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The MDGs are not a sufficient response to overcoming Global Poverty!
In September 2000, the member nations of the United Nations unanimously adopted the Millennium Declaration (http://www.un.org/millennium/). This was an inspiring act by the United Nations, and confirmation that issues of poverty could not be denied or sidelined much longer. A series of goals focusing on 8 critical areas were unveiled and targets where set that must be achieved by the year 2015 if the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are to be attained. The challenge is clear and has been put before the world.
With ten years left, it seems as though these goals will be missed unless incredible efforts are made to meet them, or unless the goal posts are shifted. The world cannot afford to fail in addressing the global poverty. The poorest people on the planet cannot do an evaluation exercise in 2016 looking back at the missed opportunities and putting together 200 pages evaluation documents with recommendations for the next exercise to eradicate poverty and its associated ills.
I frankly believe that despite all the intentions, strategies and investments, the MDGs and targets CANNOT be met. In this brief paper, I will look at what to me are three key reasons why they cannot be met and I will also highlight three major shifts in perspective that are needed if global efforts to end poverty are to be met.
1. The 15-year timeline is unrealistic
It has taken hundreds of years to establish current economic and political systems. We cannot disconnect the current levels of poverty with the systems that have created them. Together with these systems come ways of living and cultures that will need to shift radically if the MDGs are to be achieved. The changes and shifts cannot simply be economic. There are some real trade offs in terms of lifestyles. If economics is about matching unlimited wants with limited resources, the definition of those wants need to change, because the resources we need to end poverty are very much limited. This means changing production and consumption patterns amongst other things.
Additionally, the current global economic system is extremely inequitable. There is no way economic prosperity can attained if the systems that have created it do not shift as well. Given the environment in which the global economic system is managed, overhauling it in 15 years is almost an impossibility. Whilst the known how, the technology, the finances and knowledge to achieve the MDGs in this present timeline exist, overcoming the vested interests that defend and sustain this system without causing destructive revolution is perhaps a greater challenge that ending poverty itself.
Why do we always have to give ourselves goals and targets that make us feel good about ourselves? It is nice to believe that the world will be a different place, half-a paradise in 15 years, which is within the lifetime of most of us. It is inspiring to think that this is possible. If we are honest with ourselves, achieving the goals laid out in the MDGs will take much more time than 15 years. For example, building the capacities of African countries alone to be able to reduce the poverty of their people by half and to sustain those levels whilst making greater gains in other development areas is a multi-year project in itself. Perhaps a 30-year project. Think of political and institutional reform, investment in basic healthcare, education and infrastructure as well and developing adaptive cultures to this growth and change. 15 years to change the behavior of large, diverse groups is extremely ambitious. It’s nearly unrealistic!
Perhaps we should re-visit the question of the MDGs timeline. Let us think beyond ourselves and the need to be present at the finish line to accept the medals of achievement. How much time do we really need to achieve those goals in the most sustainable way possible?
2. Levels of Investment
Large amounts of money are needed to make the MDGs a reality. Given current levels of financing and the existing financing structures, especially those of bilateral and multilateral bodies and the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budgets of ‘developed’ nation budgets, there is insufficient money to meet the needs of the MDGs.
Take for example, the United States government’s ODA budget. The US government in 2002 had an ODA budget of US$12.9 billion (an 11.6% increase from previous years due to the response to the September 11 attacks). That is the largest dollar figure of ODA of any country in the world, but the lowest as a percentage of the USA’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or Gross National Income (Source: http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Debt/USAid.asp). If you pull in the amounts given my all donor countries, which are roughly 22 nations that belong to a committee of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD – a gathering of the world’s richest nations), their combined ODA total is not too impressive either relative to the global need. In 2000, the combined total of ODA form OECDs Development Assistance Committee members was US$53.7 billion (Source: http://www.oecd.org/document/25/0,2340,en_2649_201185_2087449_1_1_1_1,00.html).
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Dumisani
I write because I believe in the power of ideas! Thoughts are what have changed the world... Every revolution, every legislation, every act started off as a thought. All thoughts are inspired by other thoughts expressed in song, essays, research, poetry, spoken word, action...
I write because I love. I hope that my writing inspires and informs you as much as the writings of others has done to me in my life.
~dumisani
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Comments
Damian Profeta | Apr 26th, 2005
Me fascinó la claridad y contundencia del análisis. Coincido plenamente.
Un abrazo, Dumi!
True... Antony Felix O. O. Simbowo | May 4th, 2005
But what are you doing to solve the poverty issue in your own way...Let the truth about unfair global trade, horrendous debts, corruption, misrule and misgovernment etc be told..It would be futile to reduce poverty while some goonic leader somewhere is looting his country's resources, buffoonic rebels are still fighting in DR-Congo, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Colombia....Among other plethora of realities..
Walk the talk..Ideas are powerful..Niccolo Machiavelli agrees with you.
Excellent Analysis Chloe | May 6th, 2005
Your analysis of the current MGD situation is excellent. Well written, as well. I love that you included The Earth Charter as a viable alternative solution to global development.
changing the finance structure Kate Moore Davenport | May 9th, 2005
great stuff!! just have to add that i have come across a growing phenomenon, complimentary currency. check out www.accessfoundation.org
to me this addresses changing those dibilating systems and making a difference with our own lives. your three steps are on!!!
Tahita Khan | May 29th, 2005
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,6903,1494543,00.html
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