DGDC Annual report 2008 - Buitenlandse Zaken - Belgium

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International
policy
context: development
agenda under
pressure
1. Slow progress towards the
Millennium Development Goals
2008 was a turbulent year. While the world was completely
focused on the risks of climate change for the
South, we were buffeted by first a food and energy
crisis and then a serious economic recession. The
urgency of the unfolding events was one of the main
features shaping the world’s development agenda in
2008.
every country. The gender and education goals are
not likely to be met globally, but there is often still
some progress being made. The biggest disappointment
is the lack of progress on infant and maternal
mortality, and there still remains a major slippage
between progress actually made and what was
planned in terms of water and sanitary services.
But the international community continued to work
steadily through it all. The achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals (MDG for short)
by 2015 remains the most important policy framework.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon released
an MDG report in September 2008 which stated that
the progress being achieved is inadequate. According
to the report, the poverty goal is likely, globally
speaking, to be attained (thanks to strong economic
growth in China and India), although by no means in
A more detailed analysis reveals that progress is
uneven across the various regions: most regions are
posting solid progress, although the pace is not quick
enough to be able to reach the 2015 target date.
Moreover, the report expresses anxiety at the growing
internal inequalities, even within countries achieving a
good average. The gulf between rich and poor has
actually increased in many countries. Every year,
DGDC drafts a specific MDG report for Parliament. This
is available in French and in Dutch at www.dgdc.be.
1. Eradicate extreme
poverty and hunger
5. Improve maternal health
2. Achieve universal
primary education
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and
other diseases
3. Promote gender equality
and empower women
7. Ensure environmental
sustainability
4. Reduce child mortality
8. Develop a global partnership
for development
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