Secretary-General's MDG Advocay Group

Background

Adopted by world leaders in the year 2000 and set to be achieved by 2015, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) represent the most important promise ever made to the world’s most vulnerable people.

In June 2010, with only five years remaining to achieve the MDGs, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the MDG Advocacy Group of eminent personalities to support him in building political will, rallying additional support, and spurring collective action to achieve the MDGs by 2015.

The MDG Advocacy Group is comprised of eminent persons who have each shown outstanding leadership in promoting and working toward MDG achievement. MDG Advocates include Heads of State and Government, business and political leaders, prominent academics and philanthropists.

Under the Chairmanship of Ms. Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway, and H. E. Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, the Advocates individually, collectively and in small groups engage with Members States, civil society, academia, parliaments, and the private sector to develop new and ground-breaking ideas and ways to accelerate MDG implementation.

The MDG Advocates are committed to working toward a concrete action agenda that offers innovative responses to address the gaps that hinder further progress. To this effect, the Group has formed two clusters, each facilitated by two Advocates. One cluster is dedicated to Food Security and Sustainable Growth, co-facilitated by Professor Jeffrey Sachs and Ms. Graça Machel. The second cluster is focused on Education and Health, co-facilitated by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and Mr. Ray Chambers. Gender equality, environment and a global partnership for development are addressed as cross-cutting themes.

To date, the MDG Advocacy Group has held working meetings in Madrid, New York, Doha, Seoul and Davos.