Tracking the Millennium Development Goals in sub-Saharan Africa

This paper reviews, assesses and evaluates the performance of sub-Saharan African countries towards achieving the international development goals and targets set by the United Nations, UN Millennium Development Goals and the Agenda for Action of the 2nd Tokyo International Conference on African Development. Africa’s recent economic performance is a re¯ection of the policies it has pursued since the 1960s. It summarises the progress of sub-Saharan African countries with a view to providing a clearer understanding of the constraints they face in reaching the goals, with a special focus on the economic, poverty, education, and health targets. The paper also outlines the urgency for action at the national, regional, and international levels. It also demonstrates that the economic and social recovery that Africa experienced in the late 1990s cannot be sustained unless there is progress towards the goals. Africa’s efforts alone cannot achieve the goals, it would require global support and understanding of the special needs of the region.