Executive summary

With only four years remaining in which to achieve the key targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), most of the world’s Heads of State and Government came to the United Nations in September 2010 to take stock of progress made thus far. Despite significant setbacks owing to the 2008-2009 global economic crisis and surges in food and energy prices, it seems that the developing world as a whole will reach many of the MDGs. However, some countries and regions are not on track to reach the goals and require intensified efforts to reduce poverty and child and maternal mortality rates and to improve access to drinking water and sanitation. The objective of MDG 8 is to assist all developing countries in achieving the goals through a strengthened global partnership for international development cooperation. The present report describes how that partnership is producing significant results on many fronts, but notes that many important gaps between expectations and delivery remain. At the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (the “MDG summit”), which was held from 20 to 22 September 2010, Governments committed themselves to strengthening the global partnership in order to “keep the promises” to the peoples of the world, particularly the poorest among them, which they had made 10 years previously in the Millennium Declaration.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Partnerships for the Goals