The world faces a number of critical development challenges: strengthening the capacity of people to design and deliver development policies; enhancing the accountability of states towards their citizens; building the capacity of states and societies to prevent and manage conflict; providing universal access to education; building systems to deliver public health services to battle diseases such as TB, malaria, and HIV; creating conducive business enabling environments for investment and to spur economic growth; improving the internal capacity to trade; and obtaining fair access to markets.
At the 2000 United Nations Millennium Summit, world leaders made a clear commitment to act, agreeing specific deadlines for reducing poverty and promoting human development in eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These Goals have served to rejuvenate and focus development efforts across the globe and comprise of the following:
As a signatory of the UN Global Compact, KPMG aligns its global citizenship strategy with the compacts ten principles which aim to not only mainstream these principles in business activities around the world, but to take action in support of the MDGs.
With our strong local and international relationships with development partners, KPMG's in-depth knowledge of local political and commercial environments, our understanding of local development agendas and needs, our access to KPMG International's network of member firms and to some of the world's premier development advisors, and our extensive global experience, we are committed to providing professional services that meet the real needs of the developing world.
"Using the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as our blueprint around the world we are aligning our skills and capabilities to help resolve issues like the alleviation of entrenched poverty, and working with organizations like the World Economic Forum, Millennium Cities and Village Initiatives, UNICEF and aid agencies such as Oxfam and World Vision. Sustainable change can only come through active commitment through and beyond these difficult times"
- Michael Andrew
Chairman, KPMG International
KPMG's Strong Presence at the UN MDG Private Sector Forum, 2010
With only 4 years remaining until the 2015 MDG target date; the goals can be achieved but we need a step change in the pace of progress.
To help realize these goals by 2015, KPMG is playing an important role.
The UN Summit on the MDGs was attended by Heads of State and Government, along with the private sector, foundations, international organizations and civil society. Throughout the Summit there was wide recognition of the vital role which business plays as 'a primary driver of innovation, investment and job creation' (UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon). On 22 September Lord Hastings, KPMG's Global Head of Citizenship and Diversity, was Master of Ceremonies at the UN Private Sector Forum. The Forum comprised a roundtable discussion on numerous themes where the private sector can make the most significant contribution to the MDGs such as poverty and hunger, access to education through innovative ICT, innovations for financial inclusion, and the green economy.
The UN Summit concluded with the adoption of a global action plan to achieve the eight anti-poverty goals by their 2015 target date and the announcement of major new commitments for women's and children's health and other initiatives against poverty, hunger and disease.