Training Report: Millennium Development Goals in the SAARC Region

Working Sessions
of rural households are chronically food insecure and another 18% face seasonal food shortages. So, 20-40%
of Afghans need varying levels of food assistance at different times of the year. Poverty in areas without
irrigation is likely to be higher with 65% of the households are food insecure. Afghanistan has revised the
MDG targets, which is to be achieved till 2020 on income level the 3%. Proportion of people who suffer from
hunger will be decreased about 5% till 2020.
In late 2001, more than 5000 schools were built or renovated. More than 100,000 teachers have been trained
and recruited. More than 7 million male and females students are enrolled in schools and about 8200 students
are enrolled in different universities around the country in 2011. Literacy rate of the entire population is 28%.
Female literacy rate is comparatively low around 10 %. Regional comparisons of primary schools
completion rates for girls and progress toward MDG goals showed Afghanistan to be the only country out of
16 ranked as “seriously off track. Women in Afghanistan are more likely than men to be engaged in various
types of informal activities, such as unpaid family work, and small-scale economic activities that are difficult
to measure, and that offer less enjoyment of employment rights and benefits. Afghanistan has almost the
highest percentage of seats allocated for women in the national parliament. This will have little impact on
enhancing women's political participation.
According to the report, infant and under-five mortality rates in Afghanistan are among the highest in the
world. The Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) and the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) are targeted to reduce by
50% of the 2003 levels by 2015 and by two-third by 2020. At 1600 deaths per 100,000 live births, the maternal
mortality ratio (MMR) in Afghanistan is equal only to the most poor, conflict-affected countries in the world.
It is estimated that 65 women die from pregnancy-related causes per 1000 live births. Afghanistan is a
potentially high-risk country for the spread of HIV/AIDS. Drug abuse is prevalent; most users inject drugs
through shared needles and are unaware of the dangers. There is no systematic testing for HIV before blood
transfusion.
In 2007, the World Health Organization released a report ranking Afghanistan lowest among non-African
nations in deaths from environmental hazards. Lack of access to improved water sources and poor sanitation
is a major contributory factor to poor health outcomes. As forest cover decreases, the land becomes less
productive, threatening the livelihood of the rural population. Loss of vegetation also creates a higher risk of
foods, and also causes the soil erosion and decrease the amount of land available for agriculture.
The report stated that to meet the MDGs in Afghanistan, the level of investment in the security sector,
transport and infrastructure must be maintained. At the same time, MDG achievement also hinges on a
significant increase of investments in the social sector. The development of the Interim ANDS in 2005 and the
full ANDS in 2006 provides the opportunity for donors to support the government in prioritising policy
choices for the period until 2010. However, this involvement also obliges donors to enhance the overall
effectiveness of aid by better aligning their support around the priorities articulated in the ANDS, and by
harmonising and simplifying their policies and practices.
Dr. Savita Sharma presented the country report of India. According to the report, India’s MDG framework
recognizes all the 53 indicators that the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) endorsed in 2003.
However, India has found 35 of the indicators relevant to India. As per available statistics, the percentage of
the population in poverty declined from 45% in 1993-94 to 37% in 2004-05. In 2009-10, the India’s Head
Count Ratio (HCR) has declined from 37.2% in 2004-05 to 29.8. According to the new estimate of HCR at the
national level (47.8%), the country is required to achieve a HCR level of 23.9% by 2015 in order that MDG
target 1 is achieved. With this rate of decline, the country is expected to achieve poverty HCR level of 26.72%
by 2015. Anti poverty programs and policies operating in the rural areas are: National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (NREGA); Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY); National Rural Livelihood
Mission (NRLM); Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) or Indira Housing Scheme. Programs launched in the urban
areas include: Jawahar Lal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission; Integrated Housing and Slum Development
Program; Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rojgar Yojana (SJSRY).
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