At the start of 2000, members of the United Nations set the international agenda for the beginning of the new century. The resulting Millennium Declaration is a broad commitment of all UN member states. The declaration applies the principles of the UN Charter to a new world and a new millennium. The declaration defines a new international agenda in seven key areas:
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peace, security and disarmament
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development and poverty eradication
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protecting our common environment
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human rights, democracy and good governance
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protecting the vulnerable
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meeting the special needs of Africa
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strengthening the United Nations
UNDP has worked with other UN organizations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to agree on these goals. The UN General Assembly approved the Millennium Development Goals in 2001, and the UN Secretary-General then asked UNDP to promote the MDGs by assisting countries develop short, medium term and long term strategies for achieving the MDGs. In that role, UNDP coordinates and keeps track on national efforts and progress in attainment of the MDGs and making them an integral part of the UN's work worldwide.
The goals are time-bound, starting in 1990, to be achieved by 2015. They comprise only those elements of the Millennium Declaration which are both related to development and quantifiable. Only if they are quantifiable, can one objectively measure progress.
The first seven goals stress the responsibility of developing countries to undertake policy reforms and enhance good governance. Goal eight focuses on the responsibility of developed nations to relieve debt, increase aid and give developing countries better access to its technologies and markets.
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Facilitating investment and economic growth based on broad participation;
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Promoting fair distribution of the benefits of growth
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Empowering the poor to generate income
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Human Capital Development
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Improvement of the quality of life for the poor
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Improving governance and strengthening institutions




MDGs









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