The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are quite a breakthrough in the fight against
global poverty. They come from the Millennium Declaration adopted at the Millennium
Assembly of the United Nations held in September 2000. Nearly 160 heads of state
gathered to spell out their vision for the 21st century for peace, democracy, and human
rights, and an end to poverty. They committed to do their utmost to pursue this vision. An
essential element of this declaration was the commitment to fight poverty as a matter of …

A Tool for Progress Eleven years ago, UNDP began producing an annual Human
Development Report (HDR)—a review of country-by-country progress and global trends in
the struggle for development. It was intended to be not just a snapshot, but a handbook;
sharing information, opening new options and presenting new ideas for policymakers. It has
redefined the terms of the development debate by broadening the focus beyond narrow
income indicators to literacy, health, life expectancy and other measures of a nation's well …