The United Nations MDGs - Essay Example

Number: MDGs and why some regions lag behind others in their execution Global efforts towards the implementation of the millennium development goals have achieved markedly different results in different regions. The United Nations MDGs refer to eight global goals that all signatory countries and other global organizations have agreed to accomplish by the year 2015. The eight goals seek to end poverty across the global arena. These goals include eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, reduction in child mortality rates, achievement of universal primary education, fighting diseases and epidemics like HIV/AIDS and malaria, promotion of gender equality and women empowerment, improve maternal health, ensure environmental sustainability and development of a global partnership for development. Many countries have instigated plans to execute the MDGs through a system of partnerships involving government, the private sector, civil society groups and the United Nations. In spite of the numerous efforts to accomplish the MDGs, some regions lag behind others in the performance of the goals. There are numerous reasons why this is happening, ranging from political instability, unequal distribution of resources, and increased population among others that are discussed in detail. Constant violence hinders the achievement of MDGs in many regions across the world especially in Africa and Middle East. The constant violence and conflicts between the government and the non state actors within a country includes insurrections against a state hinder attainment of MDGS. For instance, Darfur region in Sudan, Somali, Mali and Syria experience frequent violent and conflicts. Others include the community fighting within the boundaries of a steady government, especially among pastoral conflicts in Kenya result in loss of lives and homelessness. In addition to wars within and between nations, major attacks on terrorists and threats of attack results in political and economic distress in African countries. Conflicts results to low Human Development Index and other direct and indirect negative effects in MDGs accomplishment. When violence occurs, it is characterized by loss of lives, forced displacement of masses and sexual violence. In addition to these, violence and conflicts results in the spread of infectious diseases, malnutrition, property destruction, as well as disruption of basis social services like education and health. These violence and clashes take not only the focal point and resources away from the MDGs, they also lessen the human resources capability of a state for planning strategy, making decisions and designing programs. The conflicts in the democratic republic of Congo are approximated to cause over four million civilian deaths resulting from malnutrition and diseases. The war in the Darfur region hinders the attainment of universal primary education, as it is estimated that only 1 in 5 children attends school., and maternal deaths in the same region are among the highest across the globe (Igwe, 2011, p 8). Climatic conditions, high input prices and poor market performance have made Kenya lag behind the attainment of poverty and hunger eradication. The reason is that the majority of the country’s populace depends on agriculture for daily livelihood. Climatic conditions like floods in areas like Budalangi result in displacement of masses and destruction of crops. Drought and low rainfall across different regions of the country result in food a shortage, which in increases the costs of essential food stuffs. This creates a decrease of the quantity of food available per household, and this is a serious challenge that makes Kenya lag behind the implementation of MDGs. Environmental challenges across different parts of the world causes some places to lag behind. These include forest destruction and biodiversity reduction. Environmental degradation costs around three percent of Pakistan’s annual GDP, with the largest impact being on the poor and the vulnerable. In addition, susceptibility to natural calamities like earthquake hinders the accomplishment of MDG in Pakistan. For instance, the country experienced a tremor that claimed the lives thousands of people and floods in 2010 affected 18 million people. Japan was also hit by the earthquake that led in loss of lives of masses, characterized by loss of property. Recently, America was struck by hurricane sandy that caused destruction of property and loss of lives ((Nwonwu, 2008, p 252; Khan, 2013, para 4). High population in some countries hinders the attainment of MDGs as reducing poverty in such circumstances necessitates that the economy create productive jobs. It also requires the economy to create livelihoods at a faster pace so as to absorb the swiftly enlarging working-age population. Nonetheless, the economic growth in most nations like Pakistan and India has not led to expansion of employment, and the jobs created are mostly low productivity and low paying. Poverty in most areas also keeps some regions lagging behind others. Poverty also hinders the accomplishment of other goals (Khan, 2013, para 3). For instance, deforestation and environmental degradation is associated to poverty as masses of poor people cut down trees to have access to land for farming. Others cut down trees and burn it for charcoal which is used as a key source of energy. For illustration, much encroachment in the Mau and Mt. Kenya forests result from masses of poor people looking for areas to settle and carry out farming. As a result, encroachment leads to environmental degradation; lagging Kenya behind of others in terms of environmental sustainability (Government of Kenya, 2010, p 18). The prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other diseases like malaria and tuberculosis is so high thus resulting in strain of the existing medical facilities and resources. In South Africa for instance, there are high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, which is the highest in the globe. The east African region is also affected by malaria, and these results in a drain of financial capital that may well be used for trade and investments. Lack of political will and commitment coupled with bad governance is a major hindrance to attainment of MDGs in most African countries. For instance, Kenya experiences challenges in financing the free primary education resulting from poor governance and use of donor funds aimed at promoting free primary education. The high population results in overcrowding of schools, inadequate teachers and equipment all hinder the attainment of basic primary education. Additionally, most African governments lag behind others as a result of improper use of resources. It is ironical that most African countries are endowed with natural resources like minerals, oils and favorable weather conditions, yet they lag behind Eastern Europe, Asia and the Caribbean in terms of poverty eradication. For instance, the democratic republic of Congo and Zambia are rich in mineral resources yet lag behind South Africa (Nwonwu, 2008, p 255). Poor trade practices and indebtedness causes some countries to lag behind others in the attainment of MDGs. Limited inflows of FDI in most African countries and deficits in the balance of payments hinder economic development in some countries. Most countries in Africa export primary commodities, unlike their counterparts in Asia like South Korea who trade in manufactured goods. Thus, the economic growth from international trade in the two regions differs widely, with most African countries lagging behind their Asian counterparts in terms of global trade advantage. The balance of trade deficit in most African countries plunge them into the HIPC (heavily indebted poor countries) bracket that limits their ability to achieve sustainable economic development (Nwonwu, 2008, p 253). Traditional cultures are another aspect that plays a critical role and making some countries lag behind others. In some countries, gender conflicts and prohibitive cultural and religious practices and beliefs result in gender disparities. For instance, the Pokot and Samburu communities in Kenya believe that the role of women is to raise the family, and thus there is no need to take women to school as it will be a waste of resources. Additionally, little girls are married are taken through the female genital mutilation which constrains the attainment of women empowerment. Other gender stereotypes and abuses like sexual violence and domestic conflicts against girls and women hinder them from unleashing their full potential. Most African countries also hinder women from control of productive resources like land and land inheritance. Others practices entail discriminatory policies by private and public sectors that limit women’s access to credit facilities, which hinder women empowerment (Government of Kenya, 2010, p 20). In conclusion, most of the reasons that account for why some countries lag behind are interrelated. For instance, the issue of poverty and overpopulation result in strain in the achievement of other goals. For instance, the high population is in the sub-Saharan region and Pakistan result in the destruction of the environment. High population also results in income disparities hindering poverty reduction, thus making many least developing countries lag behind others in the developed world. It is also clear, that overpopulation results in strains in areas of health and access to basic education. Violence and conflicts affect the attainment of primary education, access to health and sanitation, and poverty reduction. An aspect like gender disparity and poverty restrain the access to maternal health, which in turns results in maternal deaths. Inadequate access to basic health facilities limits the fight against epidemics and results in high child mortality. Violence and conflicts across many parts are also responsible as to why some areas lag behind others. The reason is that violence and conflicts destabilize the human nature and affect the attainment and implementation of the rest of the goals. Darfur and Somalia region are perfect examples of how conflicts lag an area behind others. As such, these inadequacies need to be addressed in wholesome if the MDGs have to be attained by 2015. Bibliography Government of Kenya. (2010). Draft progress in attainment of mdgs and way forward towards achieving MDGS. Accessed on 2 march 2013 from: http://planipolis.iiep.unesco.org/upload/Kenya/KenyaDraftMDGReport2010.pdf 1-33 Igwe, O.D. (2011). Violent conflicts as an impediment to the achievement of millennium development goals in Africa. Journal of military and strategic studies. 13(2)1-27 Khan, Z.M. (2013). Lag in millennium development goals. Accessed on 2 march, 2013 from: http://dawn.com/2013/02/18/lag-in-millennium-development-goals/ Nwonwu, F.C. (2008). Millennium Development Goals: Achievements and Prospects of Meeting the Targets in Africa. South Africa: African Books Collective. Read More