Millennium Development Goals at Midpoint: where Do We Stand and Where Do We Go?

Abstract

To elaborate this diagnostic we focus on some very basic questions. How much has been achieved? What worked? What did not work well enough and why? What should be done to accelerate progress where needed? What could Europe do to contribute to the acceleration of the agenda? The paper is structured as follows: Section 2 is devoted to a quick review of the evidence available on progress towards the MDGs at global regional and national levels. Section 3 introduces our conceptual framework a tripod that leads us to focus on the global economy on domestic policy in developing countries and on aid. Section 4 focuses on the international environment as well as on policies in developed countries that may affect developing countries through international markets. Section 5 deals with the financing of development and the MDGs through ODA. Section 6 considers the role of domestic policies. Section 7 examines the road ahead drawing the lessons learned so far on MDGs as an instrument to promote plan and implement development. The last section sets out our recommendations in more detail. (Excerpt)