Title Page		  
Chapter 1:
Guide to this Manual		  
Chapter 2:
Millennium Development Goal Campaign
  1. The Millennium Declaration
  2. The Millennium Development Goals
  3. What is special about the Millennium Development Goals?
  4. The “No Excuse” Campaign
  5. The United Nations’ role and responsibilities for the campaign
  6. The Millennium Development Goals Campaign Unit
  7. Government’s role and responsibilities for the campaign
  8. Civil society’s role and responsibilities for the campaign
  9. The private sector’s role in the campaign
  10. The role of other actors in the campaign
  11. Case Study: The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL)
  
Chapter 3:
Campaigning toolkit 		 
Chapter 4:
Campaign Tools		  
Chapter 5:
Campaign Skills		  
Chapter 6:
Campaign Tips		  
Chapter 7:
Links to Campaign Resources		  
   
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Chapter 2: Section 2.1
Millenium Development Goal Campaign

The Millennium Declaration

When 189 member states of the United Nations signed a declaration following the Millennium Summit September 2000 to fulfil the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, many rejoiced and perceived it as a partial victory for civil society efforts. The Declaration consolidates a set of eight interconnected development goals into a global agenda with time-bound targets and quantifiable indicators. These goals are known as the “Millennium Development Goals” or MDGs. The Summit’s Millennium Declaration also outlined a consensus “road map” for how to proceed, with a strong focus on human rights, good governance and democracy.

The eight goals are ones that tens of thousands of civil society organisations had advocated for, for decades. The goals set forth concrete and relevant targets ranging from eradicating extreme poverty and hunger and achieving universal primary education to ensuring environmental sustainability and developing a global partnership for development. The goals exemplified the synthesis of civil society agendas into practical global policy.

This is not to say that the goals are not without their shortfalls. The goals, many feel, are just not ambitious enough. But they are a starting point. By using the political legitimacy that the MDGs provide, civil society organisations are in a strong position to co-opt and drive forward their agenda in these areas. Put differently, the MDGs are a means and not an end in themselves.

The momentum created by the adoption of the declaration was reinforced at the International Conference on Financing for Development at Monterrey in March 2002. At this conference, leaders from both developed and developing countries started to match their commitments with resources and action. The global deal which was made exchanges sustained political and economic reform in developing countries for direct support from the developed world in the form of aid, trade, debt relief and investment. However, the World Bank estimates that an additional 40 to 70 billion dollars a year in development aid is needed if the goals are to be reached within the given time frame.

The goals are unlikely to be achieved without the active involvement of civil society. Civil society should celebrate the mobilising opportunities the MDGs present and harness its forces to secure the resources and political will to make the goals a reality by 2015. This includes the challenge of linking current campaigns and activities to the global campaign.

 

 

 

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