COMCEC Poverty Outlook 2017
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deaths per 100,000 live births. Under goal 6, new HIV infections fell by approximately 40 per
cent. Under goal 7, the share of population using improved drinking water source rose from 76
percent to 90 percent and the proportion of population using an improved sanitation facility
climbed from 47 percent to 64 percent. Under goal 8, official development assistance from
developed countries increased by 66 per cent in real terms between 2000 and 2014, reaching
$135.2 billion24
Despite these major achievements, there are still significant challenges on the way to reach the
MDGs. For instance, related to Goal 1, hunger remains as a global challenge, since the ratios of
undernourishment and child under-nutrition are still high, progress on maternal mortality rate
is slow to reach the target of reducing this rate by three quarters by 2015, the proportion of
vulnerable employment was not decreased with a remarkable pace, not every child has chance
to enroll and complete primary school, a noteworthy change has not been realized in the
proportion land area covered by forest (COMCEC, 2015).
3.1.2. Sustainable Development Goals
To follow and reinforce the commitment to the unfinished MDGs after 2015, the Post-2015
Development agenda in which the SDGs are at the core has been designed and declared at the
UN Special Summit in September 2015. While the MDG agenda mostly focused on the challenges
of the poor countries, SDG envisages a transition to a more comprehensive development
framework that concerns all countries regardless of their level of development.
The Post-2015 Development Agenda provides a unique opportunity to end poverty, to protect
the planet, and to ensure prosperity and well-being of people. The new development framework
forces a transition from the MDG agenda focused on the challenges of the poor countries to a
more comprehensive sustainable development agenda that concerns all countries regardless of
their level of development. Besides, the new development agenda in which SDGs at the core will
have implications for all development actors from the national to the international level.
International and regional development actors will have a tremendous role for translating the
goals and targets into action.
The adapted 17 SDGs are listed below:
1. No Poverty - End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
2. Zero Hunger - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote
sustainable agriculture.
3. Good Health and Well-being - Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at
all ages.
4. Quality Education - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote
lifelong learning opportunities for all.
5. Gender Equality - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
24 The figures for goals 1 to 7 are from World Bank (2016). The figure for goal 8 is from UN (2015a).