The Conversation: How the Millennium Development Goals failed the world’s poorest children
Anna Childs, deputy director for International Development at The Open University

“…There has been a massive leap in learning since the Millennium Development Goals were established, not least in how to define, collect, and analyze data. [UNICEF’s Progress for Children] report makes strong recommendations for exploiting improvements in the way data is collected and used in order to determine precisely who and where are the most vulnerable and excluded children. Measuring progress in achieving the 2030 goals, says [UNICEF Executive Director Anthony] Lake, should be done ‘not only by statistical averages, but also by the degree to which the most disadvantaged children benefit.’ Anthony Lake is clear that on balance the goals have ‘absolutely not’ failed the world’s children, but he is also blunt about the need for the 2015 UNICEF report to serve as a wake-up call. … Taking all evidence into account, there are appreciable marks for effort but the recommendation can only be that the world must try significantly harder in the upcoming term of the Sustainable Development Goals” (7/1).