The Global Partnership for Development: The Challenge We Face

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have mobilized action from Governments, civil society and other partners around the world, with significant results. Extreme poverty has been cut in half. More people have access to improved sources of water. Conditions are better for 200 million people living in slums. More girls are in school. Child and maternal mortality is declining.

Around the world, wherever we look, the MDGs have brought success—but not complete success. Achievements vary within and among countries. Globally, we are lagging badly on some targets—especially sanitation, which poses a major threat to the health of people and the environment.

The present report tracks delivery on the commitments listed under Millennium Development Goal 8—the global partnership for development. Some of the indicators show progress, but efforts towards the United Nations target of allocating 0.7 per cent of gross national income to development aid have been receding in the past two years. We must reverse this trend.