Yesterday, in the midst of the current financial crisis, world leaders came together at the UN to pledge to get the world back on track to achieving the Millennium Development Goals - a series of commitments, made in 2000, to help millions of world’s poorest people escape poverty by 2015.
90 world leaders, and hundreds of CEOs, NGOs and leaders from faith and civil society, came together at the UN Emergency Summit on the Millennium Development Goals, to launch plans and mobilize action on the MDGs, at this the halfway point to 2015.
At the Summit’s conclusion last night, after meetings at the UN and over 40 partnership events on issues such as food, education and healthcare, the UN Secretary General announced $16billion of new commitments towards achieving the MDGs.
Key commitments made included:
Over $3billion towards points the way towards universal coverage of bed nets and spraying by 2010, and ending malaria deaths by 2015.
The UK is providing 20m bed nets by 2010; increasing funding for vaccine research of up to £5m by 2010; and committing £40m to a Global Fund-hosted funding stream to make sure the poorest have access to the latest and best malarial drugs.
Over $4.5billion towards get 24 million children into school by 2010 as a milestone towards universal primary education by 2015.
The UK is providing £50m for the Education Fast-Track Initiative, as part of its commitment to give £8.5bn over ten years for education. The UK, together with Comic Relief, also launched a new £10m partnership through which school children in the UK will raise money for schools in Africa.
Nearly $2billion dollars towards filling the global shortfall of over 4 million health workers, and towards meeting our maternal and child mortality goals
The UK is providing £450 million over the next three years to support national health plans, including for more nurses, midwives and doctors in 8 of the poorest countries, and a further £50 million from the UK for Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Over $1.75 billion in emergency food aid to stop starvation in the Horn of Africa, and for the rapid distribution of support, including seeds and fertilizers, to 30 priority countries in time for the next planting season.
The UK Government has already announced measures to tackle the recent food crisis totalling around £800m so far, in addition to ongoing commitments of over £1 billion through which the UK will continue to support agriculture, food security and livelihoods in key priority countries.
Speaking at the closing press conference, Gordon Brown said that the meeting was the “broadest ever alliance assembled to fight for a common goal, the world and poverty”.
The world was going to make the “greatest endeavours in pursuit of the boldest and noblest of causes”, he said.
“What we have seen today is $16 billion pledged by countries, by charities, foundations and by business for a common goal to end the poverty emergency.
“90 countries were represented at this summit, dozens of multinational Chief Executives, faith leaders and non-governmental organisations, and this is the first time that such a global coalition has been assembled under the auspices of the United Nations, but not to talk, but to make specific commitments.”
The day also witnessed a series of side events, including the launch of the Global Malaria Action Plan, attended by Gordon Brown, during which billions of dollars in new funding to curb the spread of the disease and boost research were announced.
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