Millennium Development Goals at midpoint: Where do we stand?
Authors/Editors: F. Bourguignon, A. Bénassy-Quéré, S. Dercon et al.
Publisher/Journal: European Union
Publication date: 2008
Language: English
Number of pages: 79
Overview
In New York, the European Union published a major report on the MDGs with recommendations to address slow progress and disparities. EU Commissioner for Development Louis Michel and lead author former World Bank Chief Executive Professor Bourguignon launched 'MDGs at the midpoint: where do we stand and where do we need to go?' as a desire to engage academics direct policy-making in an evidence-based way.
The report makes six key recommendations. Firstly, donors must deliver on both aid volume and effectiveness. Secondly, domestic policies in low-income countries are crucial and the MDGs must be linked to the pursuit of shared and equitable growth. It is acknowledged however that one set of polices does not fit all but investment in infrastructure and management capacity are central. Third, policy coherence and good governance are needed at the global level: trade agreements, financial system regulation, peace keeping etc. must all be mutually reinforcing. Fourth, a focus on social protection is needed. Fifth a special agenda for fragile states, where the new aid model of General Budget Support and results-based financing will not work; and better engagement with civil society and non-state actors are necessary. Lastly, there is a need to look beyond 2015 to ensure MDG achievements are sustained and further progress is made (the current commitment is only to halving not eliminating poverty). The report concludes that the EU, as the world's largest donor, and an ambitious one, has a comparative advantage and special role in all this.