Requests experiences and advice on forecasting or predicting the probability of the achieving the MDGs, to be used in the national MDGR and advocacy purposes. A number of country examples are provided, although members also emphasize the inherent difficulties in using non-linear models to forecast.

Requests experiences studying urban poverty to feed into debate and preparation of a national strategy on urban poverty and support for the MDGs. Summary provides an overview of the distinct dimensions of urban poverty and different methods for assessing it. Includes a list of potential tools and a number of country examples.

Requests practical advice on how to go about an MDG costing exercise in Rwanda modeled on the initiative of the UN millennium project(examples of ToRs for assessment team, budgets and work plans for such initiatives elsewhere).

Seeks an international consultant to provide all support for the development of the methodology and structure of the Social Investment Funds and create community based support networks using the Millennium Development Goals and their localization at a community level as a benchmark for identifying communities needs and facilitate their response in meeting them. Suggests 10 consultants with experience in local development and community mobilization.

Requests TOR for a Macro Economist to lead the alignment of the PRS with the MDGs. 5 TORs and some potentially helpful methodologies and tools were shared.

UNDP Sudan is in the process of preparing their national MDGR and need an expert regarding the costing exercise. Samples of TORs for an economist/consultant on MDG costing and training were requested.

The responses received to this query highlighted the complexity of the issue of unpaid work and the range of associated issues and their incorporation into our work with MDGs. Most members contributed by drawing attention to literature on women's unpaid work. The query touches on complex areas of methodologies, statistics on time use, valuation of unpaid work and gender budgeting. What this query clarifies is that the process of data collection and statistical analysis, while critical to measuring progress in achieving the MDGs, is incomplete and does not allow us to realistically calculate the status of socio-economic development in most, if not all, countries.

March 17, 2003- Methodological query on MDG costing; avoiding double counting and the forms of country level support that can impact policy decisions. Reports from South Africa, Uganda, & Tanzania

October 25, 2002- Comparative examples of MDG costing methodologies, issues, & strategies for mobilizing domestic resources with reports from Uganda, Philippines

July 10, 2002- Discussion on costing MDG on a national level