Nigeria, 19 Jan 2012 - As the 2015 deadline year for realisation of the eight global Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) draws nearer, the House of Representatives Committee on the MDGs, the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) organised a two-day retreat recently in Abuja for members of the House Committee. The main objective of the House of Representatives Committee on MDGs retreat in Abuja was to expose members to the principles and national frameworks on the MDGs as well as the mandate of the Committee in their achievement.

This article from the Washington Post describes an exciting new program being conducted in two Indian districts in which citizens can connect directly with government officials to report problems via cell phones.

LONDHIYA, INDIA — Almost everyone in this village in central India has a complaint. Electricity comes only three hours a day. The road has potholes. Widows’ pensions arrive late. The school lunch program often runs low on food.

Senegalese Entertainer Baba Maal promoting MDG Goals 4 and 5 at an event organized by the UN Country Office to support the MDG Campaign. The event was jointly organized with the National Civil Society Consortium.(CONGAD)

Senegal launches Parliamentary MDG Committee to monitor MDG Performance. This was a join event by the UN Millennium Campaign and the UN Country Team, lead by the RC.

Rome March 30, 2011 – Miguel Ángel Palacio, President of the Parliament of Cantabria (Spain) met this morning in Rome with Marina Ponti, UN Millennium Campaign’s Deputy Director for Europe in recognition to the leading role that this regional parliament has had in the promotion of the MDGs in the last years.

Since 2009, and in collaboration with the University of Cantabria and the regional newspaper “El Montañes”, the Parliament of Cantabria has coordinated the initiative Students of the Millennium, which has proved to be an excellent tool to increase support and knowledge on the

DAKAR (AlertNet) – African solutions to African problems is the mantra of governments across this continent. But what about the goodwill ambassadors that fly around speaking about the issues that touch Africa most deeply, should they be African too?

Just days before an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Cameroon and Senegal in Dakar, the United Nations named Senegal’s captain, Mamadou Niang, a champion of the U.N.

As cities around the world struggle to meet the basic needs of their booming populations, many are falling behind when it comes to water, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement marking World Day for Water.

“Urbanization brings opportunities for more efficient water management and improved access to drinking water and sanitation,” Ban said. “At the same time, problems are often magnified in cities,” he added.

“Over the past three decades, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has reminded us of the fundamental linkages between health and development more broadly.

Wednesday, 8 March, marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. It is a time to not only celebrate the role of the women worldwide, but it is also an opportunity to remind the world of the struggles that women have faced over the years in the fight for equal rights, dignity and respect.

Over the years, the United Nations has paid particular attention to women’s issues, particularly to women’s empowerment as a tool for global development.

Ten years after their establishment, the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals are set to gain a new local and tangible edge with the launch of an online citizen tracking program in Kenya that went live Feb. 10.