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What is the millennium development goal on global partnerships all about? What is the millennium development goal on global partnerships all about?
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What is millennium development goal eight?What is millennium development goal eight?
The eighth millennium development goal (MDG) attempts to cover a broader range of issues than the other seven goals, and consequently has been criticised for being too vague and all-encompassing. It was a late addition to the first draft of MDGs, after leaders agreed there should be a goal focused on what the international community can do to ensure the other seven goals were successful.The eighth millennium development goal (MDG) attempts to cover a broader range of issues than the other seven goals, and consequently has been criticised for being too vague and all-encompassing. It was a late addition to the first draft of MDGs, after leaders agreed there should be a goal focused on what the international community can do to ensure the other seven goals were successful.
MDG 8 consists of six targets that aim to redress the global trading system, support the special needs of least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states, deal with countries’ debt burdens, improve access to essential drugs and increase the availability of new technologies.MDG 8 consists of six targets that aim to redress the global trading system, support the special needs of least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states, deal with countries’ debt burdens, improve access to essential drugs and increase the availability of new technologies.
Why are targets on technology and essential drugs grouped with targets on aid, debt and trade?Why are targets on technology and essential drugs grouped with targets on aid, debt and trade?
While the targets in this goal are diverse, they were designed around the assumption that a coordinated international response is needed to make the other goals, such as reducing child mortality and achieving universal education, a reality. As theUN development programme (UNDP) stated in its 2003 report: “If goal eight is ignored, it is hard to imagine the poorest countries achieving goals one to seven.” Proponents of the goal argue that the global mechanisms that influence aid flows, debt relief, access to the internet and mobile phones and essential medicines – such as the World Bank, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria – have to work together to fulfil the MDGs instead of deferring responsibility to individual countries. While the targets in this goal are diverse, they were designed around the assumption that a coordinated international response is needed to make the other goals, such as reducing child mortality and achieving universal education, a reality. As the UN development programme (UNDP) stated in its 2003 report: “If goal eight is ignored, it is hard to imagine the poorest countries achieving goals one to seven.” Proponents of the goal argue that the global mechanisms that influence aid flows, debt relief, access to the internet and mobile phones and essential medicines – such as the World Bank, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria – have to work together to fulfil the MDGs instead of deferring responsibility to individual countries.
Despite these intentions, MDG8 has been overlooked in many of the wider discussions about the eight goals. One reason is the fact that monitoring the targets in MDG8 has been difficult, and in some cases impossible. In the latest report from the MDG gap taskforce, which was formed to improve the monitoring of MDG8, it was acknowledged that one indicator had been included in the goal for which no data existed – the share of population with sustainable access to essential drugs. The report also acknowledged that a lack of time-bound, quantitative targets made monitoring the goal difficult.Despite these intentions, MDG8 has been overlooked in many of the wider discussions about the eight goals. One reason is the fact that monitoring the targets in MDG8 has been difficult, and in some cases impossible. In the latest report from the MDG gap taskforce, which was formed to improve the monitoring of MDG8, it was acknowledged that one indicator had been included in the goal for which no data existed – the share of population with sustainable access to essential drugs. The report also acknowledged that a lack of time-bound, quantitative targets made monitoring the goal difficult.
How has global aid changed?How has global aid changed?
One of the focuses of MDG8 is official development assistance (ODA), with particular emphasis on aid to the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states. Calls for significant increases in global aid in the 2002 Monterrey Consensus and again at the Gleaneagles Summit in 2oo5 have led to a marked increase in financial flows to developing countries between the MDGs’ inception and their completion in 2015. In total, the volume of ODA rose 66% between 2000 and 2014. Last year, the top donor countries by volume were the US, UK, Germany, France and Japan. Four countries - Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway and Sweden - exceeded the UN’s ODA target of 0.7% of gross national income in 2014. The UK met the target for the first time last year.One of the focuses of MDG8 is official development assistance (ODA), with particular emphasis on aid to the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing states. Calls for significant increases in global aid in the 2002 Monterrey Consensus and again at the Gleaneagles Summit in 2oo5 have led to a marked increase in financial flows to developing countries between the MDGs’ inception and their completion in 2015. In total, the volume of ODA rose 66% between 2000 and 2014. Last year, the top donor countries by volume were the US, UK, Germany, France and Japan. Four countries - Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway and Sweden - exceeded the UN’s ODA target of 0.7% of gross national income in 2014. The UK met the target for the first time last year.
One of the achievements of MDG8 has been the formation of the UN’s integrated implementation framework, which has attempted to comprehensively track financial and policy commitments made in support of the MDGs. For the first time, information on donor commitments made at global summits and high-level events has been collated in the same place, as well as information on how much of such commitments has actually been delivered. The framework shows that despite increases in aid, $180bn still needs to be delivered to meet the UN target of 0.7% of GNI devoted to ODA by 2015.One of the achievements of MDG8 has been the formation of the UN’s integrated implementation framework, which has attempted to comprehensively track financial and policy commitments made in support of the MDGs. For the first time, information on donor commitments made at global summits and high-level events has been collated in the same place, as well as information on how much of such commitments has actually been delivered. The framework shows that despite increases in aid, $180bn still needs to be delivered to meet the UN target of 0.7% of GNI devoted to ODA by 2015.
How have trade conditions changed?How have trade conditions changed?
Trade is another key focus of MDG8, and the results in boosting market access for developing economies have been mixed. The Doha Development Agenda, adopted by the WTO in 2001, has been a key tenet of MDG8 as it aims to reform the international trading system by lowering trade barriers and revising trade rules. Despite its promise, so far there has been a failure to conclude this round of negotiations 13 years after it began. The MDG gap taskforce has stated that this failure, “represents a significant gap in achieving the global partnership for development envisaged in MDG8”.Trade is another key focus of MDG8, and the results in boosting market access for developing economies have been mixed. The Doha Development Agenda, adopted by the WTO in 2001, has been a key tenet of MDG8 as it aims to reform the international trading system by lowering trade barriers and revising trade rules. Despite its promise, so far there has been a failure to conclude this round of negotiations 13 years after it began. The MDG gap taskforce has stated that this failure, “represents a significant gap in achieving the global partnership for development envisaged in MDG8”.
However, special trade policies have been of benefit to some poorer countries, allowing duty-free exports to developed countries (excluding arms and oil). In 2014, 79% of developing countries’ exports benefited from duty-free treatment, up from 65% in 2000. This ratio rises to 84% in the case of LDC exports, up from 70% 15 years ago.However, special trade policies have been of benefit to some poorer countries, allowing duty-free exports to developed countries (excluding arms and oil). In 2014, 79% of developing countries’ exports benefited from duty-free treatment, up from 65% in 2000. This ratio rises to 84% in the case of LDC exports, up from 70% 15 years ago.
What about debt?What about debt?
MDG8 aims to “deal comprehensively with the debt problems of developing countries through national and international measures, in order to make debt sustainable in the long term”. Progress has been made on the overall debt burden of developing countries, with the proportion of external debt service to export revenue falling from 12% in 2000 to 3% in 2013. The UN has credited this change to better debt management, expansion of trade and substantial debt relief for the poorest countries.MDG8 aims to “deal comprehensively with the debt problems of developing countries through national and international measures, in order to make debt sustainable in the long term”. Progress has been made on the overall debt burden of developing countries, with the proportion of external debt service to export revenue falling from 12% in 2000 to 3% in 2013. The UN has credited this change to better debt management, expansion of trade and substantial debt relief for the poorest countries.
Two global initiatives have helped to relieve the poorest countries of some of their debt; the first was a 1996 strategy focused on 39 heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs), and the second was the 2005 multilateral debt relief initiative (MDRI). According to 2014 figures, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank estimate that HIPC relief totalled $75bn , plus an additional $41bn under the MDRI. Despite this, some 26% of the planned HIPC relief is still owed by creditors, with some having delivered very little or none of the planned relief they promised.Two global initiatives have helped to relieve the poorest countries of some of their debt; the first was a 1996 strategy focused on 39 heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs), and the second was the 2005 multilateral debt relief initiative (MDRI). According to 2014 figures, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank estimate that HIPC relief totalled $75bn , plus an additional $41bn under the MDRI. Despite this, some 26% of the planned HIPC relief is still owed by creditors, with some having delivered very little or none of the planned relief they promised.
How does MDG8 fit into the proposed sustainable development goals?How does MDG8 fit into the proposed sustainable development goals?
The SDGs will replace the MDGs at the start of 2016, with the proposed 17th goal aiming to “strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development”. The new goal is reminiscent of MDG8, but reflects a shift in the aid landscape whereby the focus is no longer solely on the transfer of aid from wealthier countries to poorer ones, but on mobilising domestic resources through tax and other revenue collections, as well as increasing regional trade ties.The SDGs will replace the MDGs at the start of 2016, with the proposed 17th goal aiming to “strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development”. The new goal is reminiscent of MDG8, but reflects a shift in the aid landscape whereby the focus is no longer solely on the transfer of aid from wealthier countries to poorer ones, but on mobilising domestic resources through tax and other revenue collections, as well as increasing regional trade ties.