Addressing the UN Millennium Development Goals

In 2000, the United Nations adopted eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agreed to by 189 Heads of Government at the UN World Development Summit. This paper examines the background to the development of the MDGs and the progress made towards achieving them. In the struggle to halve extreme poverty, to achieve universal primary education and to achieve other MDGs by 2015, progress is, at best, patchy. Some MDGs may be achievable, given sustained global political support, strong partnerships and well-co-ordinated effort, but other MDGs and the strategies being used need to be rethought. In this paper, issues relating to poverty; political will; quality and equality; partnerships; goals, targets, indicators and monitoring progress; and the effectiveness of poverty reduction strategies are examined. Finally, some ways in which international and comparative educational research can make a difference are suggested.