1. United Nations and Development

According to the United Nations, there are approximately one billion people in the world who are forced to live on less than a dollar per day, in a state of chronic poverty. The Secretary General has shown his strong commitment to improving the livelihood of these “bottom billion.”

The United Nations adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) (http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/oda/mdg/index.html ） at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000. These MDGs were designed to achieve eight goals during the period 2000 to 2015, in order to fulfill one of the fundamental goals of the UN ”to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,” and to encourage the international community to commit to address development on a global scale.

The Secretary-General will convene a High Level Meeting on Millennium Development Goals in September 2008, with the aim of accelerating the political momentum for their achievement by inviting the heads of states and governments of the world to renew their commitment to attaining these critical goals of the MDGs.

2. Japan ’s action on development issues

Prime Minister Fukuda’s address at the World Economic Forum

Foreign Minister Koumura’s speech on Global Water Governance

Foreign Minister Koumura’s speech on Global Health

TICAD Ⅳ　

Human Security Trust Fund

3. Useful Resources

Millennium Development Goals

United Nations Millennium Declaration

DAC AID Review of Japan

High Level Conferences for 2008

4. Related Links

ODA

Sectoral Development Policy

Human Security

G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit

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