JCI and the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

-JCI has a Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 1954

-JCI Organizations use the UN MDGs, a set of time-bound and measurable goals and targets for combating poverty, as a framework for positive change in the community.

-In 2009, JCI members will meet at the United Nations in Geneva for the JCI Leadership Summit on climate change

In September 2000 at the UN Millennium Summit, world leaders agreed to a set of time-bound and measurable goals and targets for combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women. Placed at the heart of the global agenda, they are called the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and include eight main goals:

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
Goal 5: Improve maternal health
Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development

The eight goals provide a framework for governments, businesses, organizations and citizens to work coherently together towards a common end.

In this context, the world is making progress toward the MDGs, but it is uneven and too slow. A large majority of nations will reach the MDGs only if they get substantial support – advocacy, expertise and resources - from outside sources, such as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) like JCI.

Working in collaboration with the United Nations, JCI has held several Leadership Summits at the UN in New York. These Summits have helped JCI members learn about the UN and its projects, including those related with the MDGs.

At the 2003 JCI Leadership Summit at the UN-New York, JCI took responsibility to contribute to the efforts of the UN and presented a resolution supporting the MDGs.

At the 2004 Summit, JCI decided to focus on the promotion of the MDGs 1 and 6 in Africa/Middle East, MDG 1 in Asia/Pacific, MDGs 4 and 8 in the Americas and MDG 8 in Europe.

At the 2007 Summit, JCI presented resolutions deepening actions under the MDGs 1, 4, 6 and 8.

At the 2008 Summit, JCI focused on the Corporate Social Responsibility, with the support of the UN Global Compact, and presented actions on it.

In 2009, JCI will host a Summit at the UN-Geneva, with the support of the UN Global Compact and the International Chamber of Commerce, to explore, propose and take actions on Climate Change and, accordingly, issue a "Commitment to Action" on Climate Change.

Each year, JCI members organize thousands of projects dedicated to advancing the goals. The goals provide a framework for targeting local problems to improve communities worldwide.

JCI Local and National Organizations have been posting their projects related to the MDGs at the JCI Project Gallery.