by working with the poor surviving on the streets, suffering in distorted values. World Vision desires and oppressed in the pursuit of justice exploitative labour, or exposed to the that all people be able to reach their and human transformation. abuse and trauma of conflict,World God-given potential, and thus works Children are often most vulnerable to Vision works to restore hope and to for a world that no longer tolerates the effects of poverty. World Vision bring justice.World Vision recognises poverty. I

BACK COVER : The Millennium Development Goals (paraphrased) IMAGE BY : FRIEND CREATIVE (Melbourne Australia) ❖ Africa Regional Office Target for 2015: PO Box 50816 Halve the population of people living on less than a dollar a day and those Nairobi who suffer from hunger Kenya ❖ Asia Pacific Regional Office SSP Tower, 19th Floor Target for 2015: 555 Sukhumvit 63 (Soi Ekamai) Ensure that all boys and girls complete primary school Bangkok 10110 Thailand ❖ Communications & Public Affairs 1 Vision Drive Target for 2015: Burwood East,Victoria 3151 Eliminate gender disparities in primary and secondary education preferably by 2005, Australia and at all levels by 2015 ❖ EU Liaison Office 22 Rue de Toulouse B-1040 Brussels Belgium Target for 2015: Reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five ❖ International Liaison Office 6 Chemin de la Tourelle 1209 Geneva Switzerland

Target for 2015: ❖ Latin America & Caribbean Regional Office Reduce by three-quarters the maternal mortality ratio Apartado 133, 2300 Curridabat San José Costa Rica, Central America ❖ Middle East/Eastern Europe Regional Office Target for 2015: Engelsberggasse 4 Halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS and the incidence of malaria A-1030 Vienna and other major diseases Austria ❖ Partnership Offices 800 W. Chestnut Avenue Target for 2015: Monrovia, CA 91016-3198 integrateintegrate sustainablesustainable developmentdevelopment principlesprinciples andand reversereverse environmentalenvironmental lossloss USA halve the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water by 2020, significantly improve the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers ❖ World Vision UN Office 222 East 48th Street New York, NY 10017 Target for 2015: USA an open trade & finance system; good governance, development & poverty education address least developed, landlocked and small island countries’ needs www.globalfutureonline.org deal comprehensively with debt decent and productive work for youth affordable essential drugs www.globalempowerment.org access to the benefits of new technologies e-mail: [email protected]