7 October 2013: Over 50 UN officials and experts contributed to a publication of the United Nations Association-UK (UNA-UK) launched in coordination with the UN Special Event towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). ‘Global Development Goals: Leaving No One Behind’ describes the development of the MDGs, analyzes their progress and discusses possible goals for the post-2015 development agenda.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon describes emerging consensus on a new agenda, writing that collective action can achieve “long-term change that will benefit people and the planet for generations to come.” UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark highlights “remarkable improvements” and uneven progress on the MDGs, and recommends that the post-2015 agenda “deepens and broadens the scope of the global agenda” and prioritizes effective governance, environmental sustainability, inclusive growth and jobs and peace and security, among other themes. Amina Mohammed, UN Special Advisor, Post-2015 Development Planning, calls for a paradigm shift that includes the five transformations recommended by the UN High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (HLP).

The publication also offers insights on conditions that foster or hinder development. It notes no country with high inequality levels has transitioned to high-income status. Landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) have development levels approximately 20% lower than they would if the countries were not landlocked.

Cross-cutting theme chapters include: conflict and poverty; peace-building; equitable economic growth; governance; consumption patterns; demographics; and geography. Chapters also propose including business principles, grassroots stakeholders and innovative strategies to overcome MDG shortcomings. A section on ‘The Goals’ focuses on poverty and hunger, education, gender equality, health, global partnerships and environment, including chapters discussing climate change, oceans and green growth. ‘The Future’ section provides insights on achieving a just and sustainable world, a transformative agenda and universal goals with national targets. Sponsored features highlight contributions towards MDG achievement by the Better Cotton Initiative, the World Gold Council, Johnson& Johnson and Heineken, among others.

Nathalie Samarasinghe, Executive Director, UNA-UK, highlights five recurring areas of emphasis in the publication: qualitative outcomes; better data; balancing global goals with local targets; sound institutions; and facilitating transformations.

The Special Event on the MDGs took place in New York, US on 25 September 2013. [UNA-UK Press Release] [Publication: Global Development Goals: Leaving No One Behind] [IISD RS Meeting Coverage]