Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - July 3, 2007
Achara Ashayagachat
Thailand has been found to have fared outstandingly well in providing universal access to primary education and health care along with reducing poverty.
Countries that have made good progress include China, Vietnam and Azerbaijan, while India is among those catching up, said Mr Muchida, citing a mid-term review.
He called for help for the "off-track" group as well as those which are below other Asian averages to enable them to achieve the goals set at the UN General Assembly in 2000.
The MDGs include targets to be achieved by 2015 for UN members are to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/Aids, malaria and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a global partnership for development.
However, there are a number of challenges ahead, in particular the "disappointingly low" contribution of developed countries in allocating 0.7% of their gross national income to fund the MDG programmes.
"We need strong government leadership to make rapid large-scale progress on the MDGs, a continuous pro-poor economic strategy, full and fast delivery of developed countries' 0.7% of their gross national income on overseas development assistance (ODA), a successful and equitable conclusion of the Doha trade round, and for climate change challenges to be addressed," he said.
Erna Witoelar, UN special ambassador for the MDGs in Asia-Pacific, said there were only five "good donors" which had reached or exceeded the UN target of contributing 0.7% of gross national income for development aid.
The five are Denmark (0.81%), Luxembourg (0.82%), the Netherlands (0.82%), Norway (0.92%), and Sweden (0.94%). The statistics were from 2005.
The contribution of the US, the largest donor in term of the amount of the ODA (US$27.6 billion), accounted for just 0.22% of its gross national income, the third lowest of the OECD countries.
Ms Witoelar called for developed nations to live up to their promises. Besides, she said, aid should not be tied to political aims such as anti-terrorism or anti-nuclear programmes.
Reaching the MDGs was very important as it helped reduce social and security problems, she said, adding that advocacy nationally, regionally and internationally was therefore needed, especially from civil society, the media, the private sector and parliamentarians.
"If, by 2015, many countries cannot achieve the targets, the world will be in disarray with more natural disasters, poverty, political chaos and other forms of instability," said the ambassador.
However, she also called for national governments' commitment by investing in good governance.
"Funding is one thing, but good practice is also needed. It is very important [for governments] to eradicate corruption and install good governance to be able to deliver basic health services to the people," Ms Witoelar said.
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