ENDING poverty - Save the Children

INTRODUCTION
“We have a collective responsibility to uphold the
principles of human dignity, equality and equity
at the global level. As leaders we have a duty
therefore to all the world’s people, especially the
most vulnerable and, in particular, the children
of the world, to whom the future belongs.”
Millennium Declaration
Since 2000 the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) have provided a historic global framework
for improving the lives of millions of poor children,
women and men. The 2015 deadline for their
realisation is approaching. Just as we press as hard
as possible down the home stretch to achieve them,
we must also ensure there is an agreed path forward
for the work that remains after 2015. This report
thus sets out Save the Children’s vision for a new
framework to succeed the MDGs.
This is a critical moment in world history. Now,
for the first time we have the opportunity to make
a series of momentous breakthroughs in human
development. Provided firm commitments are made
to accelerate progress, it is realistic to believe that
within the next couple of decades we can look
forward to a world where no child will die from
preventable causes, every child will go to school,
every child will have protection from violence and we
will eradicate absolute poverty. Save the Children’s
framework shows how this vision could become
reality, supporting the creation of a world in which
all people everywhere realise their human rights
within a generation.
The history of global targets is long, the list of
successes short. But the Millennium Development
Goals stand out as one of the most resonant and
unifying political agreements ever achieved. At the end
of the Cold War who would have thought that within
less than 25 years, through global cooperation, we
would lift 600 million people out of poverty? Or that
we would have helped 56 million more children go to
school, and substantially reduced the gap in primary
enrolment between boys and girls? Or that 14,000
fewer children would die every single day?
In some areas progress continues to accelerate. In
2011, 700,000 fewer children died than in the previous
year – the biggest-ever annual fall in child mortality.
But in other areas the figures are less impressive.
Progress in reducing hunger, for example, has stalled
in many regions. Nevertheless, the overall assessment
is positive: “the rate of progress in reducing poverty,
and increasing access to basic health, education, water,
and other essential services is unparalleled in many
countries’ histories.” 1
The MDGs have driven progress by channelling
political commitment and investment in both donor
and recipient countries. As the landmark 1990s
study Development with a Human Face showed us,
political will is possibly the single strongest driver
of development progress, essential to sustaining
effort over time, even while individual governments
may change. 2 During the period of the MDGs,
development in particular countries has often been
driven by commitment in a particular area – nutrition
or reducing child deaths in Bangladesh. Investment
has also been crucial, with investment in development
increasing substantially during the MDG period.
Global aid rose from $72 billion to $133 billion
between 2000 and 2011, 3 and a higher proportion
was allocated to poorer countries and people.
Absolute levels of domestic investment in health
and education have also increased. 4
Ultimately, the MDGs are about bringing real change
to people’s lives. Here are the contrasting stories of
two children who encapsulate both how far we have
come and how far we must go.
Martha, aged 15, from Peru, used to have to dig
potatoes in the fields, but now she is at school,
working to fulfil her dream of becoming a nurse.
“Because I’m studying, we’re not going to suffer
any more,” she said.
1