Millennium Development Goals
in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States
Progress in the region was made in areas such as food security, women’s employment, child and maternal mortality, and in the field of environmental sustainability.
The global economic crisis caused some reversals in hard won progress, and requires increased social protection for the poor and vulnerable, especially migrants, minorities, women, the elderly and people with disabilities. Escalating inequality characterizes most countries in the region and is a fundamental constraint to full achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
Other major challenges related to the Millennium Development Goals in the region include:
>> Report on Achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Europe and Central Asia (UNECE, 2011)
>> See national progress reports on the Millennium Development Goals in the region
Progress
Remarkable progress to reduce poverty and vibrant economic growth was seen from 2000 to 2008. Absolute poverty is mostly limited to resource-poor countries, but is widespread in Central Asia. Poverty is concentrated in the informal sector where productivity is low and is outside the sphere of social protection.
The target on decent work is difficult to achieve in all countries due to widespread insecure and informal employment, and high youth unemployment. The target on decreasing malnourishment is moderate to low everywhere, but efforts are needed to maintain progress in view of the economic crisis.
The way forward
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Provide more opportunities for people to have a better life, and safety nets for those in need
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Reduce massive poverty in Central Asia through broad based inclusive growth.
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Development inclusive employment policies, inclusive education and targeted safety nets for other parts of the region where poverty is localized to socially excluded and vulnerable groups, and disadvantaged towns
Progress
With good enrollment overall, the region has problems of inclusivity in secondary education: enrolment in school is low for girls in Central Asia; and Roma children are excluded from education in Eastern Europe. The issue for the region is the quality of education, particularly in rural areas.
The way forward
Ensure that education generates the skills necessary for growth and poverty reduction, by investing in teaching methods and teacher training.
Progress
With few exceptions, there is gender equality in education but there is disparity in access to economic and financial resources. The majority of women still occupy low paying jobs, which is the main cause of inequality. Women continue to be strongly underrepresented in both political and economic decision-making positions in all countries in the region.
The way forward
In Central Asia:
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Ensure that girls complete secondary school;
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Create equal economic opportunities for women; and
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Provide legal protection of their rights.
In other parts of the region:
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Increase representation of women in decision making positions in government and in business through affirmative action.
Progress
Reducing child mortality is on track in the region overall. The mortality rate has fallen in some cases by 50 percent over the last decade. For poor countries in Central Asia and socially excluded groups elsewhere (especially Roma), infant mortality is still a concern. Budgets for healthcare are under pressure due a slow recovery from the economic crisis and an increase in public debt.
The way forward
Extending health serves to excluded groups and remote rural areas, including:
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delivery attended by medical personnel;
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perinatal services; and
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maternal health, particularly nutrition.
Progress
Maternal mortality is a very serious issue in Central Asia and this Millennium Development Goal will not be achieved by 2015. The cause is maternal health in general, especially poor nutrition and a lack of emergency obstetric care. These problems cannot be overcome in a short period of time. Elsewhere in the region the situation has improved although in the Balkans there are issues with complete recording of maternal deaths. The widespread use of abortion as an alternative to contraception and the high rate of adolescent pregnancies affect a number of countries. Addressing issues related to maternal health is hindered by budget constraints in the health sector.
The way forward
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Improve range and quality of medical services such as perinatal care and emergency assistance.
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Introduce large scale interventions related to nutrition for mothers
Progress
HIV and AIDS remain concentrated in at risk populations in Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, and Central Asia, but threatens to spread to the general population. The goal of reducing HIV and AIDS in these countries is unlikely to be achieved. Tuberculosis (TB) is spreading at high rates in these countries, and drug resistant TB is a concern.
Key issues are:
To stop the spread of TB:
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prophylaxis,
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access to care and
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overcoming stigma and discrimination.
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The way forward
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Increase urgent efforts to stop HIV and AIDS.
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Address resource constraints that hinder HIV and AIDS treatment and prophylaxis.
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Introduce of treatment for drug resistant forms of tuberculosis,
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Ensure persistent use of DOTS, particularly in CIS countries.
Progress
Most environment targets are not likely to be achieved in the region. Green house gas (GHG) emission targets are not on track due to poor energy efficiency. Land degradation is the major development challenge for Central Asia with no easy solution. Access to drinking water is severely limited in rural areas of Central Asia, and far from adequate in the Western Balkans. Targets for sanitation are unachievable for most of the region in rural areas. Uranium tailings as well the legacy of Chernobyl and Semipalatinsk have yet to be addressed.
The way forward
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Address environmental sustainability together with local level initiatives to reduce poverty.
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Focus on sustainable use of water, energy and forestry resources.
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Invest in water supply and sanitation, electrical energy generation and transmission, issues constrained by lack of resources.
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Reconsider price of energy and subsidies to ensure financial viability of utilities.
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Design and budget climate mitigation and adaptation measures in national development strategies and sector programmes.
Progress
Progress is generally good with the expansion of mobile communication and the Internet. Integration in to the world economy in the region is hindered by lack of export diversification and by the fact that many countries are not yet World Trade Organization (WTO) members. Targets for foreign direct investment (FDI) are unlikely to be achieved. Many countries in the region are not able to attract sufficient investment, in some cases due to major political obstacles to regional cooperation and trade in Central Asia, South Caucasus and Western Balkans.
Some countries in the CIS region face a debt sustainability problem in the aftermath of the economic crisis.
The way forward
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Reduce expectations that foreign direct investment (FDI) is the answer for driving growth and reducing poverty.
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Create an environment supportive to business.
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Engage the potential of new development partners such as China, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, as well as the new EU member states.
*The Millennium Development Goal icons used on this page were developed by UNDP in Kazakhstan.
