Achieving the Goals

In order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, the targets must be quantifiable, identify specific countries or areas, and target ways in which to proceed. In addition to the donors and development partners, the leaders of the countries themselves must all contribute to advancing the plight of the impoverished. To this end, although the eight goals are very broad, individual targets must be quite specific. Hence, hundreds, if not thousands of organizations around the world are involved in the accomplishment of the specific directives.

And while many of these same organizations such as Plan International, Inc (formerly Foster Parents Plan), the IRC (International Water and Sanitation Centre), and Doctors Without Borders, to name a few examples, have been around for a long time, the goals are the same and the efforts of the groups are focused. Each plays its own part, an integral piece of the larger picture. Each group has its own mandates and milestones which aid the Millennium Development Goals in achieving their targets.

Further to organizations, individual programs that micro-manage one aspect of the established goals contribute to achieving the end goals. For example, NERICA (the New Rice for Africa), a crossbreed of Asian and African rice varieties, allows many farmers to feed their own families while at the same time sell their crops at market to earn a living. By teaching and helping to lay a foundation, the people will become self-sustaining instead of relying on charity that may or may not arrive.

Even smaller organizations led by everyday, caring people will help in the achievement of the goals. ASAP Africa started as a husband and wife team who were bothered by what they saw in South Africa. To do their part, they formed A Self-Help Assistance Program which “is a small non-profit organization that works for sustainable development in Southern Africa. We focus on helping communities to become self-reliant by sharing knowledge through rural savings clubs, support for education, health and nutrition training, and agricultural improvements”.

Working closely with the United Nations, The MDG Africa Steering Group was convened in September 2007 to identify a path of verifiable and practical steps to meet their objectives. They have created a chart whereby the objective is stated, the coordinating organization is identified, and other development partners who will assist in seeing the objective to fruition are named.

When speaking about the goals in small terms, it appears as though the achievements are possible, as groups have made a considerable impact, but when looking at the total requirements of the goals and the obstacles posed by some of the nations involved, the task does seem insurmountable indeed. Monetarily, aid would have to increase by at least double each year, and policies within separate nations would need to be established. Lastly, for the plan to work, both the rich and poor countries must aspire to the end goals.

Written by Brenda. This is not an official site. More info about this site and what we're trying to do is right here.