Question

What are the MDGs? Where did they come from? Cite an example of one goal and a target used to measure progress in attaining it.

Short answer

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight international development goals for the year 2015 as established following the UN Millennium Summit in 2000. They came from the UN Millennium Declaration. One example is the goal to 'eradicate extreme poverty and hunger', with a target to 'halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people living on less than a dollar a day.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the MDGs

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were eight international development goals for the year 2015 that had been established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration.

Identifying the source of MDGs

The MDGs originated from the United Nations Millennium Declaration, which was adopted by 189 nations and signed by 147 heads of state and governments during the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000.

Explaining an example of MDG and its targets

An example of an MDG is the first goal: 'To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger' with one of its targets being 'Halve, between 1990 and 2015, the proportion of people whose income is less than one dollar a day'.

Key concepts

United Nations Millennium Declaration

The United Nations Millennium Declaration was a landmark agreement signed in September 2000 during the UN Millennium Summit. This declaration set the foundation for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Signed by 147 heads of state and representing 189 nations, it demonstrated a unified global commitment to tackle critical issues the world was facing at the time.
The declaration articulated a vision for a more peaceful, prosperous, and just world, focusing on

• poverty alleviation,
• the protection of the environment,
• promotion of education and equality,
• human rights and democracy,
• and the safeguarding of vulnerable populations.

These areas of focus became the core components that would guide the development of the MDGs. By addressing these areas, the declaration aimed to provide both immediate and long-term improvements in the quality of life for people worldwide. The MDGs served as a method to operationalize and measure the outcomes predicted by the Millennium Declaration.

poverty eradication

Poverty eradication was at the heart of the Millennium Development Goals, primarily articulated through Goal 1 - "To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger." This goal aimed at improving the living standards of the poorest populations through economic growth, targeted interventions, and social infrastructure development.
The MDGs emphasized a multi-dimensional approach to poverty eradication, focusing on facets such as

• increasing income levels,
• ensuring access to basic health services,
• expanding educational opportunities,
• and creating sustainable employment.

One of the targets to measure progress in this area was the reduction by half of the proportion of people living on less than one dollar per day between 1990 and 2015. This target sought not only to uplift those in extreme poverty but also to establish a baseline from which future improvements could be gauged.
Efforts in poverty eradication required international cooperation, financial aid, and national policies aligning with sustainable development goals. The MDGs allowed for tracking and accountability, helping governments shape policies that tackled root causes of poverty more effectively.

extreme hunger targets

Hand in hand with combating poverty was the focus on extreme hunger targets, another critical component of the Millennium Development Goals. The aim was to address food security and nutritional needs, recognizing that hunger was both a cause and a consequence of poverty.
Reducing extreme hunger was not only about increasing food availability but also about tackling

• underlying issues such as agricultural productivity,
• distribution networks,
• and sustainable food systems.

The MDG target to halve the number of people suffering from hunger by 2015 was ambitious. It pushed nations to bolster efforts in improving agricultural practices, ensuring fair market access, and enhancing food safety nets for the most vulnerable populations.
Spearheading these efforts involved a combination of local innovations and international support systems. Despite challenges, the pursuit of this goal paved the way for subsequent initiatives targeting zero hunger and sustainable food systems globally.