Ipea

By Sophie Rosenblum

|Bravo Brazil! Tonic investigates how the South American country is already accomplishing the UN's 2015 Millennium Development Goals - and how can other countries can begin to follow. (Hint: You can help!)

With only half a decade left until the UN's 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDG) deadline, many countries are anxiously watching the ticking clock, frantically figuring out how they are going to decrease poverty and reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS in just five years. Thankfully, when it comes to tackling the MDGs, there is one country that is already ahead of schedule.

According to a report published in March by the Brazilian Institute of Applied Economic Research (Ipea), when it comes to the MDG?s eight pillars, Brazil is on track to achieve many of these objectives by 2015, and in some areas it has already exceeded them. Ipea credits Brazil with reducing poverty by a whopping 81 percent, surpassing both the goal set by the United Nations and the goal of 75 percent the Brazilian government set for the country. As if that?s not enough, Brazil has also drastically reduced child mortality rates and stabilized the spread of HIV/AIDS throughout the country, thus lowering the number of AIDS-related deaths.

Brazil?s astounding results arrive ahead of this September's meeting of the United Nations. At that meeting, world leaders will review progress reports as nations strive to complete the goals set forth by the United Nations Millennium Declaration (UNMD). Established in 2000, the UNMD's objectives range from Promoting Gender Equality to Ensuring Environmental Sustainability.

September's UN Summit will give almost 200 countries the chance to explain which major milestones have - and have not - been met.

The MDG Monitor efficiently breaks down this entire operation (and can easily entertain you through most of your afternoon with delightful graphics and accessible figures). The website, which can be browsed according to goal and/or country, makes it possible to track different regions and see breakdowns of country accomplishments. There is an enchanting world map that color-codes a variety of data, from how many seats are held by women in national parliaments across the globe to the number of Internet users in Croatia. The website even has a clock at the top of the page counting down to the 2015 goal deadline, so you, too, can be part of the action.

Brazil has clearly been keeping an eye on that clock. But how have they managed to accomplish so much? Perhaps the most pivotal player in meeting these targets has been the Brazilian government, which has even implemented MDG Awards to pay tribute to organizations for their part in aiding the success of this project. Most recently, 20 initiatives were recognized by the federal government, including 12 civil society organizations and 8 municipalities. Indeed, civil society has played a large part in hitting MDGs as well. Throughout Brazil, cars can be seen with MDG bumper stickers, supermarket chains have created bags with the eight goals printed on them, and at the 2005 Carnival, dancers wore MDG-themed outfits.

According to Mr. Matheus Carvalho, Brazil's Secretary at the Division of Social Issues at the Ministry of External Relations, one key factor in paving the way towards eradicating poverty has been the Bolsa Familia program led by the Ministry of Social Development. The Bolsa Familia provides impecunious Brazilian families with an allowance as long as their children are vaccinated and regularly attend school. As the largest cash transfer program in existence, the Bolsa Familia is essential to helping Brazilians stay above the poverty line. According to the World Bank, which provides technical and financial support for the program, 11 million families, and more than 46 million people, are currently being helped. The Bolsa Familia program is also to thank for cutting child mortality rates. As mothers accept money through the program, they must agree to prenatal care, adding incentive for doctor visits.

With so much already achieved, what's Brazil?s next logical step? Helping other countries realize the same goals that Brazil has already accomplished, of course. By attempting to replicate the Brazilian success in other developing countries, Brazilians hope to see the same results achieved worldwide. In fact, Mr. Carvalho is quick to point out that the MDGs are a global initiative: "If China, with its population of 1.3 billion does well, a large portion of the world does well, so why not help in any way you can? This is, after all, a global project."

Through the South-South Cooperation, which the United Nations Development Programme describes as countries of the South helping each other by sharing technical or economic knowledge and skills to facilitate development, Brazil is able to coordinate with a number of countries to reach these goals. A few of the places Brazil is lending a helping hand to are Bolivia, Guinea Bissau, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, India, Cuba, Kenya, Dominican Republic, Mozambique, Angola, Venezuela, Haiti and Zambia.

Since there are so many places in need of assistance, you may be motivated to become the next Antonio Banderas or Angelina Jolie. But even if you don't aspire to be the world?s next Goodwill Ambassador, there are plenty of terrific ways to get involved, from in-person events to online gadgets. For those interested in bringing the MDGs into the classroom, UN.org provides links for teachers and students to familiarize themselves with these goals or even brainstorm better ways to achieve them. If you want to get out and meet others who are passionate about these issues, attend or organize your own event through the Stand Up Campaign, which urges citizens to let their voices be heard, ensuring that world leaders honor their commitment to these global issues. The weekend before the UN summit (September 17-19, 2010), Stand Up will hold a range of events in hopes of drawing more attention to this cause.

Have some extra cash lying around? Millennium Promise donations are tax-deductible, and they help to support local communities which in turn provide vital health services, education access, agricultural, and infrastructural resources. Just want to learn more about the fight against poverty? Check out the Global Call to Action Against Poverty's Blog to receive updates and info on even more ways to help. And if none of that tempts you, there's always FreeRice.org, where you can learn some new vocab words while helping solve world hunger. If you've already done your part to help, why not write about it? Send your story of 500 words to unworks@un.org, and it may even end up on their website.