ODI On... 5 Years of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

'It is not an exaggeration to say that a third of Africa's children are brain-damaged as a result, with major long-term effects on learning, health and productivity.'

'The Millennium Project report Investing in Development invites developing countries to formulate expenditure plans based on what they will need to reach the Millennium Development Goals. Additional aid needed will be very substantial, even after allowing for re-allocation of current aid flows away from non-MDG related purposes.'

'The key question on UN reform is not 'Why?' or 'What?' but 'How?'. Take as read the high principles and values: peace, justice, freedom, equity, sustainability and the rest. Take as read, also, the many specific proposals about membership of the Security Council, the need for stronger institutions to manage the world economy, or voting rights for developing countries on the boards of the World Bank and the IMF.'

Humanitarian action is both misunderstood and contentious. The lack of clarity and consensus regarding its purpose and principles has direct, and sometimes tragic, operational implication.'

'Donor governments do not always seem to recognise poverty and suffering as a denial of human rights that they are obliged to address – through development assistance, humanitarian action or otherwise'.

'Gordon Brown has long argued that one of the main ways to manage the world economy better and avoid financial crises is to define and implement international “standards and codes”..

Support for a set of international development targets has become universal in the development community over the 1990s. Most recently donors reaffirmed their commitment to development in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Increasing the level of aid is required to help finance progress towards these goals. But how much is needed? Would a doubling of aid volumes ensure success?