The recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting, the previous G-20 meeting in London and the current G-20 meeting all cover the pertinent issues of today—nuclear proliferation, climate change, terrorism but one such topic forged nine years ago has not been given pirority. Members of the UN gave their pledge towards eight different goals and set a fifteen year time period to meet them. With less than six years to go, has the world forgotten about the Millennium Development Goals?
The various international aid agencies would argue no. The world’s leading development agency, the World Bank would argue that it’s been placing all its efforts on helping developing countries. The Bank has provided more than 56% of all Official Development Assistance (ODA) since 2004 and published annual World Development Reports highlighting the areas to address. However, the fail Washington Consensus policies and mindset still rests within the Bank’s environment and external activities. Neither has its governance been democractised after more than fifty years of its existence. Developing and least developed countries hardly have a say over Bank funding or aid activities.
Bilateral donors too may claim success in aiding countries towards each or all MDG goals. Overall bilateral ODA has risen throughout the years but it has been plagued mainly by the political self interests of nations. Furthermore, a large majority of donors have not met the ODA target of 0.7 of their Gross National Income. The current economic downturn has also provided another excuse for donors to shy away from providing aid and major donors like the US have yet to reform their aid agency structures (as of present, there is still no USAID Administrator appointed by the Obama Administration). Despite the promise of open global trade, many countries still erect trade barriers, denying producers in developing nations from a fair trading arena.
Hope for countries, especially those in Africa, however is still present. Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have helped reduced poverty, hunger, improve health and the social well being of communities in developing regions. Grant that there are flaws in NGO activities, these groups have largely provided impartial assistance. Certain donors such as the UK and the Nordic countries do make the MDGs a cornerstone of their foreign policy. It should be noted that almost all British political parties support the provision of foreign aid and international development. Yet, these steadfast supporters are few and far in between.
The individual MDGs themselves—reducing poverty, hunger, child mortality, protecting the environment etc—have been criticized as too idealistic. However, these goals are promises for a stronger and more balanced international community. Years of failed actions, false commitments have pushed the global divide between the haves and the have nots. As the rock band Toto wrote in their song, “Give them your smile and try holding out your hand, Let them know you're there, let them know you're there”. It is high time countries remember what they once pledged to do.
Posted on September 25, 2009
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