Progress Made by Developing Countries in Achieving Millennium Development Goals - Case Study Example

Economics Student’s Name: Course Code: Lecture’s Name: Date of Submission: Progress made by Developing Countries in Achieving Millennium Development Goals 1.0 Introduction Humanity, especially those residing in developing nations are faced with myriad of development challenges and vulnerabilities associated with underdevelopment and poverty traps (Sanga, 2011, p.105). To overcome such challenges, Millennium Development Goals, which constitutes global consensus on basic conditions requisite to enhance the lives and prospects of the world’s poorest individuals was initiated (Muñoz,2008, p.1). The aim of this paper is to assess progress made by developing countries – in particular Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in achieving the millennium development goals adopted by the UN General Assembly. This assessment is measured against eight millennium goals for 2015. Additionally, in the event where there is a clear difference, the paper outlines the rationale why such differences exist. 2.0 Measurement Parameters As the reference point for establishing the progress made by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in achieving the millennium development goals adopted by the UN General Assembly, the paper relies on UN Millennium Development Goals for 2015 and the eighteen targets under the goals. Muñoz (2008, p.2) identifies these goals as including eradication of extreme poverty & hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality & empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; ensure environmentally sustainability and develop a global partnership for development (for expanded description on UN Millennium Development Goals for 2015 and the eighteen targets see appendix 1) (Bhattacharya et al, 2013). 3.0 Review of Progress 3.1 Bangladesh 3.1.1 Attainment of MDG Goals Bangladesh ranks second as the country on course of attaining MDGS goals by 2015 (2013, p.22). UNDP (2013, p.3); Sayem, Nury & Hossain (2011, p.92), Chowdhury et al. (2011, p.36) established that Bangladesh has made a tremendous growth in attaining Millennium Development Goals especially goal 4 and 5a. On the other hand, Keane et al. (2010, p.1) observes that the country is on course of attaining goal one especially hunger, but with exception of rural poverty. They are on course for goal 2 on primary enrolment, but can fail in completion rate. The same can be said of goal 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7, but not for goal 5 on maternal health and goal 8 (Bhattacharya et al, 2013). The first millennium development goal for 2015 is eradication of extreme poverty. According to UNDP (2013, p.12), the country has attained significant position in eradicating extreme poverty. This endeavour has seen the country record reduction in poverty rate from 56.7 percent in 1991-92 to 31.5 percent in 2010. For instance, the country experienced decline in incidence poverty annually at 2.47 and thus, superseding the MDG target rate of 2.12 percent. Indeed, the country performance has seen it meet indicators of target one as the current poverty gap ratio stands at 6.5 against 8.0 which is the 2015 target. Equally, the country has halved the individuals below poverty line by 2012 from 56.7% to 29%. The same report (p.34) established there are bold steps towards achieving universal primary education for all in Bangladesh. For instance, the net enrolment ratio in 1990/91 stood at 60.5, but by 2011, ratio stood at 98.7. During the same time frame, proportion of pupils enrolling for grade one stood at 43%, but, by 2011, it was 79.5%. Equally, literacy level of those in 15-24 age brackets at 2011 was 74.9% and adult literacy for those aged 15 years and above rose to 59.82% in 2011 as compared to 37.2%. Measured against the 100% target of 2015, the country has made a tremendous journey in attaining the four parameters (Bhattacharya et al, 2013). Bangladesh is on the right course of attaining gender equality and empowering women. For instance, the country has worked consistent in eliminating gender disparity in primary, secondary and tertiary education by surpassing the 2015 gender parity index target of 1.0. By 2011, gender parity index for ration of boys to girls in primary stood at 1.02 as compared to 1991 figure of 0.83. At secondary it stood at 1.13 as compared to 1991 figure of 0.52 (Bhattacharya et al, 2013). Share of women in wage employment excluding agricultural sector stood at 19.87 in 2010 as compared to 19.10 in 1991. However, this is minimal as compared to 2015 target of 50%. 2012 saw a record in seats held by women in national parliament with a record 20% against 2015 target of 33% (UNDP , 2013, p.42). Goal 4 of MDGs stands out as one that has been effectively addressed by Bangladesh. This based on the realisation that mortality for those under the age of five years per 1000 live births in 2011 stood at 44 against the target of 48 by 2015. This is a tremendous growth as compared to 1991 statistics that stood at 146 under five mortality rate per 1, 000 live births. Infant mortality is equally being addressed since the target by 2015 is 31 per 1000 live birth yet the country has attained 37.3% as compared to 1991 record of 92. Additionally, the proportion of children being immunised against measles has grown phenomenally. In 1990/91, the coverage was 54%. In 2011, the coverage was 87.5% as compared to 100% target (UNDP, 2013, p.51). Sayem, Nury & Hossain (2011, p.92) indicates that Bangladesh is one of the least developed countries that have tangible impact on reducing maternal deaths. UNDP (2013, p.58) for instance indicates that in 1990s per 100 000 live births there was 574 deaths. This has declined to 322 deaths per 100 000 live births in 2001 and to 194 in 2010. The remaining bit is to attain universal access to reproductive health. Nevertheless, they are on the right path since the contraceptive prevalence rate stood at 61.2% in 2011 as compared to 2015 target of 72%. At the same time, antenatal care coverage as grown phenomenally as it stood at 67.7% in 2011 as compared to expectation of 100% (Bhattacharya et al, 2013). Goal six is to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. One critical achievement is the ability to limit HIV/ AIDS to below 0.1% which is way below epidemic level. However, this presents an increase as compared to 1991 figure which stood at 0.005% of the population. Further, the country has managed to guarantee 100% access to antiretroviral drugs for the segment of the population with advanced HIV infection. The same can be said in reversing adverse of Malaria and other communicable diseases (UNDP, 2013, p.69). Ensuring environmental sustainability in Bangladesh illicit a mixed reaction since they have gained some grounds, but they still have task to overcome other environmental issues. at the present the country has 19.4% of tree cover which is close to the 20% target. However, the density is way below the target 70%. Other areas of concern include green house gas emission that stood at 0.3 tonnes per capita in 2007 and protected areas that constituted 2.3% as compared to an expected figure of 5% (UNDP, 2013, p.78). 3.1.2 Discussion and reason for improvement The transformation Bangladeshi is experiencing is anchored on various macroeconomic factors and policies cutting across sectors that are implemented in an integrated manner. First, such achievement is attributed to the country’s consistent growth of over 6 percent annually. This is closely related to the realisation that the country has benefited from debt relief and her gross national income ratio has continually declined. Moreover, the global recession of 2007/08 did not have major impact on the country. Additionally, the country is one of the principal recipients of Aid for Trade and is one of the gainers in duty-free quota free programme. Secondly, such success is pegged on the requisite condition in the country’s constitution that has made primary level education universal and mandatory. Additionally, the country has mainstreamed gender parity policies such as National Policy for Women’s Advancement 2011 (Keane et al., 2010, p.2). 3.2 Sri Lanka 3.2.1 Attainment of MDG Goals According to National Council for Economic Development (2010, p.1), poverty in Sri Lanka significantly reduced from 26 in 1990/91 to 15% in 2006/07. This points out that the country is on the correct path to halving poverty by 2015. The poverty index of the country points out that there is decline in the gap between the poor and the rich. However, the Gini coefficient of per capita expenditure and the declining share of the poorest quintile in national consumption show the contrary as it depicts that there is an increasing inequality during 1990/91 to 2006/07. The outstanding achievement by Sri Lanka is in attaining universal primary education for all. By 2006, the enrolment rate was at 97.5 percent. Thus, it is projected that they are likely to attain the 100% target rate before 2015. Equally, the country has made a significant step towards attaining higher percentage for literacy level for those within 15-24 age brackets. By 2006, the literacy level was 95 percent and this 5 percent shy to 100 percent (National Council for Economic Development, 2010, p.2). The country has remarkable effort in promoting gender equality and empowers women. One point of ensuring gender equality and women empowerment is through education. The ratio of girls to boys in primary in 2006 stood at 99 percent. This figure is higher in post primary institutions as the proportion of girls to boys is above 100 percent. However, the country fairs averagely in employment of women in non-agricultural sector since there was a marginally increase from 30.8 percent in 1993 to 32.2 in 2006. At the same time women presentation in National Assembly is still minimal. In 1947 it stood at 3 percent and in 2006 it was 5.8 percent (National Council for Economic Development, 2010, p.3). The country has been phenomenal in reducing child mortality. Presently, there are 11.3 infant deaths per 1, 000 live births. This a lower figure as compared with most rich nations beyond Sri Lanka. However, there is much to be done so as to attain the 5.9% deaths per 1, 000 live births by 2015 target. Mortality for those under five has experienced significant drop (National Council for Economic Development, 2010, p.3). Under the fifth goal of improving maternal health, the Maternal Mortality Ration of the country is consistent at 14 deaths per 100, 000 live births since 1940s to 2003. This is according to Registrar General’s Department estimate. On the other hand, Family Health Bureau of the Ministry of Health, the Maternal Mortality Ratio stood at 39.3 per 100, 000 live births in 2006. Based on the two statistics, these figures are the lowest in South Asia. The tremendous achievement is the universal access to health care and 98% institutional delivery. Additionally, contraceptive prevalence has expanded from 66% to 68% during 1995 -2006. Further, proportion of women attended to by health practitioners during birth grew from 94.1% in 1993 to 98.6% in 2006/07 (National Council for Economic Development, 2010, p.4). The country has one of the lowest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. The cumulative figures points out that there are 1, 029 persons with HIV/AIDS. Up to 2007, 172 deaths associated with HIV/AIDS were reported (National Council for Economic Development, 2010, p.4-5). One area that the country lags been lagging behind is the continued environmental degradation through extraction, clearance and emission. For instance, since 2005, the forest cover in the country has been on decline. Currently, the cover stands at less than 30 percent if the total land area. Further, the carbon dioxide emission per capita has been on the rise. In 1990s the emission per capita was 0.20 MT, but in 2005 it had risen to 0.64 MT (National Council for Economic Development, 2010, p.4-5). 3.2.2 Discussion and reason for improvement The rationale that justifies the achievement made by Sri Lanka is a function of various factors implemented in isolation or in an integrated format. These can be sector specific policies of cross cutting policies addressing monetary, fiscal and under development issues. According to Senanayake et al. (2011, p.78) the country stands out in implementing goal 4 and 5. The rationale for such strong show is premised on the fact that the country has an exemplary effort in addressing maternal and child health care. At the same time, the country has 60 years of investing free universal primary education thus, positively impacting on enrolment rate and contributing to gander parity and women empowerment. Additionally, the country has invested in the midwives policy by increasing their presence across the country. 4.0 Conclusion The aim of the paper was to analyse the progress made by developing countries in achieving millennium development goals. In this regard, using the case example of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the paper established the two countries have made varying progress in attaining MDGs. Bangladesh has made tremendous attainments in the country has attained tangible heights in domains such as poverty alleviation, primary school enrolment, gender parity in primary & secondary level education, lowering the infant & under five mortality rate & maternal mortality ratio, improving immunisation coverage and limiting occurrence of communicable diseases. This related to macroeconomic and larger policies they have put in place. On the other hand, Sri Lanka ranks strongly in maternal & child health care, provision of universal primary education owing to their 60 year old free education policy that has equally empowered women. References Bhattacharya, D., Khan, T. I., Salma, U., & Uddin, G. J. (2013). Attaining the MDGs: How successful are the LDCs? Presented at a dialogue organised by Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in partnership with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) held in Dhaka on 21 September 2013. Chowdhury, S., Banu, L. A., Chowdhury, T. A., Rubayet, S., & Khatoon, S. (2011). Achieving Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 in Bangladesh. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 118(s2), 36-46. Keane, J., Kennan, J., Cali, M., & Massa, I. (2010). Case Study for the MDG Gap Task Force Report. Muñoz, E. (2008). The Millennium Development Goals: Reason for Hope, Call to Action. Brief paper, Bread for the World Institute. National Council for Economic Development (2010). Millennium Development Goals Country Report 2008/09: Sri Lanka. Available at: http://planipolis.iiep.unesco.org/upload/Sri%20Lanka/Sri_Lanka_MDG_2008-2009.pdf. Sanga, D. (2011). The challenges of monitoring and reporting on the Millennium Development Goals in Africa by 2015 and beyond. Journal statistique africain, 104. Sayem, A. M., Nury, A. T. M. S., & Hossain, M. D. (2011). Achieving the millennium development goal for under-five mortality in Bangladesh: current status and lessons for issues and challenges for further improvements. Journal of health, population, and nutrition, 29(2), 92. Senanayake, H., Goonewardene, M., Ranatunga, A., Hattotuwa, R., Amarasekera, S., & Amarasinghe, I. (2011). Achieving millennium development goals 4 and 5 in Sri Lanka. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 118(s2), 78-87. UNDP (2013). Millennium Development Goals: Bangladesh Progress Report for 2012. Available at: http://www.bd.undp.org/content/dam/bangladesh/docs/MDG/MDG%20Report%202012. pdf. Appendices Appendix 1: UN Millennium Development Goals for 2015 Source: Muñoz,2008, p.2 Read More