What have the UN Millennium

Development Goals achieved

& what’s next post 2015?
David Bennett 2020-01-20T15:36:07+00:00

By Adam Flynn

The launch of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in

March 2002 was, arguably, one of the most significant
events in the history of the United Nations. Before the UN-
inspired MDG’s were crafted, there was no international
consensus and, therefore, no agreed framework for
addressing extreme poverty and related social, economic
and environmental problems in the world’s least developed
countries.
Of course, global endorsement of the MDGs and the
implementation of specific policies aimed at achieving the
eight goals are two different things. The MDGs are just that
– goals: in themselves they have no plan, budget or
delineation of responsibilities. However, it is undeniable that
the MDGs have, for more than a decade, underpinned the
drive for adopting new approaches to tackling barriers to
development. Moreover, the over-arching vision of the
MDGs – achieving a 50% reduction in poverty worldwide by
2015 – has brought the international development
community closer together. I’m not suggesting that the
instruments of development – governments, public, private
and non-profit organisations – are now working in total
harmony, but there is no question that the MDGs have
encouraged greater co-operation between MDG-focused
policy makers and their front line partners.

But with the MDGs due to expire at the end of 2015, what
actually, has been achieved? As you would expect, the
MDGs – like all UN ‘wish lists’ – have had their detractors.
All I would say is that, with regard to MDG 6, with its focus on
combating malaria (and other diseases), the results are very
encouraging. Fifty countries are on track to reduce malaria
cases by 75% by 2015 (in comparison with 2000).

About 3.4 billion people – half of the world’s population – are

at risk of malaria. In 2012, there were about 207 million
malaria cases and an estimated 627,000 malaria deaths.
Increased prevention – via the large-scale distribution of
long-lasting, insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual
spraying and complementary education programs – have led
to a reduction in mortality rates by 42% globally since 2000
and by 49% in sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria is the
principal cause of infant mortality.

Clearly these achievements, while hugely encouraging, are

no cause for complacency: malaria and the major causes of
extreme poverty are still a long way from eradication. That is
why the UN is currently agreeing new targets – ‘Sustainable’
Development Goals – to be adopted in 2016.
The need for sustainability is crucial. Poverty reduction is all
about securing long-term development benefits: the
creation of appropriate policies, processes and – certainly
with regard to malaria prevention – products to support the
continuous improvement of people’s welfare.

And this is where the involvement of the private sector is

crucial. The private sector has the leadership skills,
management systems, technologies and the R&D resources
to translate policy makers’ and aid donors’ objectives into
the sustainable delivery of transformational change.

Sumitomo Chemical, both as an international company and

as a key player in the fight against malaria, is committed to
the concept of sustainable development. I hope you will be
interested in reading my future blogs which will be covering
aspects of our malaria-focused activities.