SciDev.Net

This report summarises progress towards each of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in ten regions, based on data available as of June 2008. Each goal is reviewed, clearly identifying the different targets embedded in each and presenting data to show progress to date and gaps in achievement.

The report emphasises the deep commitment made by the international community to meeting the goals and highlights some of the advances made in areas such as primary school education, health, access to safe drinking water, use of ozone-depleting substances and access to critical drugs.

At the same time, the report points to areas where the goals are unlikely to be met unless additional, or corrective, action is taken. These include child malnutrition, gender parity, sanitation, carbon emissions and international trade negotiations.

A key message is the need to improve developing countries' capacity to produce, analyse and disseminate data. The report points to a number of initiatives aimed at helping this happen.