THE 8 DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Rwanda and The Philippines

By: Aaron Coy and Kenny Kang

http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/mdgoverview/

 

MDG 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger The goal of reducing extreme

poverty rates by half was met five years ahead of the deadline of 2015.

More than 42 million people have been uprooted by conflict or persecution as a result of hunger.

Children found in rural areas are almost twice as likely to be underweight as those in urban locations.

Nearly one out of five children under age five in developing countries are underweight.

Rwanda on hunger and poverty

Rwanda is doing fairly well in this category. If you were to compare Rwanda to the other countries it would seem as though they have poor progression, but Rwanda has a special set of circumstances and goals since they were stricken with the 1994 genocide.

There has been significant declines in the number of families living below the poverty line in the past ten years.

http://www.rw.undp.org/content/rwanda/en/home/mdgoverview/overview/mdg1/

Philippines on hunger & poverty

According to the United Nations website, the Philippines is ranked as medium in attaining this goal.

Proper nutrition is critical for women during pregnancy and lactation, both for their health and also her children. In a still a developing economy and unfortunately the mothers suffer from malnutrition as a result.

Unfortunately in many cases, children are abandoned by parents that have no means to provide food and shelter for their children. It is why we see so many photos of orphans in the streets of the cities throughout the Philippines.

I feel that poverty exists here because of the lack of resources to support the large populations spread out over the 7000+ islands. The geography is rough, with earthquakes and tsunamis decimating the cities and towns it is harder for this country to find ways to support its people. It is hard to grow crops because in a lot of cases cities and towns flood regularly.

http://www.undp.org.ph/?link=goal_1 http://talakayanatkalusugan.com/wp-content/uploads/

2012/05/filipino-poor-family.jpg

MDG 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education the net enrolment rate for children of

primary school age rose from 82 to 90 per cent between 1999 and 2010.

nearly all of this growth occurred between 1999 and 2004, and that progress in reducing the number of out-of-school children slowed considerably after 2004

It seems that formal education is a hard goal to meet in many developing countries because most times the children work in order to support the family

http://www.rw.undp.org/content/rwanda/en/home/mdgoverview/overview/mdg2/

Rwanda on education Education in Rwanda is doing very

well. According to the UN website it is highly likely that Rwanda will meet the MDG of Universal primary education.

In the year 2010/11 the literacy rate increased from 57% in 2000/06 to 84%

Its really cool to see that the education system is doing so well in Rwanda, especially after the tragic genocide.

I think it is also a reflection that poverty is being eradicated because less and less youth are having to work to support the family and can instead attend school.

http://www.rw.undp.org/content/rwanda/en/home/mdgoverview/overview/mdg2/

Philippines on Education The Philippines has a low probability in attaining the

worldwide goal in education. Unfortunately, statistics show that it is also in a decline.

The SY 2002-2003 figure for elementary education was at 90.29 percent. The most recent figure for SY 2005-2006 indicated participation rate at 84.44 percent with a huge decline noted in the urban areas.

However. children in the rural areas are more disadvantaged than in urban areas. One reason for the urban-biased elementary completion rate is the high number of incomplete school buildings in the rural areas. Also, rural areas have higher malnutrition rates and occurrences of child labor compared to the urban areas.

Having learned how important education is in developing countries has helped me feel blessed. Education is hard to come by in the Philippines. Many families I met on my mission immigrated here to be able to receive a more free and higher quality education here.

http://www.undp.org.ph/?link=goal_2 http://review.brentsubic.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/

charity1.jpeg

MDG 3: Gender Equality Gender inequalities emerge at different

points through the education system. Girls from the poorest households and

circumstances have to face the toughest barriers in education. In some parts of the world women have to tend to chores more often than men as well as their homework.

Women, more often than men, turn to the informal economy.

As history has shown, women have played active roles in the progression of society. We feel women will continue to contribute to society’s development.

http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/mdgoverview/mdg_goals/mdg3/

Rwanda on gender equality Beyond 2015, by 2020 Rwanda’s

government has a goal to have 40% of decision making positions held by women.

Rwanda was equal second in the world on the 2009 Social Watch Gender Equity Index, with only Sweden having a higher score.  Gender equality is enshrined in the constitution and Rwanda was the first country in the world to have more than 50 per cent female members of parliament.

It is really cool to see how well Rwanda is doing in terms of gender equality. A lot of times in these developing countries there is a huge gender gap with females sometimes being really looked down upon. I think with the gender equality thriving in Rwanda it will help improve the goal of maternal health.

http://www.rw.undp.org/content/rwanda/en/home/mdgoverview/overview/mdg3/

Philippines on gender equality

To be direct, women are treated fairly here. Women have been playing an active role in the country

in politics and education. They are huge contributors. In the SY 2001-2002, the female participation rate was

at 90.91 percent, compared to 89.33 percent of males. In SY 2005-2006, female participation rate was 85.35 percent compared to 83.56 percent for males. As is evident in statistics, women participate more in school than men do.

Subsequently, the participation rate of girls in high school also exceeded that of males boys (63.53% vs. 53.65%).

It is one of the few countries that allows women to become the president. The Philippine Constitution sustains the right of women to sectorial participation in national and local legislative bodies.

Through experiences learning about the Pinoy culture, I have come to recognize how respected the women are in the culture here.

http://www.undp.org.ph/?link=goal_3 http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/07/31/world/29317128.J

PG

MDG 4: Reduce Child Mortality

According to the UN the target is to reduce child mortality by two-thirds by 2015.

That would be the under five years category from 93 out of 1,000 dying to 31 of every 1,000.

This is one of the hardest goals to meet because the healthy development of a child under five years old takes a lot of resources that these developing nations do not have, or do not have enough of.

http://www.rw.undp.org/content/rwanda/en/home/mdgoverview/overview/mdg4/

Rwanda on child mortality Rwanda is having some significant

struggles meeting this goal. As of 2010 50 out of every 1,000 children born died before their first birthday

According the the UN website it is unlikely that Rwanda will meet its goal of 28 per 1,000 by the year 2015

It is really sad to see that of all the goals set forth it is this one that Rwanda will have little chance of meeting. There is a big lack of proper healthcare for the infants upon birth and in the crucial stages of development.

We will discuss this in another goal, but there also seems to be a lack of healthcare for the mothers while giving birth.

http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/mdgoverview/mdg_goals/mdg4/

http://www.economist.com/node/21555571

Philippines on child mortality The Philippines has a high probability in

reaching  26.7 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2015.

In 2006, using results of the Family Planning Survey (FPS) of NSO, the under-five rate was 32 deaths per 1,000 live births. From the period 1990-2006, the decline dropped to about 60 percent.

Infant mortality rate has also been reducing from 57 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990, to 35 in 1998, to 30 in 2003 and in 2006, it declined more to 24 deaths.

However, due to the huge differences in geography and technology available, deaths are occur more frequently in the country.

People live very traditionally in rural areas and I feel lack of knowledge and hygiene is what is causing deaths to the babies.

http://www.undp.org.ph/?link=goal_4 http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/ap/philippines%20se

ven%20billion%20people--1170001599_v2.grid-6x2.jpg

MDG 5: Maternal Health An estimate of 287,000 maternal

deaths occurred in 2010 worldwide, this number is a decline of 47 percent from 1990.

Less teens are having children in most regions, but this growth has slowed.

The use of birth control is lowest among the poorest women and those with no education.

The gap between rural-urban in skilled care during childbirth has narrowed.

http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/mdgoverview/mdg_goals/mdg5/

Rwanda on maternal health There has been a significant decrease in the

maternal mortality ratio, with Rwanda making good progress towards achieving the MDG Target of reducing the rate from 1,300 per 1000,000 live births in 1990 to 325 in 2015. By 2010 the MMR was 487.

The main reason for the decrease has been the increase in mothers giving birth in a healthcare center with qualified staff to assist.

Rwanda has seen some really good growth in this MDG and is taking all the right steps toward meeting their goal. However, if they wish to meet their goal in the next two years, they have to decrease the number of deaths drastically.

Hopefully with the introduction of a healthcare facility and the reduction of maternal mortality, there will be a decrease in childhood mortality.

http://www.rw.undp.org/content/rwanda/en/home/mdgoverview/overview/mdg5/

Philippines on maternal health

Based on figures from the 1993 and 1998 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), MMR went down to 172 deaths from a 1993 baseline figure of 209 deaths. In 2006, based on the FPS, it declined to only 162 deaths. Though the drop continued, it was at a abruptly fading rate.

The target reduction in MMR is 52 deaths per 100,00 live births by 2015. In review of the stalled decline, this goal has been identified as the least likely to be achieved.

Mothers lose their lives giving birth because of the lack of quality health services. It is a sad reality here that leaves families without a mother.

If the Philippines were to focus more on this problem, there will be more youth in the coming generations to provide ideas and leadership in the development of the country.

http://www.undp.org.ph/?link=goal_5 http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/226247/news/sp

ecialreports/maternal-deaths-put-heavier-toll-on-daughters

MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases more people than ever are

living with HIV due to fewer AIDS-related deaths and the continued large number of new infections.

The number of people dying of AIDS- related causes fell to 1.7 million in 2011, a decline of 24% since the peak in 2005.

The estimated incidence of malaria globally has decreased by 17 percent since 2000, and malaria-specific mortality rates by 25 percent.

http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/mdgoverview/mdg_goals/mdg6/

Rwanda on HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Although the HIV prevalence rate in Rwanda is lower than in many other sub-Saharan countries, it is still the main killer of those over five years of age and comes after only malaria as the cause of death for children under five years.

In Rwanda, malaria continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality, although remarkable progress is being made in reducing the burden of the disease, with a strong emphasis on prevention.

There was a huge decline in the transmission rate of HIV/AIDS in Rwanda from 200-2008, but since then the rate has held steady.

Malaria is a big contributor to the under five death toll in Africa. If Rwanda was able to get more control on malaria infections, the child mortality goal could probably be met by the year 2015

http://www.rw.undp.org/content/rwanda/en/home/mdgoverview/overview/mdg6/

Philippines on HIV/AIDS From 2004 to 2006, the DOH noted an

increase in the number of reported AIDS cases ranging from 200 to 300 annually. This is a 20 percent increase that has raised concerns, as it suggests spreading.

The DOH estimated that HIV and AIDS cases to be close to 11,200 as of 2005.

HIV and AIDS awareness level across the populace, especially among the youth, needs improvement. Fallacies on basic facts about the disease must be dismissed. Preventive measures must be advocated.

The good news is that the country has done remarkably well in reversing tuberculosis and malaria mortality rates.

http://www.undp.org.ph/?link=goal_6

MDG 7: Saving the Environment

Overexploitation of global fisheries has stabilized, but other challenges persist to ensure this sustainability.

In 2010, 89 percent of the world’s residents was using developed water sources, up from 76 percent in 1990.

Slums are frequent occurrences in sub-Saharan Africa and increase in countries affected by conflict.

The portion of residents living in slums of developing countries declined from 39 percent in 2000 to 33 percent in 2012.

http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/mdgoverview/mdg_goals/mdg7/

Rwanda on the environment Rwanda undoubtedly faces significant

environmental challenges. The main problems facing the environment in Rwanda are pressures from the growing population on the natural resources

Key issues include deforestation due to the cutting down of trees for fuel, overgrazing, soil exhaustion, soil erosion and widespread poaching.

Its interesting to compare Rwanda to the United States, the state of Alaska in particular. Here we have Rwanda being so densely populated that it is having huge detriments on the sustainability of the environment. Then we have Alaska in the US that is so under-populated that the government pays its residents to live there.

http://www.rw.undp.org/content/rwanda/en/home/mdgoverview/overview/mdg7/

Philippines on the environment On average, a Filipino generates 0.3 and 0.5 kg. of

garbage daily. The number of proclaimed Protected Areas under

NIPAS has been constantly expanding. From 83 proclaimed PAs in 2000, the number of proclaimed PAs in 2006 increased to 103. There was also a substantial increase in confiscated flora from 58 pieces to 600 pieces from 2002 to 2005. The number of confiscated fauna also increased from 175 heads to 2,944 heads from 2002 to 2004.

If you visit my site, www.planetphilippines.weebly.com, you will be able to view photos of the level of pollution throughout the densely populated cities. It is a bad combination with the lack of developed sewer systems combined with the frequent floods and tsunamis in the country.

It humbles me, someone raised here with the various privileges, to see how other countries don’t even have toilets available. The stories I have heard about the Philippines really makes me wonder how I would ever live without my many comforts, like toilets.

http://www.undp.org.ph/?link=goal_7 http

://www.bluespheremedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ShawnHeinrichs-2011-12-06at22-29-17-19084.jpg

MDG 8: A global partnership for development Only 1 in 6 people in the developing

world has access to the Internet.

Official development assistance stands at 0.31 per cent of the combined national income of developed countries, still far short of the 0.7 per cent UN target.

By the end of 2011, over 160 countries in the world had launched 3G mobile broadband services and 45 percent of the population worldwide was covered by a high-speed mobile broadband signal.

http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/mdgoverview/mdg_goals/mdg8/

Rwanda on global partnerships for development The Government has undertaken a

number of reforms and other initiatives including reforming the public financial system so that it complies with international good practice

One of the main priority is to build the partnership for development between the Government and the development partners so that there is mutual accountability and more ODA committed to the SWAp.

It has been a really big undertaking for Rwanda to create global partnerships after the genocide. The government has made many substantial reforms, but nothing can really take off without the support of the global partners.

Hopefully within the next few years Rwanda can really pick up on this goal and create jobs and a more stable economy for the residents.

Philippines on global partnerships The Philippines is one of the founding

members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, where it plays an active role.

The Government knows that good governance is necessary for increasing internationalization of trade, investment and finance.

I hope that the Philippines will be a much stronger influence in the world as it becomes more developed and independent.

It has geographical disadvantages, and it has little to offer as far as resources go. If technology and companies become a stronger business figure known internationally the country will burst with growth. This is in comparison with what I have studied about the history of South Korea’s growth over the past 60 years.

http://www.undp.org.ph/?link=goal_8

Ending We believe

these goals are a positive influence, however difficult situations may be for different countries.

Goals can be hard to reach, but they stretch us