Post 2015 Update
This year draws to an end the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In September 2000 world leaders committed their nations to a new global partnership to reduce extreme poverty by September 2015. Fifteen years were dedicated to action the quantified targets outlined under the 8 MDGs.
Celebrate: we acknowledge that much progress has been made and we celebrate the successes and affirm the actions and decisions taken by leaders that have resulted in this progress.
Sorrow: we take note that progress has been far from uniform across the world and across the 8 MDGs.
The questions we ask are 'what has worked and why?'; 'what has not worked and why?'
For example:
MDG 1: Eradicating extreme poverty – we still have 1.2 billion people living in extreme poverty (less than $ 1.25 / day). By 2008 the global poverty rate fell from 44% to 23% - but now it has slowed down. Why? One of the reasons is that we have perhaps picked the low hanging fruit of dealing with poverty and have failed to tackle the systemic injustices that exacerbate poverty, to reach people in conflict areas and to tackle the challenges posed by ever-increasing city slums. We will need to go much further and deeper in our initiatives.
2015 Agenda
Over the last few year’s discussions, consultations and drafting of the post 2015 agenda has been taking place. The final stages of deliberation and drafting of the new global action plan is about to be released. Read the road map here.
The post 2015 development agenda has been drawn up to show:
17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): download the current draft here.
6 essential elements for delivering these SDGs:
• Dignity: to end poverty and fight inequalities
• Prosperity: to grow a strong inclusive and transformative economy
• Justice: tom promote safe and peaceful societies and strong institutions]
• Partnership: to catalyse global solidarity for sustainable development
• Planet: tom protect our ecosystems for all societies and our children
• People: to ensure healthy lives, knowledge and the inclusion of women and children
Micah Response
We currently have almost 50 national Micah expressions around the world. As we have members in 89 countries, we hope that we will have further national expressions developing in the coming years.
January to September 2015: Actions
We have invited each of these national expressions to facilitate a celebration and sorrow event which creates a transition bridge to the post 2015 agenda:
1. Evaluates the MDG status of their country
2. Invites their leaders to respond to this outcome
3. Celebrate the gains and lament the shortfalls
4. Advocate and encourage their government and local church leaders to give a massive push to MDGs not met
5. Introduce the post 2015 agenda (17 SDGs and 6 essential elements) and invite response
The feedback from each of these meetings will be gathered and presented to us at our Global Consultation (14th to 18th September 2015)
Outcomes:
Nationally: we anticipate that each Micah national expression will be able to confirm their national action plan for: awareness raising, training and equipping, lobbying and campaigning to tackle the SDGs.
Globally: we will have selected the global campaign initiatives we will be taking forward through 2015 – 2017.
Core business of Micah
There are a number of themes which we want to address as ongoing core business initiatives in Micah. These themes cover issues which - if unadressed - form barriers to transformation:
• Understanding and application of integral mission / holistic transformation
• Addressing causes of poverty
• Healing wounds of ethnic conflict and facilitating reconciliation
• Addressing gender inequalities including domestic violence, trafficking and exploitation; and promoting inclusion, access to education and health care, protection of children.
• Seeking the welfare of our cities through urban mission
• Missional training for an integrated response (aid and missions, local churches, businesses and colleges working together for holistic transformation)
Exciting year ahead
It feels daunting, however looking through the gifts of our members around the world we are confident that together we can make a difference.
United in Him
Sheryl Haw
Interim International Director
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