Global Monitoring Report 2008

A new World Bank-IMF report warns that most countries will fall short on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight globally agreed development goals with a due date of 2015.

The report’s assessment of the MDGs at midpoint presents a mixed picture. The first MDG calls for reducing extreme poverty and hunger by half. Although the poverty goal is likely to be met at the global level, thanks to a remarkable surge in global economic growth over the past decade, there are serious shortfalls in fighting hunger and malnutrition— the “forgotten MDG.” High food and energy prices have brought increased attention to these issues, but more is needed.

Reducing malnutrition is the MDG with a “multiplier” effect, because it is essential to success on a number of other MDGs which are unlikely to be met, including maternal health, infant mortality, and education.

Shortfalls in the human development areas are especially serious in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Within this overall picture, there is considerable variation across countries. The report finds that, on current trends, most countries are off track to meet most of the MDGs, with those in fragile situations falling behind most seriously.

The implication of this assessment is clear. If the world is to get back on track to meet the MDGs, the international community needs to move quickly to generate stronger and broader momentum toward these goals. In the context of expediting and broadening progress toward the MDGs, and ensuring the sustainability of that progress, the report proposes an agenda for inclusive and sustainable development.

The report can be downloaded from the website.

Download the report in PDF version here: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTGLOMONREP2008/Resources/4737994-1207342962709/8944_Web_PDF.pdf