This report synthesizes the main lessons learned from the MDG Reviews conducted by the UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) between April 2013 and November 2015. The exercise, which brought together United Nations and World Bank Group staff, summarized the country situation, identified bottlenecks to attainment, and suggested potential solutions in 16 countries and 1 subregion. Many of the observations and proposed solutions could prove useful in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Please note: only publishing dates after March 2013 may be considered reliable.
Pages tagged with Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
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As the international community became increasingly engaged in with the formulation of a new development framework, the General Assembly in its resolution 69/17 emphasized the key role to be played by CEB in ensuring coordinated United Nations system-wide support in the preparation of and follow-up to the post-2015 development agenda, in accordance with relevant intergovernmental mandates.
With the 2015 deadline to meet the Millennium Development Goals on the horizon, CEB had decided, at its second regular session of 2012, to include a review of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals at each of its forthcoming sessions through 2015, beginning at its first regular session of 2013, with a view to helping to accelerate progress within countries that experience difficulties achieving one or more of the goals.
The United Nations system Standing Committee on Nutrition is a partnership among United Nations organizations, Governments and NGOs, with the mandate to strengthen worldwide efforts to fight malnutrition. The Standing Committee analyses trends and raises awareness on nutrition issues, galvanizes action at the global, regional and national levels against malnutrition and promotes cooperation among United Nations agencies and partner organizations in support of national efforts to end malnutrition.
Within the United Nations system, three Rome-based United Nations organizations — the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) — complement and reinforce each other’s activities to address the immediate and long-term challenges of fighting hunger and achieving food security. FAO provides technical expertise and policy guidance. IFAD provides loans and grants to help the rural poor to overcome poverty and gain the means to achieve food security.
CEB member organizations continued to participate actively in the review and follow-up of specific recommendations emanating from oversight reports by the Joint Inspection Unit, the Board of Auditors and the Office of Internal Oversight Services. Priority attention is given to maintaining the highest levels of transparency and accountability, strict compliance with established rules and regulations and enhancing the capacity of the United Nations system for oversight and audit.
In 2004, CEB began to consider its contribution to the preparations for the 2005 comprehensive review of the implementation of the Millennium Declaration. It decided that a special report focusing on the impact of the Millennium Declaration on the workings of the system and on the quality of the support that the system is extending to Member States would serve as a useful contribution to the 2005 review.
At its fall 2005 session, immediately following the 2005 World Summit, CEB focused its discussion on the implications of, and follow-up to the 2005 World Summit Outcome. The Secretary-General stressed that the Summit Outcome should be seen as a call to action — for Member States, civil society and other stakeholders, and the United Nations system as a whole. Its implications for the United Nations system were clear: the system had been challenged to be more effective and efficient across the breadth of its agenda and to demonstrate greater coherence. The bar had been set high.
CEB reviewed current economic and social trends in African development and the serious problems that many African countries continued to face in their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and recalled its earlier decision to place African development as a regular item on its agenda.
Recognizing the importance of substantive thematic coordination in responding to the needs and priorities of partner countries, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) informed CEB that the three organizations had decided to combine their complementary capacities and comparative advantages within food security theme groups at the country level.
A consistent focus of the work of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) over the years has been to capitalize on the unique legitimacy and combined strengths of the organizations of the United Nations system, in order to maximize the system’s responsiveness to the requirements of Member States and the international community.
The period 2007/08 has seen significant progress in enhancing the role and functioning of the CEB as an effective coordinating mechanism of the United Nations system. The review of the CEB that was completed during the reporting period served to consolidate the key coordination functions of operational activities at the country level, that is, the harmonization of management functions and programme coordination under an integrated structure, enabling a comprehensive approach towards United Nations system-wide coordination.
Ten years have passed since the adoption of the Millennium Declaration and the historical commitment to cut extreme poverty by half through the implementation of eight measurable and time-bound goals. In spite of significant achievements in a number of countries, progress remains uneven, and billions of people still struggle to meet their basic needs.
During the reporting period, CEB and its three pillars have made advances in the coordination and coherence of the United Nations system on system-wide issues. The Board also devoted increasing attention to operational issues at the country level and to alignment of the work of the United Nations system at the global, regional and country levels.
United Nations system response to the global financial and economic crisis; Supporting progress towards the Millennium Development Goals; Climate change; Security and safety of staff; Harmonization of business practices; United Nations development system working together; Working together in crisis, post-crisis and transition countries;
During 2009/10, the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) continued its ongoing efforts to align the strengths of the United Nations system in support of countries’ efforts to deal with the challenges confronting the international community. Throughout the reporting period, CEB has played a key role in ensuring a coherent approach by the United Nations system in addressing the needs of the international community and delivering as one at the global, regional and country levels.
CEB strongly welcomed the Outcome of the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on the Millennium Development Goals at its sixty-fifth session, held in New York in September 2010. CEB agreed to examine how best to bring together the different policy strands in an integrated approach to contribute to the urgent action required over the coming years in supporting individual country efforts to reach the Goals.
Follow-up to the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly on the Millennium Development Goals; Climate Change; United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development; Sustainable energy and biodiversity; Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries; Disaster risk reduction.
During 2010/11, the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) intensified its efforts to align the strengths and expertise of its member organizations to respond to the mandates of Member States in a coordinated and effective manner. The adoption by the General Assembly of its resolution 64/289 has been an important directive for the United Nations system in further strengthening the coherence of its system-wide efforts, as detailed in the present report.
The 2010 High-level Plenary Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals resulted in a global action agenda for reaching the Goals by 2015, and recommitted all actors to accelerate progress towards that end. The meeting’s outcome document provided the strategic guidance for the work of the United Nations system in supporting the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
Follow-up to the Millennium Development Goals Summit and preparations for the post-2015 framework; United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks; Management and accountability system; Crisis, post-crisis and transition countries.
Pursuant to resolution 2008 (LX) of the Economic and Social Council, the present report provides an annual overview of the work of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) for the period covering the Board’s fall 2011 session and spring 2012 session, held in October 2011 and April 2012, respectively.
In 2012, CEB, under the leadership of the Secretary-General, has made further progress in taking effective and coordinated action on a wide range of programmatic, management and operational issues in support of intergovernmental mandates to ensure that the United Nations system collaborates closely and effectively on issues of system-wide concern.
In 2013, Member States affirmed not only their commitment to intensify efforts to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals but also their determination to craft a strong post-2015 development agenda that would build on the foundations laid by the Millennium Development Goals.
The Millennium Development Goals galvanized an unprecedented global effort to meet the needs of the world’s poorest. Yet, despite substantial gains, many countries are struggling to meet one or more of the goals by the target date of 2015. With the Millennium Development Goal deadline rapidly approaching, CEB decided at its second regular session of 2012 to include a review of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals at each of its forthcoming sessions through 2015.
Throughout 2013, CEB responded to calls by the General Assembly for system-wide coordination in the preparation and follow-up to United Nations conferences and summits, including the Millennium Summit, post-2015 development agenda, Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries, and the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States. In support of those conferences and summits, CEB developed joint contributions and enhanced United Nations system-wide coherence in the implementation of conference outcomes.
Pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 2008 (LX), the present report provides an overview of the annual work of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB).
In 2013, Member States affirmed not only their commitment to intensify efforts to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals but also their determination to craft a strong post-2015 development agenda that would build on the foundations laid by the Millennium Development Goals.
The Millennium Development Goals galvanized an unprecedented global effort to meet the needs of the world’s poorest. Yet, despite substantial gains, many countries are struggling to meet one or more of the goals by the target date of 2015. With the Millennium Development Goal deadline rapidly approaching, CEB decided at its second regular session of 2012 to include a review of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals at each of its forthcoming sessions through 2015.
Throughout 2013, CEB responded to calls by the General Assembly for system-wide coordination in the preparation and follow-up to United Nations conferences and summits, including the Millennium Summit, post-2015 development agenda, Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries, and the third International Conference on Small Island Developing States. In support of those conferences and summits, CEB developed joint contributions and enhanced United Nations system-wide coherence in the implementation of conference outcomes.
Pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 2008 (LX), the present report provides an overview of the annual work of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB).
In its 5th Report on the World Nutrition Situation (March 2004), the Standing Committee on Nutrition (SCN) makes the case that reducing malnutrition is central to achieving the MDGs, citing evidence that links nutrition to a range of other development outcomes.
The Copenhagen Declaration and Programme of Action adopted at the 1995 World Summit for Social Development emphasized the eradication of poverty as an ethical, social, political and economic imperative.
Monitoring progress towards the MDGs at the global level requires the collaboration of international agencies and close consultation with national experts and statisticians.
The United Nations Development Group (UNDG) is one of four Executive Committees established by the Secretary-General in the main areas of UN work, with the others focusing on peace and security, humanitarian affairs and economic and social affairs.
The Monterrey Consensus established a sustained intergovernmental follow-up process in both the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. In addition to considering different financing issues on the annual agenda of its Second Committee, the Assembly, every two years, now hosts a two-day High-Level Dialogue on Financing for Development.
In the Millennium Declaration, Heads of State and Government reaffirmed their faith in the United Nations and its Charter as indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world. Recognizing their collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level, they stressed that certain fundamental values are essential to international relations in the twenty-first century.
Work is underway within the framework of CEB to forge new directions and establish new channels for exchanging ideas and knowledge within the UN system. Underpinning these efforts is a UN System Information and Communication Technology Strategic Framework developed by the ICT Network of CEB. Building on past evaluations of ICT opportunities in the system, this Strategic Framework represents a collaborative initiative geared towards the improvement of communication channels and the development of common ICT infrastructure elements across organizations of the UN system.
Houlin Zhao was elected ITU Secretary-General at the 19TH Plenipotentiary Conference in Busan, Korea, in October 2014. He took up his post on 1 January, 2015.
Born in 1950 in Jiangsu, China, Mr Zhao graduated from Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and holds an MSc in Telematics from the University of Essex in the UK.
Enormous progress has been made towards reaching the MDGs. After 2015, efforts to achieve a world of prosperity, equity, freedom, dignity and peace for all the world’s people will continue unabated.
The 2010 MDG Summit concluded with the adoption of a global action plan, "Keeping the Promise: United to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals " and the announcement of a number of initiatives against poverty, hunger and disease.
Governments, foundations, businesses and civil society groups rallied around the call to action to slash poverty, hunger and disease by 2015, by announcing new commitments to meet the Millennium Development Goals, at a high-level event at UN Headquarters on 25 September 2008.
At the Millennium Summit of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Member States of the United Nations (147 of them represented by their Head of State or Government), in a historic decision on 8 September 2000, adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration.
The 2010 MDG Summit concluded with the adoption of a global action plan -- Keeping the Promise: United to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals -- and the announcement of a number of initiatives against poverty, hunger and disease. The Secretary-General and CEB members welcomed the Outcome of the 2010 High-level Plenary Meeting on the MDGs.
A follow-up Summit to take stock of the progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Declaration was held from 14-16 September 2005 bringing together more than 170 Heads of State and Government.
The United Nations system has an important supportive role to play for the achievement of the MDGs. Since 2000, CEB has worked to ensure a coordinated UN system approach to the Millennium Summit and its follow-up. The Millennium Declaration itself has served to intensify CEB’s focus on strategic issues for the UN system as a whole.
With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015, world leaders agreed on a vision and an ambitious plan of action for change: freeing the world of poverty and hunger, protecting the planet from degradation; ensuring that that all people can live prosperous and fulfilling live in dignity and equality, and fostering peaceful, just and inclusive societies free of fear and violence. Universal in scope and application and integrated and indivisible in nature, the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has the potential to be truly transformative. Its implementation calls for coordinated actions across the peace and security, human rights, humanitarian affairs and sustainable development spectrum and requires a deeper collective engagement by all stakeholders – governments, parliaments, the scientific and academic community, civil society, the private sector, the international community and the United Nations system.