Fijis Fiji s Progress in Achieving the Millennium Development Goals

David Smith Deputy Head and Senior Economist UN-ESCAP Pacific Office, Suva

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

2000 leaders from 189 countries Millennium Declaration: In 2000, agreed to achieve 8 time-bound, quantified development goals by the year 2015. In 2001, 2001 a set of targets and indicators were developed for these Millennium Development Goals. The latest version of the targets and indicators was adopted in 2008. 8 Goals, 21 targets, 60 indicators:
1: Eradicate Extreme Hunger and Poverty (3 targets, 9 indicators) 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education (1 target, 3 indicators) 3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women (1 target, 3 indicators) 4: Reduce Child C Mortality (1 target, 3 indicators) 5: Improve Maternal Health (2 targets, 6 indicators) 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases (3 targets, 10
indicators)

7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability (4 targets, 10 indicators) 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development (6 targets, 16
indicators)

Fiji and the MDGs: Overview

Fijis progress in achieving the MDGs:
On track: MDG 2 (achieving primary education), MDG 4 (reducing child mortality), MDG 5 (improve maternal health) and MDG 7 (ensure environmental sustainability) Mixed: MDG 1 (eliminate poverty and hunger), MDG 3 (promote gender equality), and MDG 6 (combat HIV/AIDS and other diseases)

Better than most countries in the Pacific

Only Melanesian country without any off off-track track goals One of the better performers among all Pacific countries

MDG 1: Eliminate Extreme Poverty and Hunger (mixed) g ( )

While proportion of people below BNPL decreased, poverty still a concern Rural areas show no decline in poverty, and considerable number of households are near the poverty line. Poverty decreasing i urban in b areas. Growth contracted between 20092011; poverty is manageable in growth situation Remittances are very important: twice that of value of sugar industry and have been a buffer to poverty Employment levels declined as a result of weak economic growth before 2011. Medium term prospects remain weak.

Source: Pacific Regional MDG Tracking Report, 2012

MDG 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education (On Track)

Net enrolment, survival rate, and literacy rates are high. Dedicated government support: transportation assistance, free tuition and text books for children from disadvantaged f ili families, removal l of f external t l examinations i ti etc. t

Source: Pacific Regional MDG Tracking Report, 2012

MDG 3:Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women ( (Mixed) p )

however

Gender parity achieved in secondary and tertiary education, , very y close in primary education

Share of women in the non agriculture sector is low

While gender equality in education has been (almost) achieved achieved, that has not been translated into workforce equality and participation
Source: Pacific Regional MDG Tracking Report, 2012

MDG 4: Reduce Child Mortality (On Track)

Fiji has h surpassed d the th national ti l target to reduce under 5 mortality to 20 percent. Good obstetrical services, and integrated approach for antenatal t t l care have h h l d helped reduce infant mortality rates Fall in immunization coverage is a concern

Source: Pacific Regional MDG Tracking Report, 2012

MDG 5: Improve Maternal Health (On Track)

On track on reducing maternal mortality ratio: already below global target High proportion of birth attended by skilled health personnel Room for improvement: contraceptive prevalence rate is low, and improving access to reproductive health services to rural areas.

MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS and other Diseases (Mixed)

While being a low-prevalence country (HIV), sharp increase in new cases (along with other STIs) Antiretroviral treatment is free through the public health system TB prevalence, pre alence incidence, incidence and death rates have ha e declined: Support from Global Fund

Source: Pacific Regional MDG Tracking Report, 2012

MDG 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability

(On Track) Fijis CO2 level is relatively low (although increasing), and Fiji is phasing out Ozone depleting substances by 2015. Fiji Fijis s forest cover has increased Leader in the region with regard to biodiversity conservation: issues mainstreamed in national and sector policies Proportion P ti of f population l ti using i improved i d drinking d i ki water t source has increased

Source: Pacific Regional MDG Tracking Report, 2012

Conclusion
Fiji is doing relatively well in achieving MDGs Areas for improvements need to be targeted with evidencedriven policies, for example: smoking g is more p prevalent in rural areas but has declined in urban areas. MOH should target interventions based on specific information. Similarly with STIs, alcohol consumption and such. HIES can show breakdown by income groups, and by geographic areas, showing where the most help is needed.