STORIES FROM THE FIELD - UNDP in Turkey

A. A Faster Push for Achieving the MDGsAround the world, UN country teams worktogether to help nations to advance theirdevelopment priorities. Through strategiccoordination, UN country teams determine howtheir combined efforts can best assist in deliveringhigh-impact, long-lasting development results.They define arenas in which they can be mosteffective, and what kinds of global programmeand policy expertise can be of the greatestvalue to national partners.A top priority for all UN development work hasbeen the MDGs and internationally agreeddevelopment goals. A 2012 UN survey 1 ofGovernments found wide agreement that theMDGs have been successfully integrated acrossjoint programming instruments, such as theUNDAFs, that guide country programming.Significant progress has been made towardsachieving the MDGs. Global targets on halvingextreme poverty and expanding access toimproved water sources have been met.The number of children dying before their fifthbirthday declined from 12.4 million in 1990 to8.1 million in 2009. Some of the poorest countrieshave achieved or are nearing universal primaryeducation, with global statistics showing that theworld has achieved parity in primary educationbetween girls and boys.While these achievements should be celebrated,much remains to be done, including on issuessuch as reducing maternal mortality, improvingsanitation and addressing hunger and malnutrition.Even when targets at global or national levels havebeen reached, wide disparities remain across andwithin countries. In short, the business ofthe MDGs is unfinished.Looking forward, discussions have begun atmany levels on a post-2015 development agenda.This is expected to further advance the unfinishedbusiness of the MDGs, including the eradicationof poverty. Any new goals should integrate actionson the economic, social and environmentaldimensions of development. Strong coordinationof the UN development system will thus be morecritical than ever.Over the next three years, there must be afinal push to achieving the MDGs. In aidingnational efforts, the UN system will continue toprovide inputs with proven value: policy adviceinformed by global experience and tailored tonational needs, support for the development ofnational capacities, and expertise on programmeimplementation. As the following countrystories demonstrate, across a variety of coredevelopment issues, UN coordination is partof ensuring that countries reap the best ofwhat the UN system has to offer.Some of the joint programmes in this report havereceived the generous support from the MDGAchievement Fund. More information here:http://www.mdgfund.org/Information to support the development of MDGaccelerated action plans through the MDGAcceleration Framework can be found here:http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/mdgoverview/mdg_goals/acceleration_framework/Albania: EmpoweringMarginalized Communities“I was shy, hopeless, and doubtful about anychange in my life. But encouraged by other1“Results of survey of programme country governments: Preparation for the 2012 Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review ofOperational Activities for Development of the United Nations System, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)”, UNDESA, NewYork, 25 June 2012. Valid responses were received from 111 countries and territories, or 74 per cent of all countries and territories thatreceived the questionnaire.10 Synthesis of 2011/2012 Resident Coordinator Annual Reports