Ten years ago, the world agreed on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), an ambitious set of development targets aimed at reducing poverty and improving the lives of people all around the world by 2015. Over the past decade, notable progress has been made on each individual MDG — even in the poorest countries and the most difficult circumstances. Such success shows that the MDGs can be achieved. Indeed, the MDGs have led to unprecedented commitments, partnerships and progress in combating poverty and hunger, in improving school enrolment, in fostering gender equality and in extending equal access to health care. Yet progress is uneven between and within regions and countries and often too slow to meet the 2015 deadline.

Capturing key lessons learnt from 34 countries based on their national MDG reports, this report highlights common success factors and obstacles for each Goal, as well as the impact of emerging challenges.

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