Climate change and its financing is threatening the achievement of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which set specific targets to be achieved by 2015. The recently concluded meeting for both Ministers of Finance and Environment from all over Africa discussed how they can focus on key areas to accelerate progress towards the targets of MDGs in Africa. Available information from the National Institute of Statistics (NIS) states that although the country experienced severe and extreme hardships 15 year ago, the country is on track with the achievement of the MDGs. According to James Musoni, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning said that special programmes are in place for vulnerable groups like Vision 2020 Umurenge and Ubudehe to streamline the development process. Statistics show that infant mortality is at 62 per 1000 births and the under five mortality rate is at 103 per 1000 births. Last year a UN report observed that Rwanda made progress in the reduction of infant, (less than 5 years of age), mortality and maternal mortality rates over the period 2000-2005. It indicated that in a period of five years, the country cut infant mortality rate from 107 per 1000 births in 2000 to 86 in 2005, while the under 5 years of age, mortality rate reduced from 196 per 1000 births in 2000 to 152 per 1,000 births in 2005. A report released by the UN Economic Commission for Africa this year indicates that Africa has made good progress on its commitments to promoting growth, investing in health and education for its people, improving governance and mobilizing resources. The report, ‘Mutual Review of Development Effectiveness in Africa: Promise and Performance’ suggests that a lot needs to be done on both sides to meet existing commitments. Critical areas identified in a bid to attain MDGs includes, domestic resource mobilization, improve investment climate and further develop financial intermediation to help enlarge domestic savings. Meanwhile, a new research shows that the sharply lower economic growth rates will significantly retard progress in reducing infant mortality and the spreading global economic crisis. Preliminary estimates for 2009 to 2015 forecasts that an average 200,000 to 400,000 more children a year, a total of 1.4 to 2.8 million, may die if the crisis persists. According to World Bank group, the crisis is trapping up to 53 million more people in poverty in developing countries and, with child mortality rates set to soar, poses a serious threat to achieving internationally agreed targets. Ends
