Business and the Millennium Development Goals

  Business and the Millennium Development Goals.

The Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) was born in September 2000, when the 189 heads of states ratified the millennium declaration. This is an unprecedented global commitment which is after solving global challenges. There are 8 goals in all with indicators and target set for the attainment of these goals by 2015.

I know you must be wondering by now what these 8 goals could be. They are to:

-Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

-Achieve universal primary education

-Promote gender equality and empower women

-Reduce child mortality

-Improve maternal health

-Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

-Attain environmental sustainability

- Develop a global partnership for development

A deep reflection will affirm that the challenges facing the world revolve around these 8 goals. Also, these goals are related. The attainment of one will promote the other. The neglect of a goal will damage the beauty of the remaining 7. You can imagine the attainment of other goals without achieving universal basic education.

Why are these goals important to business? I will give 3 broad reasons why it makes a sound business sense to promote the Millennium Development Goals.

• Business thrives where society thrives. The ideal thing for an entrepreneur is to invest in a sound environment to do business. This is only when the factors of production will be in place and of a good quality. The factors of production are: Land, Labour, Capital and Entrepreneurship.  The MDGs goals aid these factors.
• Managing the direct cost and risk of doing business
• Harnessing new business opportunities. The success of developing world in improving prosperity is of strategic importance to almost every company, while corporate and social needs are integrated.

Business can contribute to MDGs through core business activities in the workplace, market, and along a supply chain; Also, through social investment and philanthropy activities and their engagement in public policy dialogue and advocacy activities.

Narrowing it down to individual participation will make the attainment of these goals realistic. People are the most vital resource in any business. They are the intellectual capacity that drives any business. So, what can you do to help your next door neighbour? It could be your words of encouragement; it could be knowledge sharing, financial support not leaving out a positive attitude.