MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs) AND NEW ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (NEPAD)
SS 3
GOVERNMENT
FIRST TERM
LESSON NOTE SCHEME OF WORK
WEEKLY LESSON NOTE
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT
WEEK 11
TOPIC:
MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs) AND NEW ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (NEPAD)
CONTENT
A. (i). Meaning of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). (ii)Towards achieving Millennium Development Goals in 2015.
B. New Economic Partnership for Economic Development (NEPAD): (i) Meaning (ii) Aims and Objectives.
SUB-TOPIC 1: MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs).
i. MEANING OF MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGS).
In September 2000, leaders from 189 nations of the World agreed on a vision for the future: a world with less poverty, hunger and disease, greater survival prospects for mothers and their infants, better educated children, equal opportunity for women and a healthier environment, a world in which developed and developing countries of the world worked in partnership for the betterment of all.
The aim of the MDGs is to encourage development by improving social and economic conditions in the World’s poorest countries. They derived this initiative from earlier development targets and were officially established following the millennium summit in 2000, where all World leaders present adopted United Notions Millennium Declaration.
ii. Aims and Objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
1. Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger.
Recent economic growth, particularly in agriculture, has markedly reduced the proportion of underweight children, from 35.7 per cent in 1990 to 23.1 per cent in 2008.
However, growth has not generated enough jobs and its effect on poverty is not yet clear (the most recent data is from 2004). The available data and the current policy environment suggests that the target will be difficult to meet.
Growth needs to be more equitable and broad-based. Developing agriculture and creating jobs will require the public sector to create an enabling environment for business, including building critical infrastructure, making regulatory services transparent and providing sustainable access to enterprise finance. Social protection and poverty eradication programmes need to be scaled-up and better coordinated.
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GOAL 2
Achieve Universal Primary Education
In a major step forward, nearly nine out of ten children, 88.8 per cent, are now enrolled in school. Nevertheless, regional differences are stark. State primary completion rates range from 2 per cent to 99 per cent. In particular, progress needs to be accelerated in the north of the country if the target is to be met.
Low completion rates reflect poor learning environments and point to the urgent need to raise teaching standards. The rapid improvement in youth literacy, from 64.1 per cent to 80 per cent between 2000 and 2008, appears to have reached a plateau.
The Universal Basic Education Scheme is a promising initiative that needs to be reformed and strengthened. The Federal Teachers’ Scheme and in-service training by the National Teachers’ Institute have begun to address the urgent need to improve the quality of teaching. To accelerate progress and reduce regional disparities, these initiatives need to be rapidly expanded and improved.
GOAL 3
Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women
A gradual improvement in the proportion of girls enrolled in primary school, though noteworthy, is not yet enough to meet the target. There are still fewer girls than boys in school. There are signs of backsliding in the number of girls in tertiary education. Measures to encourage girls to attend school, particularly by addressing cultural barriers in the north of the country, and to provide the economic incentives for boys to attend school in the south-east, are urgently required.
Although few women currently hold political office, the new policy framework is encouraging. However, gradual gains in parliamentary representation for women need to be greatly expanded in forthcoming elections.
Confronting regional variations in the determinants of gender inequality requires policies based on an understanding of the underlying socioeconomic, social and cultural factors. State and local government efforts will thus be critical to the achievement of this goal.
GOAL 4
Reduce Child Mortality
Progress in reducing child mortality has been rapid. With sustained effort and improvement in related and lagging sectors, such as water and sanitation, there is a strong possibility of achieving Goal 4 by 2015.
Under-five mortality has fallen by over a fifth in five years, from 201 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2003, to 157 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2008.
In the same period, the infant mortality rate fell even faster, from 100 to 75 deaths per
1,000 live births.
Recent interventions – including Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses – that reflect the underlying causes of child deaths, have contributed to these successes. However, these need to be rapidly expanded and accelerated if Nigeria is to achieve Goal 4. Access to primary health care needs to be improved by more investment in infrastructure, human resources, equipment and consumables, and better management. Implementation arrangements must target local needs, which vary hugely from community to community and state to state. Routine immunization is unsatisfactory but can be rapidly improved by building on the successes of the near-eradication of polio.
GOAL 5
Improve Maternal Health
Recent progress towards this Goal is promising and, if the latest improvements can be sustained at the same rate, Nigeria will reach the target by 2015.
Maternal mortality fell by 32 per cent, from 800 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2003 (at the time one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world) to 545 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2008.
However, the proportion of births attended by a skilled health worker has remained low and threatens to hold back further progress.
Government commitment is not in doubt. An innovative Midwives Service Scheme is expected to contribute substantially to ongoing shortfalls but its impact has yet to be reflected in the data. If the scheme is expanded in proportion to the national gap in the number of midwives, this will further accelerate progress.
In addition, more mothers will be covered by antenatal care as access to quality primary healthcare improves and incentives attract health workers to rural areas, indicating that Nigeria will turn progress to date on this goal into a MDG success story.
GOAL 6
Combat HIV-AIDS, Malaria and Other Diseases
Nigeria has had striking success in almost eradicating polio, reducing the number of cases by 98 per cent between 2009 and 2010.
Another marked success was the fall in the prevalence of HIV among pregnant young women aged 15-24 from 5.8 per cent in 2001 to 4.2 per cent in 2008. Thus, nationally, Nigeria has already achieved this target. However, some states still have high prevalence rates that require urgent policy attention. Successes have been buoyed by better awareness and use of contraceptives.
There has been a sharp decrease in malaria prevalence rates. Nationwide distribution of 72 million long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets, although only in its initial stages, protected twice as many children (10.9 per cent) in 2009, compared to 2008 (5.5 per cent).
Similar progress has been made with tuberculosis. With sustained attention, tuberculosis is expected to be a limited public health burden by 2015.
To consolidate and extend progress on Goal 6, challenges that need to be addressed include improving knowledge and awareness of HIV/AIDS, improving access to antiretroviral therapies, and effective implementation of the national strategic frameworks for HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis control.
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GOAL 7
Ensure Environmental Sustainability
Nigeria’s natural resources, some of its most valuable national assets, are still seriously threatened. For example, between 2000 and 2010 the area of forest shrank by a third, from 14.4 per cent to 9.9 per cent of the land area.
Similarly, access to safe water and sanitation is a serious challenge for Nigeria. Little progress was made up to 2005 but improvements since then have brought the proportion of the population accessing safe water to 58.9 per cent and the proportion accessing improved sanitation to 51.6 per cent.
The major challenge lies in translating substantial public investments in water into effective access. This requires more involvement by communities to identify local needs, and better planning to deliver holistic and sustainable solutions. In sanitation, efforts are falling short of the target. Rural-urban migration will add to the pressure on sanitation infrastructure throughout the country. It is doubtful that town planning authorities have made adequate preparations for sustainable housing and sanitation. There is an urgent need for managerial, technical and financial resources to deal with these challenges to be established at state and local government levels. Given the risks of over-exploitation of groundwater in the North and the influx of saline water in the South, innovative solutions are required across the country
GOAL 8
Develop a Global Partnership for Development
Debt relief negotiated by Nigeria in 2005 provided new opportunities for investment in the social sector. Debt servicing fell from 15.2 per cent of exports in 2005 to 0.5 per cent in 2008.
To build on these positive developments there is a need to take action to forestall a relapse into unsustainable levels of debt that could prevent the country from achieving the MDGs.
The outlook for the broader partnership for development is not as bright. Trade agreements continue to be inequitable and constrain exports and economic growth. Development assistance has grown although, when debt relief is excluded, it is still very low on a per capita basis.
Improving the quality of human and capital resources available is critical to attracting the foreign direct investment that is needed to contribute to development.
As a result of the deregulation of the telecommunications sector in 2001, the proportion of the population with access to mobile telephones increased from 2 per cent to 42 per cent between 2000 and 2008. However, this has yet to bridge the digital divide and only 15.8 per cent of the population currently has access to the internet.
EVALUATION:
1. Explain Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
2. Mention any five of the goals.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a set of global development targets that seek to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges, including poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, environmental sustainability, and global partnership for development. They were adopted by the United Nations in 2000 as part of the Millennium Declaration and represent an international commitment to achieve specific development goals by the year 2015. Some of the goals include reducing poverty and hunger, increasing access to good healthcare and education, promoting gender equality and environmental sustainability, and developing global partnerships for development.
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SUB-TOPIC 2: NEW ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP FOR ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT (NEPAD): (I) MEANING (II) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES.
i. MEANING OF NEPAD.
NEPAD, or the New Economic Partnership for African Development, is a platform for economic cooperation between African nations and the global community. Its aims include promoting sustainable growth and development, improving intra-African trade, and increasing investment in key sectors like agriculture, energy, infrastructure, health, and education.
It is a holistic, comprehensive and integrated strategic framework for the socio-economic development of Africa. The NEPAD DOCUMENT provides the vision for Africa, a statement of the problems facing the continent and a Programme of Action to resolve these problems in order to reach the objectives.
The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is the vision and strategic framework adopted by African leaders to address poverty and underdevelopment throughout the African continent. Its broad approach was initially agreed at the 36th Heads of State and Government Assembly of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) held in Algeria, in 2000. The meeting asked Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa to develop an integrated socio-economic framework for Africa. Subsequently, the 37th Summit of the OAU held in Lusaka, Zambia in July 2001 formally endorsed NEPAD as the framework for the continent’s development. In January 2010, the 14th African Union (AU) Summit strengthened the NEPAD programme by endorsing its integration into the AU.
The Secretary-General established the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) to increase international support for NEPAD, to coordinate UN system efforts in support of NEPAD and to report annually to the General Assembly on progress in the implementation of international support for NEPAD.
WHO INITIATED NEPAD?
President T Mbeki of South Africa
President A Bouteflika of Algeria
President O Obasanjo of Nigeria
President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal
President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.
These five Presidents (or their personal representatives) also form the Steering Committee of NEPAD.
ii. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF NEPAD, PLEASE MENTION THEM?
Some of the key aims and objectives of NEPAD include promoting sustainable economic growth, improving intra-African trade, increasing investment in key sectors like agriculture and energy, enhancing good governance and reducing poverty across Africa.
STRUCTURE OF NEPAD.
The HSGIC to which the NEPAD secretariat reports comprises three states for each region of the African Union, with former President Obasanjo (Nigeria) as elected chair, and Presidents Bouteflika (Algeria) and Wade (Senegal) as deputy chairmen. The HSGIC meets several times a year and reports to the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
There is also a steering committee, comprising 20 AU member states, to oversee projects and program development.
The NEPAD Secretariat is based in Midrand, South Africa. The first CEO was Wiseman Nkuhlu of South Africa (2001–2005), and the second Mozambican Firmino Mucavele (2005–2008). On April 1, 2009, Ibrahim Hassane Mayaki accepted the position as the 3rd CEO.
The NEPAD Secretariat is not responsible for the implementation of development programs itself, but works with the African Regional Economic Communities — the building blocks of the African Union.The role of the NEPAD Secretariat is one of coordination and resource mobilization.
Many individual African states have also established national NEPAD structures responsible for liaison with the continental initiatives on economic reform and development programs.
ii. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF NEPAD.
The main objective of NEPAD is to eradicate poverty in Africa and to place African countries, both individually and collectively, on a path of sustainable growth and development, to thus halt the marginalisation of Africa in the globalisation process.
The eight priority areas of NEPAD are: political, economic and corporate governance; agriculture; infrastructure; education; health; science and technology; market access and tourism; and environment.
During the first few years of its existence, the main task of the NEPAD Secretariat and key supporters was the popularization of NEPAD’s key principles, as well as the development of action plans for each of the sectional priorities. NEPAD also worked to develop partnerships with international development finance institutions—including the World Bank, G8, European Commission, UNECA and others—and with the private sector.
After this initial phase, more concrete programs were developed, including:
· The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), aimed at assisting the launching of a ‘green revolution’ in Africa, based on a belief in the key role of agriculture in development.
· The NEPAD Science and Technology programme, including an emphasis on research in areas such as water science and energy.
· The “e-schools programme”, adopted by the HSGIC in 2003 as an initiative to equip all 600,000 primary and secondary schools in Africa with IT equipment and internet access within 10 years, in partnership with several large IT companies. See NEPAD E-School program
· The launch of a Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund (PAIDF) by the Public Investment Corporation of South Africa, to finance high priority cross-border infrastructure projects.
· Capacity building for continental institutions, working with the African Capacity Building Foundation, the Southern Africa Trust, UNECA, the African Development Bank, and other development partners. One of NEPAD’s priorities has been to strengthen the capacity of and linkages among the Regional Economic Communities.
· NEPAD was involved with the Timbuktu Manuscripts Project although it is not entirely clear to what extent.
EVALUATION:
1. What is the full meaning of NEPAD?
2. List four pioneer founders of NEPAD. GENERAL
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EVALUATION:
1. State the main objective of NEPAD.
2. What are the other objectives of NEPAD?
3. Explain Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
4. Mention any five of the goals.
5. List any five member countries of NEPAD. WEEKEND
ASSSIGNMENT:
1. NEPAD means (a) New Economic Partnership for Economic Development (b) National Partnership for Economic Demand (c) Nigerian Economic Planning and Essential Development (d) New Economic Planning for European Development
2. Which of the following is not part of Millennium Development Goals? (a) Reduction of mortality rate (b) Improvement on maternal health (c) Combat HIV/AIDS and malaria (d) Arrange for re-union of divorced couples
3. Which of the following Head of States is not a foundation member of NEPAD? (a) President T Mbeki of South Africa (b) President A Bouteflika of Algeria
(c) President Barak Obama of USA (d) President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria
4. The NEPAD Secretariat is based in ….. (a) Abuja, Nigeria (b) Midrand, South Africa
(c) Accra, Ghana (d) Lome, Togo
5. The first CEO was ….. (a) Kwame Nkruma of Ghana (b) Nuhu Ribadu of Nigeria (c) Wiseman Nkuhlu of South Africa (d) Okonjo Eweala of Nigeria
6. The vision for the Millennium Development Goals came into being in year (a) 1999
(b) 2002 (c) 2000 (d) 2015
7. The target of the realization of the Millennium Development Goals is (a) 2001 (b) 2040 (c) 2015 (d) 2020
8. Which of the following is not one of the MDGs? (a) Universal primary education (b) Reduce child mortality rate (c) Improve maternal health (d) Fight HIV/AIDS and malaria
9. The countries that are members of NEPAD include Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Kenya, Egypt, Senegal, and Togo. 10. The main objectives of NEPAD are to promote economic development across the African continent by fostering regional cooperation and partnerships; supporting social development through increased access to education, healthcare services, and clean water; improving governance standards in order to increase political stability across the region; reducing poverty by creating more employment opportunities for marginalized communities; and strengthening infrastructure networks such as transport links, energy grids, telecommunications systems, and other essential services.
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WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT: Read the New Analytical Study of Government for Senior Secondary Schools by Sola Adu (2012) Emadet Publications, Ibadan. Pages 384 – 386.
1. According to the author, what are the main purposes of government?
2. What is bureaucracy? What are some of the major functions and characteristics of bureaucracy?
3. How does democracy differ from authoritarianism or totalitarianism in terms of its relationship to government?
4. What are the main forms of government and how do they differ from each other?
5. What are some of the key features and challenges of modern democratic governments, particularly in terms of their relationship to bureaucracy and public administration?
PRE – READING ASSIGNMENT: Read about the e – government before next class.
1. What is e-government? What are some of the main advantages of implementing e-government systems and policies in modern democratic governments?
2. What are some of the key challenges to successful implementation of e-government initiatives, particularly with respect to issues such as privacy, security, and access for marginalized groups?
3. How do governments balance the need to implement efficient, effective e-government systems with concerns such as transparency and accountability to citizens? How can they ensure that these systems also protect privacy rights and civil liberties?
4. What are some of the ways in which e-government initiatives can be used to improve civic engagement and public participation in government decision-making processes? How can they be used to promote more democratic and inclusive forms of governance?
5. What role do civil society organizations play in supporting or opposing e-government programs and initiatives? What are some best practices for building collaborative relationships between these groups,
WEEKEND ACTIVITY: Find out the full meaning of the following abbreviations.
i. MDGs
ii. NEPAD
iii. CAADP
iv. CEO
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