Based on a review of 50 country studies, this Assessment finds that the resources and know-how necessary to achieve the MDGs exist. Acceleration of progress over the next five years will need to focus on continuing proven strategies, policies and interventions and making a radical break with those that do not work.

There have been noticeable reductions in poverty globally. Significant improvements have been made in enrolment and gender parity in schools. Progress is evident in reducing child and maternal mortality; increasing HIV treatments and ensuring environmental sustainability. While there are welcome developments in the global partnership, where some countries have met their commitments, others can do more.

At the same time that the share of poor people is declining, the absolute number of the poor in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa is increasing. Countries that achieved rapid reductions in income poverty are not necessarily making the same progress in gender equality and environmental sustainability. Lack of progress in reducing HIV is curtailing improvements in both maternal and child mortality. Moreover, attention to the quality of education and health services may have suffered in the rush to extend coverage.

MDG progress is also threatened by the combination of high food prices and the impact of the international Financial and economic crisis. Economic growth declined in many countries, along with a reduction in foreign direct investment, remittances, as well as a fall in exports and tourist numbers, which led to significant job losses. Sustained poverty and hunger reduction is at risk because of vulnerability to climate change, particularly in the area of agricultural production. Weak institutional capacity in conflict and post-conflict environments slows MDG progress. Rapid urbanization and growth in slum dwellings are putting pressure on social services.

Key messages

This Assessment notes that there are important synergies among the MDGs - acceleration in one goal often speeds up progress in others. In households where women are illiterate, child mortality is higher, implying the links between education, the empowerment of women and the health of children. Given these synergistic and multiplier effects, all the goals need to be given equal attention and achieved simultaneously. This requires multi-sectoral approaches and coordination among various implementing agencies.

Policy commitments determine the success of the MDGs. Locally developed strategies, based on national consultation and participation through representative political structures, accountable and capacitated institutions and adequately incentivized public servants are the key to effective implementation of MDG strategies and policies. During conflict, non-state actors are better placed to provide social services. Building institutional capacities and restoring core government functions are needed in post-conflict situations.

Rapid poverty and hunger reduction is a result of high per capita growth driven by agricultural productivity, employment creation and equitable distribution of income, assets and opportunities. Supporting agriculture through farm input provision increases production and food security. Structural economic change is driven by public investments in infrastructure, transfer and diffusion of technology and systematic allocation of credit for industrial development. A trade regime that does not harm local productive capacity is required. Expansionary macroeconomic policies, focused on real output and employment targets, are needed to crowd-in the private sector.

Rapid improvements can be made when supply-side investments in education, health, water and sanitation are supported by demand-side policies, mainly the elimination of user charges. Abolishing school fees can lead to substantial increases in school enrolment. Investments in skilled health workers, particularly birth attendants, reduce maternal and child mortality. Free access to HIV treatment and prevention programmes save lives. Investment in water, sanitation, housing and other infrastructure, particularly in slum areas, leads to progress on a number of MDGs.

Ensuring girls have unfettered access to health, education and productive assets helps progress across the MDGs. Increased female school enrolment is associated with better health and nutritional intake of families. Enhancing reproductive and maternal health contributes across the MDG goals. Equitable provision of land and agricultural inputs significantly increases output and ensures food security. Constitutional and legal reforms enhance women’s empowerment and increase their political participation. Providing infrastructure to households with energy sources and water reduces the burden of domestic activities and frees girls to attend school, engage in self employment or participate in labour markets.

Targeted interventions, including social protection and employment programmes are key to MDG acceleration. Mass immunization and the distribution of bed nets and antiretroviral drugs contribute to saving lives. But targeted and disease-specific interventions must strengthen health systems and not create parallel structures. Social protection and cash transfer programmes provide cost-effective access to health and education services. Public employment programmes reduce poverty and serve as countercyclical policies in times of economies crisis.

Supporting the diversification of livelihoods away from climate-sensitive activities is an essential MDG strategy. Low-carbon activities benefit households through supply of clean energy and employment creation in non-agricultural activities. Traditional energy sources tend to cause indoor air pollution, with serious health impacts, particularly on women and children. Resources to finance adaptation to climate change must be additional to current aid flows.

Domestic resource mobilization is the primary source of sustainable MDG financing. Broadening the tax base and improving tax collection efficiency raises significant resources. But changes in tax structures should not lead to decline in total revenues, as is the case during transition from trade taxes to value added taxes (VAT). Progressive taxes are needed to avoid heavy burdens on goods and services that the poor disproportionately consume. Financial sector policies are needed to increase the pool of domestic savings available to governments and the private sector.

The global partnership needs to make a greater effort at constituting a coherent international enabling environment. Delivering on ODA commitments and improving the predictability, effectiveness, division of labour and modality of disbursement is urgently needed. Budget support is associated with better MDG outcomes. ODA is effective when provided as grants, distributed equitably through multilateral organizations. Action is required to make trade policies beneficial to the least developed countries. Policy coherence is needed so as not to undermine the achievement of the MDGs through contradictory policies.