ABSTRACT
The practical steps to achieve the Goals in each country can and should be diagnosed, planned, and implemented with the proper focus and actions, combined with suitable support from the international community. In every country that wants to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the starting assumption should be that they are feasible unless technically proven otherwise. The country’s international development partners—including bilateral donors, United Nations agencies, regional development banks, and the Bretton Woods institutions—should give all the support needed to implement the country’s MDG-based poverty reduction strategy. The process of developing an MDG-based poverty reduction strategy needs to be open and consultative, including all key stakeholders, domestic and foreign. Specific interventions to address gender inequality should be an intrinsic part of all MDG-based investment packages. Sustainable MDG-based strategies require the buildup of indigenous institutions and skills to advance science, technology, and innovation.
