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MDG Africa Steering Group Holds Second Meeting
On 10 March 2008, the second meeting of the MDG Africa Steering Group was held at UN Headquarters in New York. The Group, chaired by the UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki moon, discussed a first set of practical recommendations to accelerate achievement of the MDGs in Africa. Some of the key recommendations emphasize the need to: launch an African Green Revolution to double food yields by providing access to improved seeds, fertilizer, and agricultural extension, strengthening water management, and improving access to markets; expand investments in education through existing mechanisms to achieve the globally agreed goals on universal education; strengthen health systems and human resources for health, including through increased financing through mechanisms such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria; and scale up infrastructure investments. Read more. UNGA ends Thematic Debate on MDGS
On 4 April 2008, the UN General Assembly concluded its four-day thematic debate on ‘recognizing the achievements, addressing the challenges and getting back on track to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.’ The debate was marked by strong calls from delegates on the needs for investments in agriculture and infrastructure, given the current rising of food and energy prices responsible for exacerbating food insecurity and malnutrition. Read more 
Report Calls for Revamping Farming Rules to Boost State of Global Agriculture
- (15 April 2008, Guardian.co.uk)
A report launched by the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development, and backed by the UN Food and Agricultural Organization, the World Health Organization and the World Bank, finds that global farming rules need to be overhauled to boost agriculture production and help battle the growing food crisis. The report notes that governments, the private sector and non-profit organizations need to cooperate better to promote a more effective and sustainable form of farming. Read more EU Urges Members to Fulfil ODA Commitments for MDGs
- (9 April 2008, Reuters Africa)
The EU commission urged its member states to deliver on pledges to boost official development assistance (ODA) to poor countries to 0.56 percent of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2010 and 0.7 percent by 2015. The Commission called upon states to present disbursement schedules on how they will meet the ODA targets which are crucial to assist developing countries in addressing migration, security and climate change issues. Although the EU member states are the world’s larger aid donors, ODA levels in 2007 are estimated to be lower in 1.7 billion Euros from 2006. Read more UN Warns of Global Food Crisis
- (8 April 2008, USA Today)
At a conference in Dubai on the challenges to humanitarian work, the Undersecretary General for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator John Holmes noted that continuing rising food prices could exacerbate social unrest and political instability worldwide. Holmes said the security implications of food crisis should not be underestimated as riots are being reported in Egypt, Haiti and Jordan. It is indicated that food prices have gone up to 40 per cent worldwide since mid-2007. Read more UN Reviews Countries’ Human Rights Records
- (7 April 2008, Swissinfo.ch)
The United Nations Human Rights Council for the first time has launched an effort to review the human rights records of all of the UN’s 192 member-states. Over the next two weeks, the human rights records of 16 countries will be scrutinized. The Review meetings will feature interactive discussions between the States and a Working Group comprising of all of the Council’s 47 members. The discussions will be based on national reports and information from treaty bodies, special rapporteurs – independent experts on specific topics that report to the Council – non-governmental organizations, national human rights institutions and academic institutions. Read more Climate Change will Erode Foundations of Health
- (7 April 2008, WHO)
On the occasion of the World Health Day 2008, WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan stressed that climate change threatens to reverse progress in fighting diseases of poverty, and to widen the gaps in health outcomes between the richest and the poorest. Dr. Chan called upon governments and citizens to renew efforts to protect health through the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and with special attention to meet the challenges posed by climate change. Read more Greater Investments are needed to Address Poverty, Climate Change and High Food Prices
- (2 April 2008, IFAD)
On 2 April, while addressing the first annual meeting of the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Conference of Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, IFAD Vice-President Kanayo Nwanze called for greater investments in agriculture and rural development. He stressed that at the mid-point for the achievements of the MDGs, progress has been uneven particularly for rural areas in Africa. Nwanze noted that the proportion of people living in extreme poverty is above 40 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa, while the number of undernourished people increased by 20 percent. He further noted that recent rising in food prices will aggravate poverty and social unrest. Climate variability, and its impact on biodiversity, is expected to drive 75 million people under water stress situations. Read more 
2008 World Business and Development Awards in Support of MDGs
Application Deadline: 30 May 2008
The 2008 World Business and Development Awards is a joint initiative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) in support of the MDGs. The awards recognize the contribution of the private sector to help achieving the MDGs through their core business. Click here for more information. 2008 United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights
Application Deadline: 15 July 2008
The promotion of human rights is intrinsic to the achievement of MDGs. The United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights was instituted by the General Assembly in 1966 and was awarded for the first time on 10 December 1968 on the occasion of the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Prize is an opportunity to publicly recognize the achievement of the awardees. It also sends a clear message to human rights champions that the international community is grateful for, and supports, their efforts to promote human rights. Click here for more information. 
The Seventh Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples (UNPFII)
Where: UN Headquarters, New York, USA
When: 21 April to 2 May 2008
The seventh session of the UNPFII will focus on the special theme of climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: the stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges. Click here for more information. The United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (UNCSD)
Where: UN Headquarters, New York, USA
When: 5 May to 16 May 2008
The UNCSD will hold its sixteenth session (CSD-16) from 5 to 16 May 2008. The themes for this session are: agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification, and Africa. Click here for more information. 
MDG Policy Adviser
Based in Dakar, Senegal. The application deadline is April 30, 2008. Click here to apply for the job. MDG Policy Adviser
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The application deadline is May 02, 2008. Click here to apply for the job. MDG Policy Specialist
Based in Dakar, Senegal. The application deadline is May 02, 2008. Click here to apply for the job. MDG Policy Specialist
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The application deadline is May 02, 2008. Click here to apply for the job. Consultant for Civic engagement concepts and their relevance for UNDP activities
Based in Oslo, Norway. The application deadline is May 04, 2008. Click here to apply for the job.
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General Resources Global Monitoring Report 2008
- (World Bank and IMF, April 2008)
The World Bank and IMF have just released its fifth annual Global Monitoring Report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The report focuses on the link between environment and development and highlights the pressing needs to mitigate climate change effects. The report highlights that most countries will fall short on achieving the eight goals of the MDGs by 2015. The report notes that developing countries are less equipped and most vulnerable to cope with climate change impacts. Click here to access the report. Capacity Development for MDG attainment
- (Africa 2000 Network, March 2008)
This issue of the Tumaini (The Hope) Newsletter focus on capacity development for MDG attainment. It highlights strategies and experiences in addressing capacity development needs of communities in the various countries where Africa 2000 Network is operational. The newsletter notes that ownership is one of the elements for success in the attainment of MDGs, coupled with the local population’s realization that MDGs are a relevant framework to their own contexts. Click here to access the newsletter. Mobilizing Talent for Global Developments
- (UNU-WIDER, April 2008)
The study, written by Andrés Solimano, calls for a renewed perspective on the impact of brain drain in developing countries. The study indicates that talent mobility can bring benefits both to host and source countries by citing examples in the high-tech industry in Bolivia and India. However, the study cautions that the emigration of health practitioners from Africa, Caribbean and Asia will continue to hurt those countries. Click here to access the policy brief. Agriculture and Development Report
- (IAASTD, April 2008)
The report, led by Robert Watson, involved 400 scientists and NGOs and took four years to complete. It argues that the current system of food production and the way food is traded around the world has led to unequal distribution of benefits and adverse ecological effects. The report further argues that genetically modified (GM) technology is not a quick fix to feed the world’s poor and that growing biofuel crops for automobiles threaten to increase malnutrition globally. Click here to access the executive summary of the report. Accra 2008: The bumpy road to aid effectiveness in agriculture
- (Overseas Development Institute, April 2008)
This issue, part of the ODI Natural Resource Perspective series, is written by Lídia Cabral and focuses on the principles of the Paris Declaration to improve the effectiveness of aid. The author argues that although the principles are sound, they are not adaptable to challenges faced by different development sectors such as agriculture. The paper sets out areas requiring focused attention in the run-up to Accra 2008. Click here to access the brief. Poverty and Hunger Strengthening Efforts to Eradicate Poverty and Hunger - Dialogues at the Economic and Social Council
- (UN ECOSOC, March 2008)
The book provides an overview of the key debates on poverty and hunger that took place during the 2007 ECOSOC High-level Segment, Annual Ministerial Review and Development Cooperation Forum. It concludes that national development strategies are not working at the pace required; the global partnership should be made more effective; the global economic environment should be pro-development and pro-poor; the need to strengthen monitoring the implementation of commitments and accountability; and emerging threats such as climate change and desertification, should be addressed. It draws five lessons from experiences in Bangladesh, Barbados, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Ethiopia and Ghana in implementing policies towards the MDGs. Click here to access the book. Background paper: Panel Discussion on Poverty and Hunger
- (UNGA, April 2008)
The paper evaluates if we are on track or not to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. It indicates that rapid economic growth, particularly in Asia, has led to the creation of new jobs, but the widening gap between rich and the poor persisted. The paper notes that the Agricultural Green Revolution in Asia and Latin American countries has led to declines of poverty and hunger, but increases in subsidized agricultural inputs such as land and fertilizers are needed in Sub-Saharan Africa. The paper also notes that high prices in food commodities is a current challenge faced by developing countries and assess the impact of climate change on hunger and poverty. Click here to access the paper. Indigenous People and Development MDG Reports and Indigenous Peoples: A Desk Review
- (UNFPII, February 2008)
The study addresses whether indigenous peoples are taken into account in the context of the overall MDG reports, if there are any benchmarks generated, and if the participation of indigenous peoples in the process of developing interventions and programmes is taken into consideration. The desk review analyzes recent achievements and challenges of indigenous peoples by examining available data contained in ten MDG Reports of Guyana, Kenya, Myanmar, Nepal, Russian Federation, South Africa, Suriname, Thailand, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe. Click here to access the report. Indigenous and Traditional Peoples and Climate Change
- (IUCN, March 2008)
The paper argues that often policymakers neglect the ingenuity that indigenous and traditional peoples have to offer to address climate change issues, even though they are amongst the most vulnerable. The report calls for a better understanding of the coping and adaptive capacity of indigenous peoples to the effects of climate change. However, the report also notes that indigenous knowledge will not be sufficient to overcome the threats posed by climate change. It indicates that better tools, technology and exchange of information will be needed. Click here to access the paper. Economic Survey 2008 Economic and Social Survey of Asia Pacific
- (UNESCAP, March 2008)
The survey suggest that continued neglect of agriculture in Asia and Pacific is estimated to be driving 218 million people to exacerbated poverty, while increasing the gap between the rich and the poor. The report further notes the need to implement land reforms, creating opportunities for the poor or small producers to access markets, diversifying skills, facilitating access to loans and insurance mechanisms. Click here to access the survey. Poverty Reduction How to Develop a Pro-poor Land Policy - Process, Guide and Lessons
- (UN-HABITAT, March 2008)
This report, published by the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), focuses on how to develop pro-poor land policies in order to correct disadvantages that the poor face. Based on experiences from Asia and Africa, the report advocates a participatory process involving all relevant stakeholders. Click here to access the report. Assuring development gains and poverty reduction from trade: Labour mobility and skills trade dimension
- (UNCTAD, March 2008)
This study, published by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), examines the impact of global labor movement on trade, development and poverty reduction and asks how temporary labor mobility can be better managed to improve people’s lives and to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Click here to access the study. Gender and Poverty Global employment trends for women
- (ILO, March 2008)
This report indicates more women are working than ever before. However, it also notes that women are more likely than men to get low-paid and vulnerable jobs, with no social protection and basic rights. The report highlights that the service sector has overtaken the agricultural sector as the primary employer of women. It concludes that women suffer more from unemployment than men, and women’s participation in the job market has not reduced gender gaps. Click here to access the report. Untangling links between trade, poverty and gender
- (ODI, March 2008)
This briefing paper by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) focuses on the links between trade, growth and poverty reduction and how they affect gender dimensions. Based on experiences in Latin America, the paper shows that women need support in order to benefit from trade liberalization, so that they can benefit from the social and labor policies in a new economic environment. Click here to access the briefing paper.
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