Number 22, September 2013
briefing paper
UN Photo/Mark Garten
A Global Development Agenda:
Toward 2015 and Beyond
by Faustine Wabwire
Key Points
• The newest data show that the world has made more progress against
hunger than previously thought. With increased political support, it is in
fact feasible to cut in half the proportion of hungry people by December
2015, the deadline to meet the MDGs. Even more importantly, the world
can virtually end hunger within a generation.
• The enduring value of the MDGs as the most time-bound, measurable, and
holistic approach yet to human development should be reaffirmed. The
international community must reach agreement on a set of development
goals to succeed the MDGs.
• Malnutrition is part of the unfinished MDG agenda. Improving nutrition
among pregnant women, lactating mothers, and young children, in
particular, is key to ending preventable child deaths and to unlocking the
potential of the millions of children who face early childhood malnutrition.
• The post-2015 development agenda should include a stand-alone goal to
achieve global food security and good nutrition by 2030, as articulated in
the U.N. Secretary General’s High Level Panel’s recommendations.
Faustine Wabwire is Senior Foreign Assistance Policy Analyst at Bread for the World Institute.
Bread for the World Institute provides policy
analysis on hunger and strategies to end it.
The Institute educates opinion leaders, policy
makers, and the public about hunger in the
United States and abroad.
www.bread.org
Abstract
The Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) endorsed by 189 countries in 2000 are an unprecedented
global effort to achieve development
goals that are identified collectively,
achievable, and measurable. Progress
can be effectively monitored since there
are specific targets for reducing hunger,
reducing child and maternal mortality,
improving access to clean water, etc.
Globally, substantial progress has
been made toward many MDG targets—including cutting in half the proportion of people living in poverty.
Every major region of the world made
progress.
The targets for MDG 1 are to cut
in half the proportion of people living
with hunger and poverty by December 2015. The poverty target has been
met. The hunger target has not, yet it
is within reach if all countries are willing to do their part. Progress against
malnutrition has been too slow. Globally, one in four children is stunted.
The United States should provide
leadership and work within the global
community to forge a universal set of
global development goals to succeed
the MDGs. These goals should include
a stand-alone goal to end hunger and
achieve food security and good nutrition, and they should advance women’s
economic empowerment, community
resilience, and effective institutions.