GOAL

Global Progress

Maldives Progress

Halve extreme poverty and hunger

1.2 billion people still live on less than $1 a day.  But 43 countries, with more than 60 per cent of the world’s people, have already met or are on track to meet the goal of cutting hunger in half by 2015.

In 2004, less than 1% of the population had less than $1 a day, compared to 3% in 1997; and there is also a steady decline in the prevalence of underweight children towards the goal of 23% by 2015 from 52% in 1990.

Achieve universal primary education

113 million children do not attend school, but this goal is within reach

Primary education on all 199 inhabited islands was achieved by 2004.

Promote gender equality and empower women

Two-thirds of the world’s illiterate are women, and 80 per cent of its refugees are women and children.  Since the 1997 Microcredit Summit, progress has been made in reaching and empowering poor women, nearly 19 million in 2000 alone.

Gender disparity exists in secondary and tertiary education as well as in labour force participation and the national parliament

Reduce child mortality

11 million young children die every year, but that number is down from 15 million in 1980.

Relative to least developed countries, progress towards reducing child mortality by two-thirds by 2015 is positive

Improve maternal health

In the developing world, the risk of dying in childbirth is one in 48.  But virtually all countries now have safe motherhood programmes and are poised for progress

In 2003, maternal mortality rate stood at 78 per 100,000 live births but more data is needed for this to be conclusive indicator of reaching target.

Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Killer diseases have erased a generation of development gains. Countries like Brazil, Senegal, Thailand and Uganda have shown that we can stop HIV in its tracks

Malaria has been eradicated with no cases being reported since 1984, and the Maldives is a low prevalence country of HIV/AIDS with 13 cases reported since 2003.  

Ensure environmental sustainability

More than one billion people still lack access to drinking water; however, during the 1990s, nearly one billion people gained access to safe water and as many to sanitation

30% of the atoll population reported shortage of drinking water, the safety of which is not measured; while the total population in Malé has access to safe drinking water.

Develop a Global Partnership for Development

Too many developing countries are spending more on debt service than on social services.  New aid commitments made in the first half of 2002 alone, though, will reach an additional $12 billion per year by 2006