The top UN advisor pressing for countries to meet UN targets for poverty reduction by 2015 said Wednesday there was reason for optimism that the world was inching closer to meeting them.
Jeffery Sachs, director of the UN Millennium Project, reported “notable progress” in introducing programs needed to end poverty and hunger. But he was not prepared to predict whether the goals will be met.
Looking back on the goals adopted by world leaders in September 2000 to promote development and health care in the worlds poorest countries, Sachs said that despite slow progress, the year could be ended on a note of optimism.
He cited the example of a summit on malaria hosted at the White House last week by US President George W. Bush. Sachs said such programs promote the fact that deaths from malaria can be prevented. Because of such programs, he said he expects to see malaria “under control by 2010”.
Stor indsats fra Spanien
Meanwhile, Spain has donated 700 million US dollar to the UN effort to help the poor nations achieve the Millennium Development Goals which seeks to reduce or eliminate several social and economic ills by 2015. This is the largest sum donated by country till date for this purpose.
Describing the contribution as a “splendid example of international solidarity”, outgoing UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged other countries to follow suit.
The agreement, signed between Spanish Secretary of State for International Cooperation Leire Pajfn and Kemal Dervis, the UN Development Program Administrator, sets up the UN Fund for the Achievement of the MDGs, which will be managed by Spain and the UNDP.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
