Activity 9: Summing Up. You have now looked at the MDGs in some detail, and have also learnt a little of how the MDG programme fits into the context of overall foreign aid and international finance. There has been a lot to take in, so here is a chance to reflect on the information from this unit.
a) What are the positive aspects of the MDGs?
b) What is your view on the progress of MDGs?
c) What do you think of the 0.7% foreign aid pledge by the 22 developed countries?
d) Why do you think the IMF strategy for loans to poorer countries has been
included in this unit on MDGs?
Answer: You will have your own views, but personally I feel the MDGs project is positive: it aims to save and improve the lives of billions of people in Africa, Asia and Latin America through health, education and economic programmes. It is clear that in some respects progress on MDGs has been good - there has been some reduction in poverty, for example, and some successes with particular health schemes e.g. mosquito nets for children and vaccinations. However, progress is slow and it looks as if the targets to reach by 2015 will not be met. This raises the question of how committed are the richer countries to the MDG programme? Could there have been more progress by now if richer countries were determined to reach those targets? Certainly the young woman addressing the UN felt there was still a lot more that richer countries could do if they wanted to!
Looking at the information on foreign aid and the 0.7% pledge the overall impression is that with a few exceptions most countries have been slow to sign up to the pledge and have not yet reached the 0.7% target needed. It is also clear that some of the richest countries in the world like the US , Japan and Canada
Finally, the text on IMF loans was included in this unit on MDGs and foreign aid, so that we can see the context in which the MDGs operate. The MDGs may do some good work and start the process to save and improve lives, but countries that have IMF loans to pay off are forced into situations which make their country poorer. So it is a case of richer countries giving with one hand and taking with the other.
Summary
We hope that you have enjoyed this taster course on the Millennium Development Goals. You have:
· Learnt what the Millennium Development Goals are
· Found out why the MDGs were set up
· Looked at infant mortality rates as an example of global inequality
· Read short texts on the progress on MDGs in health
· Read and interpreted a graph on the progress of MDGs in reducing poverty
· Viewed and reflected on 2 You Tube clips on the progress of MDGs
· Read short texts on foreign aid and the IMF, to put the MDG programme in context
If you would like to know more about some of the issues raised in this taster, here are some useful websites:
If you enjoyed this taster, you might also enjoy these related taster courses:
Fair Trade – what is it and how does it work?
Globalisation – an introduction
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