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WB and IMF sound warning on Africa`s MDGs...
2008-04-11 10:26:39
By Njonanje Samwel
The Bretton Woods institutions (World Bank and International Monetary Fund) have issued a report which warns that many African countries will fall short in meeting Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
MDGs form a set of eight globally agreed development targets with a due date of 2015.
"While there has been strong growth in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and there could yet be significant progress in poverty reduction in the next decade, the region is likely to fall short of the first goal of halving extreme poverty by 2015, with countries in fragile situation lagging the most," the report says in part.
The report shows that progress is noted in several areas; for example, a recent levelling or reduction in national HIV prevalence rates in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, a steady increase in primary school enrollment since 1990 and a sharp increase in measles vaccination from 50 per cent in 1992 to 71 per cent in 2006.
The report calls for a redoubling of current efforts in these and other areas of development to multiply successes in the region.
"In this year of action on the MDGs, I am particularly concerned about the risks of failing to meet the goal of reducing hunger and malnutrition, the 'forgotten MDG'. As the report shows, reducing malnutrition has a 'multiplier' effect, contributing to success in other MDGs including maternal health, infant mortality and education,`` says Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank.
The report calls for urgent action on climate change, which may worsen food insecurity in Africa. Diseases like malaria and diarrhea are also linked to environmental factors and climate change.
``African countries will need support to address the links between growth, development and environmental sustainability,`` says the report, calling for more donor interventions.
The ability of each country is highlighted in the report as the key concern to meet the target for managing natural resources and controlling pollution.
``If a nation cannot provide clean drinking water and adequate sanitation for the majority of its citizens, it will fail to meet most of the MDGs,`` the report asserts.
``The report is a reminder of the huge challenges sub-Saharan Africa faces in meeting its development and environmental protection goals. One cannot be achieved at the expense of the other, and the time for vigorous, concerted action is now,`` says World Bank vice-president for the Africa Region Obiageli Ezekwesili.
To achieve the goals, the authors lay out a six-point agenda that prioritises strong, inclusive growth, more effective aid, a successful outcome to the Doha round of trade talks, more emphasize on strengthening programs in health, education and nutrition and support for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
``This year`s high-level meetings in connection with the MDG halfway point are an opportunity to agree on priorities for action and a milestone for monitoring progress,`` says Zia Qureshi, lead author of the report.
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