British Medical Journal
06 April 2013 (Vol 346, Issue 7902)
http://www.bmj.com/content/346/7902

Analysis
What should follow the millennium development goals?
BMJ 2013; 346 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f1193 (Published 28 March 2013
http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f1193
Charles Kenny

Extract
Debate on what should replace the millennium development goals when their target date of 2015 is reached is hotting up. Charles Kenny comments on lessons learnt from their success and failure and looks at the suggestions for the post-2015 development agenda

The millennium development goals were an offshoot of the United Nations Millennium Declaration agreed by world leaders at the UN General Assembly in 2000.1 The eight goals that were subsequently adopted in 2001 set targets for progress to reduce poverty and improve outcomes in nutrition, education, health, equality, the environment, and global partnerships by 2015 (box). With that end date fast approaching debate on what should follow them is mounting, and later this year the UN secretary general will set out a draft agenda based on recent consultations. As discussion continues it is important to consider the successes and failures of the goals learnt from the lessons these provide, and look at the desirability and feasibility of new goals that have been suggested…

Analysis
Commentary: new development goals must focus on social determinants of health
BMJ 2013; 346 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f1893 (Published 28 March 2013) http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f1893
David Legge, David Sanders

Extract
Although the millennium development goals (MDGs) addressed some of the starkest manifestations of the contemporary global health crisis, they failed to confront the underlying structures that maintain the crisis, including globalisation. In reflecting on the post-2015 development agenda,1 we need to challenge some key assumptions about the genesis and effect of the current goals.

Much of the discourse around the MDGs since 2000 has suggested that attainment would be secured by creating a global partnership for development (goal 8) and would require “more of the same,” including increased development assistance. An alternative interpretation is that both the goals and the increased development assistance since 2000 were motivated, at least in part, by the need to shore up the legitimacy of what was …