In 2000, most of the countries of the world agreed to cut world poverty in half by the year 2015. Development experts looked at different problems that make and keep people poor. They came up with eight targets that would help most people meet basic needs.

They are called the Millennium Development Goals. If met, these goals will help poor people become more self-sufficient and contribute to their society in a more productive way.

They also help development experts measure how much progress has been made in reducing poverty.

Here we describe them and give some of the reasons why they are important. Can you add to these reasons?

As you read through them, you will see that all of them are related and that achieving one goal depends on achieving other goals as well. What links do you see between the goals?

Click on an image to find out more about each goal.