About Us
The MDG Achievement Fund is an international cooperation mechanism whose aim is to accelerate progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) worldwide. Established in December 2006 with a generous contribution of €528 million Euros ($US710M) from the Spanish Government to the United Nations system, the MDG-F supports national governments, local authorities and citizen organizations in their efforts to tackle poverty and inequality.
With 128 active programmes in 49 countries spread across 5 regions of the world, we are helping more than 3.5 million people, with another 20 million people impacted indirectly. In September 2008 at the UN High Level Event on MDGs, Spain committed an additional €90M to the MDG-F.
In all our country programmes, we work through the UN and with dozens of governmental and nongovernmental organizations ranging from farmer associations to national alliances and ministries; this ensures that development processes are owned and driven locally. With the aim of improving aid effectiveness, all MDG-F-financed programmes build on the collective strength of the UN, bringing several Agencies together to address issues that cut across the mandate of individual organizations. The MDG-F is thus at the forefront of the UN Reform process, making a significant contribution to the UN's efforts to deliver as one.
Click here to see highlights of our work around the world.
Quick Facts
- The MDG-Fund was established in December 2006 with a contribution of €528 Million from the Government of Spain to the UN system with the aim of accelerating progress on the MDGs.
- An additional €90M were contributed by Spain in 2008 mainly towards child nutrition and food security, conflict prevention and private sector and development.
- 85% of overall resources goes to financing 128 joint programmes in eight programmatic areas linked to the MDGs.
- Programmes are implemented in 49 countries from five regions around the world.
- To do this, we work with almost 2000 partners from community organizations, national and local governments, private sector, NGOs and UN Agencies.
- All our programmes are joint programmes, meaning they bring together an average of six United Nations agencies in a collective effort, thereby strengthening the UN system’s ability to deliver as one entity.
History
On 18 December 2006, UNDP Administrator Kemal Derviş and Spanish Secretary of State for International Cooperation Leire Pajín signed a landmark agreement to programme €528 million over the next four years through the UN system. The aim was to accelerate progress towards key Millennium Development Goals and related development goals in selected sectors and countries. This agreement paved the way for the establishment of the MDG Achievement Fund (MDG-F), which was launched in the first quarter of 2007.
MDG-F Framework document
UNDP/Spain Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund Framework Document provides an overview of the background, objectives, purpose and scope of the UNDP/Spain Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund.
Click here for the full document.
Governance Structure
The Governance of the MDG-F is reflected in a fairly light structure at the global level, with a two-member Steering Committee, a Secretariat, and Technical Subcommittees (TSC) led by UN Agency Convenors who have been responsible for coordinating the review of proposals for funding submitted to the MDG-F.
Accountability
The MDG-F operates through three primary accounts:
- A Global Account
- The Delivering as One UN Account
- Country Account
