All of the DAC’s work relates to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)  (MDGs). Specific work focuses on monitoring the goals, increasing aid effectiveness in pursuit of the MDGs, and in 2004, examining the link between conflict prevention and peace-building and the MDGs.

1. The DAC's role in the genesis of the Millennium Development Goals
2. The MDGs and development co-operation
3. DAC work and the individual goals
4. Monitoring the Goals
5. Aid Effectiveness to accelerate progress towards the MDGs
6. Conflict prevention, Peace-building and the MDGs

1. The DAC’s role in the genesis of the Millennium Development Goals

Back in 1996, the DAC pioneered the International Development Goals as concrete targets in its Shaping the 21st Century report, stating it was time to “select, taking account of the many targets discussed and agreed at international fora, a limited number of indicators of success by which our efforts can be judged”. The DAC proposed a global development partnership effort to achieve ambitious but realisable goals.

2. The MDGs and development co-operation

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) flow from the Millennium Declaration, which was signed by 189 countries, including 147 Heads of State, in September 2000. The MDGs include eight goals, and 18 concrete targets for development. The targets are ambitious, and include curbing poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and discrimination against women by 2015.

The MDGs also underline, in goal eight, the shared responsibilities of developing countries to pursue poverty reduction and good governance and of developed countries to support the efforts of developing countries; by increasing aid, opening trade to exports from developing countries, and providing debt relief.

The Development Assistance Committee’s work strives to make the Millennium Development Goals happen, through co-operation with development partners and at country level.

More