A Framework For the Future – Ending poverty in a generation

Next week in New York, world leaders will meet to map out a new set of global development goals.

They will focus on the future; projecting their vision for the next generation, and on the past; reflecting on the successes and challenges of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

But they, and we, must also recognise the present; the historic opportunity we have, right now.For the very first time, we are within reach of ending extreme poverty.

Our ambition level in the coming months will determine the chances of  billions of children’s in the coming decades, so it must remain high;

– for Eric, in Bangui in the Central African Republic, who wants to sleep tonight, free from the fear of violence

– for Sabrina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, who wants to carry her child, confident that, this time, complications won’t end her dream of being a mother and

– for Tommy, in Glasgow, here in the UK, who wants to be the first in his family to finish secondary school.

The MDGs are delivering on many promises: 700 million fewer people in absolute poverty, 50 more million children in primary school and 14,000 less children dying each day. But, with the 2015 finish line in sight, we have failed to finish the job. World leaders must create a new set of sustainable development goals capable of ending extreme poverty – for good.

Save the Children’s contribution

To contribute to the global conversation, Save the Children is launching our ‘Framework for the Future’, presenting 12 concrete goals and linked targets, that give every child an equal chance to survive, and thrive.

Our ‘Framework for the Future’ proposes five key elements for governments to prioritise:

1)  Getting to zero on extreme poverty: reflecting our opportunity and responsibility to ‘get to zero’ on key human development challenges such as eliminating preventable deaths of mothers and their newborn babies and ensuring that every child is in school.

2) Filling the gaps in the MDGs: putting children’s development at the centre of the new framework, however challenging. This includes ensuring that all girls and boys live a life free from violence and enabling all people to participate, track progress and hold leaders to account.

3) Integrating environmental elements: recognising that we will fail to end poverty if we continue to damage precious natural resources. We present goals on climate change, energy access, disaster risk reduction and sustainability targets across the new framework.

4) Building a universal framework: achieving our 2030 vision will require shared ownership and shared responsibility for delivery. Our report offers universal goals and targets and a number of nationally-set indicators reflecting the need for country action to drive development.

5) Embedding equity: The only way to deliver truly sustainable development is to ensure that no one is left behind. We must prioritise the needs of the poorest girls and boys. To make equality a reality we are calling for ‘stepping stone’ targets to close the gaps between the rich and poor. We’re also calling for no goal to be considered met until it is met for everyone and dedicated targets to deliver and incentivise an end to inequality.

12 goals, 15 years, the lives of billions of boys and girls on the line. Save the Children’s ‘Framework for the Future’ is ambitious but achievable, and all within one single generation. Ours.