The Ministry of Local Government has signed a partnership agreement with the MDGs centre at the Earth Institute of Columbia University in New York, to fast track the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

This will be done through the scaling up of the Vision 2020 Umurenge program (VUP), with the Earth Institute providing technical expertise in the areas of irrigation, infrastructure, climate change, energy, food security, management of data systems, access to drinking water and agribusiness, while MINALOC will be the implementing agency.

The need to accelerate the achievement of the MDGs has been emphasized by several stakeholders, both local and international.

Governments and other institutions in the richest countries can play a critical role in mobilizing resources towards the achievement of the MDGs. 

The MDG centre at the Earth Institute continues to play a pivotal role in this endeavour by providing expertise to help improve the welfare of the people.

International partnerships can help achieve the MDGs as most developing countries face challenges such as shortage of technical expertise, in such areas as reviewing progress and providing technical advice on how to scale up progress.

The overall objective is to ensure sustainable development. Therefore, such partnerships should look into long term solutions to the challenges, and the local population should learn from the expertise so that once the support period comes to an end, they are equipped with the skills to carry on.

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