Millenium Development Goals in Malawi

The Global Challenge 

In September 2000, 189 heads of state and governments gathered at the United Nations in New York at the Millennium Summit and adopted what became known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Targets. A set of time-bound goals, the MDGs are an embodiment of wider human concerns and issues - they are "people-centred" and measure human progress.

The MDGs are intended to engender national initiatives and strategies geared towards alleviating poverty and improving the standard of living of the poorest of the poor across the globe. Although the global challenge to alleviate poverty is overwhelming, these leaders decided to concentrate on eight crucial goals that touch upon available income and food, education, gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, HIV/AIDS and other major diseases, environmental sustainability, and global partnerships.

Government of Malawi started implementing programmes aimed at achieving the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) though the implementation of a policy framework called The Malawi Poverty Reduction Strategy (MPRS) between 2002 and 2005.

In 2006, The MPRS gave way to The Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) as a policy framework to guide the achievement of the MDGs from 2006 to 2011. Annually, government publish the MDGs Report indicating the progress made.

For more information click here to visit the UNDP Global Website on MDGs

MALAWI'S MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The following are indicators and progress from the 2009 Malawi Millennium Development Report.

Millenium Development Goal 1 To eradicate extreme poverty Progress Indicator One: Poverty head count declined from 45 percent in 2006 to 40 percent in 2007. Indicator Two: Poverty gap ratio from declined from 18.6 percent in 2000 to 17.8 in 2008.
Millenium Development Goal 2 To achieve universal primary education Progress Indicator One: Primary Net Enrollment rates increased from 58 percent in 1992 to 79 percent in 2008. Indicator Two: The proportion of pupils starting grade one who reach grade five increased from 64 percent in 1992 to 86 percent 2006.
Millenium Development Goal 3 To promote gender equality and to empower women Progress Indicator One: The ratio of girls to boys in primary schools increased from 0.91 in 2000 to 0.99 in 2008. Indicator Two: The ratio of boys to girls in secondary schools increased from 0.60 in 2000 to 0.77 in 2008. Indicator Three: The proportion of seats held by women in parliament increased from 27 seats in 2004 to 43 in 2009.
Millenium Development Goal 4 To reduce child mortality Progress Indicator One: Under five mortality rate reduced from 234/1000 live births in 1992 to 122/1000 live births in 2006. Indicator Two: Infant mortality rate reduced from 134/1000 live births in 1992 to 69/1000 live births in 2006. Indicator Three: Proportion of 1 year old children immunized against measles increased from 79 percent in 2004 to 84 percent in 2006.
Millenium Development Goal 5 To improve maternal health Progress Indicator One: Maternal mortality ratio reduced from 1,120 per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 807 100,000 live births in 2006. Indicator Two: Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel increased from 55 percent in 1992 to 66 percent in 2007.
Millenium Development Goal 6 To combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases Progress Indicator One: HIV prevalence among 15-24 year old pregnant women reduced from 24.1 percent in 1998 to 12 percent in 2006. Indicator Two: Prevalence of deaths associated with Tuberculosis declined from 22 percent in 1998 to 13 percent in 2007
Millenium Development Goal 7 To ensure environmental sustainability Progress Indicator One: The proportion of land under forest cover reduced from 41.4 percent in 1992 to 36.2 percent in 2005. Indicator Two: Proportion of population with access to improved sanitation increased from 81 percent in 1999 to 88 percent in 2006.
Millenium Development Goal 8 To develop a global partnership for development Progress Net official development assistance to Malawi as a percentage to Gross National Income increased from 11 percent in 1990 to 19 percent in 2006. A total of US Dollar 2.4 billion debt relief has been committed under the HIPC initiative.