The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

In September 2000, the international community committed to this goal by ratifying the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Gathered together in September 2000 at the UN headquarters in New York, the political leadership of the entire world identified eight major measurable objectives for combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women.

Known from that moment on as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), these objectives constitute a framework for action for the international community, under the direction of the United Nations Development Group ( UNDG ).

1. Reduce extreme poverty and hunger

Approximately 1.2 billion persons survive on less than a dollar a day.
About 800 million persons suffer malnutrition.

2. Ensure primary education for all

Approximately 114 million school age children lack access to primary schools.

3. Promote gender equality and the empowerment of women

Around 63 million school age girls lack access to an elementary school.
In only 9 countries worldwide do women occupy at least one third of the seats in parliament.

4. Reduce infant mortality

Worldwide, about 11 million children under five die every year.

5. Improve maternal health

Every year, nearly 500,000 women die during childbirth or pregnancy.

6. Fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

HIV/AIDS is the number four cause of mortality in the world.

7. Ensure a sustainable environment

About 2.4 billion persons lack access to developed health infrastructures.
Around 1.2 billion persons lack access to a better source of drinking water.

8. Institute a world partnership for development

26 highly indebted poor countries have started receiving debt relief.
A few low-income countries have started benefiting from tariff-free exports to markets in developed countries.

Towards 2015. Towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Nos actions

Millennium Development Goals

Uniterra contributes to achieving the Millennium Development Goals to reduce world poverty by half by 2015.

Through this joint initiative, CECI and WUSC mobilize citizens and organizations from Canada and 13 developing countries to make the MDG vision a reality.

MDG # 1. Food insecurity and malnutrition constitute priority sectors for Uniterra's partners in every country in its program: Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Guatemala, Guinea, Malawi, Mali, Nepal, Niger, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

 

MDG # 2. In many countries, boys and girls do not have equal access to education. In Ghana, Guinea, Niger, Senegal and Vietnam, Uniterra's partners are carrying out projects to promote school accessibility and enrolment. In addition, they are enhancing education by supporting non-formal education and literacy training networks.

 

MDG # 3. Gender issues are at the heart of every project executed by Uniterra's partners. Whether it's in education, agriculture or any other sector, we devote particular attention to gender equity and incorporate the narrowing of gender-based gaps into the actual execution of activities on the ground.

 

MDG # 4. Uniterra's partners in Nepal and Mali have chosen to act in the areas of child nutrition and the development of community health services.

 

 

MDG # 5. In Mali, Uniterra's partners seek to increase women's access to health care in community clinics. Moreover, they carry out projects to increase women's participation in decision-making and management in relation to community health centres.

 

MDG # 6. HIV/AIDS affects a major proportion of the population in many of the countries where Uniterra's partners work. In Botswana, Burkina Faso and Malawi, we hope to expand the health services available to persons with HIV/AIDS and their families. In addition, informing and sensitizing local populations is a major component of all community health projects.
 

MDG # 7. In many countries, environmental degradation has a very negative impact on the expansion of agriculture and the sustainable development of rural populations. We support the implementation of responsible tourism projects in Bolivia and Guatemala.

 

MDG # 8. Uniterra subscribes to the international "Make poverty history" campaign, which seeks to eliminate Third World debt, increase development assistance, promote fair trade and reduce child poverty. For more information or to sign the on-line petition, go to: www.makepovertyhistory.ca