Transcript Integrity Initiative

Millennium Development Goals
and the UNECE Region
Presentation to the Second Committee
October 2004
Brigita Schmögnerová
Executive Secretary
Economic Commission for Europe
The UNECE Region is highly
diversified
Disparities between
 the most advanced countries (Western Europe
and North America),
 the emerging market economies (new EU
members, new acceding countries and a few
East European countries), and
 the less advanced economies (South-East
European and CIS countries).
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Focus on CIS countries and SEE
countries

Half of the CIS and SEE countries are expected
to miss at least one of the MDGs.
 Deterioration in 1990s; moderate progress in
most countries from 2000 might indicate a
reversed trend.
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Factors having an impact:

Transition: political, economic, social.
Many economies in transition have high
unemployment rate, and/or depend on aid.
 War conflicts, in SEE: 400 thousand killed, 5.5
million refugees or internally displaced.
 Positive developments:
GDP growth in CIS 1999-2003: 7%;
7 out of 15 East European countries and 3 out of
12 CIS countries surpassed the 1989 GDP level.
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MDG 1: Poverty
(halve the proportion of people living on
$2 a day)

The only region where poverty became more
widespread during the 1990s (from 31 million to
90 million).
 To reduce poverty in the region economic growth
is not enough - steps need to be taken to develop
pro-poor growth policies and reduce inequality.
 Proportion of people living on less than $1 a day:
Armenia, Tajikistan: 12%;
Uzbekistan: 19%;
Moldova: 22%.
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MDG 2: Achieve universal primary
education

The majority of countries have reached full
enrollment.
 Trends are constant or deteriorating in Albania,
Armenia, Belarus, Georgia and Tajikistan.
MDG 3: Gender equality
The region does well in comparison with others
in terms of gender equality in primary schools,
but deterioration has been observed in many
CIS countries in terms of gender equality in
employment, wages and access to assets.
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MDG 4: Reduce child mortality
The region’s "under-five" mortality rate in 1990
was lower than in any other region.
 The region is making slow progress to meet the
MDG but is unlikely to meet the MDG target of
2/3 reduction. However, many countries are
likely to reach the level of child mortality of high
income countries.

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MDG 5: Improve maternal health

Most countries in the region are unlikely to
achieve a 75% reduction in maternal mortality but many countries already today reach the level
of maternal health of high income countries.
 However, in several low income countries
maternal health has deteriorated.
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MDG 6: Combat HIV, malaria and
other diseases

The region is experiencing the world's fastest
growing HIV/AIDS epidemic and a worrying
spread of tuberculosis.
 More than half of the low and lower middle
income countries appear unlikely to achieve this
goal.
MDG 7: Ensure environmental
sustainability
The biggest challenge is in water supply and
sanitation - there is a serious issue of water quality.
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The Regional dimension

Different sets of consistent policies to be
developed at:
- country level;
- regional level;
- international level.

All regions are different and regional policies
need to be adapted to each region.
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Factors underlying the differences
and commonalities in regional
policies for achieving MDGs

ESCAP, ECA and ECE: sharp heterogeneity
within the region;
 ESCWA: armed conflicts and weak economic
growth;
 ECLAC: highest income inequality, low growth
and growth volatility.
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Regional perspectives on MDGs:
ESCAP
3 groups of performers:
 Fast achievers - meet income poverty and "on
track" in other targets.
 Slow achievers - South Asia and West Asia appear on track in income poverty, education
and drinking water.
 Off-track countries - largest number of absolute
poor (700 million) - concern in meeting targets
on hunger and other goals.
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Regional perspectives on MDGs:
ESCWA

The region will not succeed in halving extreme
poverty.
 Large diversity between countries (oil producers
and non-oil producers).
 Political instability affects all goals.
 Challenges: armed conflicts and weak economic
growth.
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Regional perspectives on MDGs:
ECLAC

Sharp inequality is an obstacle to achieving the
MDGs: the level of inequality worsened in
several countries during the 1990s.
 Slow growth: need to improve international
cooperation, competitiveness and governance.
 Deterioration of natural resources.
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Regional perspectives on MDGs:
ECA

Difference between Sub-Saharan Africa and the
rest of the continent.
 Sub-Saharan Africa will have difficulties in
meeting targets.
 Slow growth - need to support pro-poor policies
for economic growth.
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Regional dimension in achieving
MDGs: the Role of Regional
Commissions
1. To help formulate adequate policies and to
facilitate their implementation:

Regional trade policies;

Regional transport policies;

Regional cooperation in environmental
protection;

Regional security policies etc.
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Regional dimension in achieving
MDGs: the Role of Regional
Commissions (cont’d)
2. To provide:




Forum for policy dialogue;
Forum for exchange of experiences;
Assistance in building partnerships;
Monitoring of MDG goals;
• Development of methodology of
measurement;
• Comparative analysis in the regions.
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