Advocating the MDGs

 

Campaigning and advocating the Millennium Development Goals is as important as the elaboration of strategies to implement them. Many actions can raise awareness among the general population on what the MDGs are and in what way they can improve their daily lives or help the national governments to keep their achievement on the top of their list of priorities. Moreover, everyone can play a role. Here can be found tools to help you, whoever you are (an NGO who wants to plan a campaign, a youth who wants to know what he can do), to transform your aspirations into concrete actions.

Global Campaigns

  Millennium Campaign

The Millennium Campaign informs, inspires and encourages people's involvement and action for the realization of the Millennium Development Goals. An initiative of the United Nations, the Campaign supports citizens' efforts to hold their government to account for the Millennium promise.

MDG Advocacy for Media networks

 

Asia Pacific MDG Media Awards

The Asia-Pacific MDGs Media Awards aim to generate better awareness and understanding of the MDGs in Asia-Pacific, and motivate journalists from the region to cover stories on how MDGs are being pursued in the region. It is also hoped that media will be stimulated, through the Awards, to become a driving force in accelerating national action toward achieving the MDGs.

Campaign Tools

 

The Blue Book, a hands-on approach to advocating for the millennium Development Goals, UNDP

Rather than providing hard and fast rules or outlining specific actions, The Blue Book simply helps you develop effective communications and advocacy strategies on the MDGs. It takes into account the differences among countries, political situations and resources by offering examples of real strategies and techniques employed in both developing and developed countries. Use The Blue Book to spark your creativity, empower your ideas and speed your solutions for achieving the MDGs.

 

Millennium Development Goals Youth Action Guide, Millennium Campaign

We are the first generation that can end poverty. More than a billion people worldwide still survive on less than a dollar a day. Is anybody doing anything to end this and make the world a better and safer place? Are our elected leaders doing enough to end poverty? The answer is no. That's why it's up to us to remind them of the commitments they made.

  Campaigning Toolkit for Civil Society Organisations engaged in the Millenium Development Goals

This manual aims to assist you and your civil society organisation in campaigning for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Although it is governments who are responsible for achieving these goals, civil society organisations (CSOs) need to hold government to account. Whether your organisation is locally, nationally or regionally focused, the opportunity exists to link your efforts with the MDG Campaign at all levels.
 

UNDG MDG Toolkit

This is a collection of training materials on the Millennium Development Goals. It is designed to strengthen capacity within UN Country Teams and provide them with training tools on the MDGs that they can use both inside and outside their team. The different tools provided can be used to train UN staff as well as others.

MDG Campaigns

 

 Stand Up and Speak Out

What is Stand Up?

Stand Up and Speak Out is the growing movement of people no longer prepared to stay seated or silent in the face of poverty and inequality. On October 16th and 17th, Stand Up and Speak Out for the Millennium Development Goals. Help us break the world record. So we can break the record of broken promises.

 

End Poverty 2015 Millennium Campaign

End poverty by 2015. This is the historic promise 189 world leaders made at the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000 when they agreed to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs are an eight-point road map with measurable targets and clear deadlines for improving the lives of the world's poorest people. World leaders have agreed to achieve the MDGs by 2015.

It's up to us to make sure leaders follow through on these commitments. The United Nations Millennium Campaign supports and inspires people from around the world to take action in support of the Millennium Development Goals. Join the UN Millennium Campaign and be part of the generation that puts an end to poverty.

MDG Carbon Facility

To help mobilize the potentially significant benefits of carbon finance for the developing world, UNDP has established the MDG Carbon Facility (the "Facility"), an innovative mechanism for the development and commercialization of emission reduction projects. The core objectives of the Facility are:

• Broadening access to carbon finance by enabling a wider range of developing countries to participate, particularly those countries which are presently under-represented.

• Promoting emission reduction projects which contribute to the Millennium Development Goals ("MDGs"), yielding additional sustainable development and poverty reduction benefits.

 Global Call to Action Against Poverty

July 5th 2007 - Anti-poverty campaigners around the world are organising a broad range of events around July 7th to mark the midway point for the UN Millennium Development Goals and to hold their governments to account. Part of the growing Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP), the July 7th events will focus on how governments' efforts to meet these goals are insufficient and to highlight the growing threat of climate change on the poor and marginalised (data below).

"At the mid-point for the MDGs we are sorely disappointed with the poor performance of states that signed millennium declaration and made promises to their citizens. Millions of impoverished people continue to live in socially dismal and subhuman conditions. Most countries in the South lag far behind and Northern countries have largely failed to fulfil aid promises.

 

Millennium Campaign

The Millennium Campaign aims to build political will for the achievement of the MDGs primarily through raising public awareness and increasing pressure on governments. Through supporting national campaigns with advocacy, networking, mass mobilizations, training and capacity building, as well as media and communications development the Millennium Campaign works with citizens to monitor and hold their government's to account for their commitments made to achieving the MDGs.

In October 2002, two years after the Millennium Declaration was signed, the Millennium Campaign emerged as a response to the failing efforts of governments in keeping their promises and commitments to achieve the MDGs by the target year 2015. As an initiative of the UN, the Campaign aims to inspire a global movement to achieve the Goals and eradicate extreme poverty by 2015.

  Global Call to Action Against Poverty

The Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) is a massive global coalition from more than 100 countries and is made up of a diverse range of community groups, coalitions trade unions, organisations, individuals, faith groups and campaigners, who are all committed to the fight against poverty. These groups have formed country-based coalitions, who use the symbol of the whiteband to promote who GCAP's demands and enable concerned citizens to put pressure on world leaders and decision makers.

There is great diversity among our group, but we know that we will be more effective when we work together. We do not endeavour to reach absolute agreement on detailed policy, but we want to pressure governments to eradicate poverty, dramatically lessen inequality, and achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
  Alliance2015

Alliance2015 is a partnership of six like-minded non-government organizations working in the field of development cooperation. The Alliance members are Cesvi from Italy, Concern from Ireland, Deutsche Welthungerhilfe from Germany, Hivos from the Netherlands, Ibis from Denmark and, since November 2003, People in Need from the Czech Republic.

The purpose of the Alliance is to fight poverty more effectively by cooperating on various levels, working together in developing countries as well as on campaigns to influence public and political opinion in Europe. By joining forces, we will be able to meet the challenges and changing demands of donors. Alliance2015 seeks the full achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
 

Millennium Promise

Millennium Promise's mission is to end extreme poverty by 2025. In support of this goal, Millennium Promise's unique focus is to build coordinated action and collaborations among individuals, governments, corporations and non-governmental organizations to address the root causes and symptoms of extreme poverty.

  OXFAM Millennium Development Goals Campaign

Every three seconds, poverty takes a child's life. That's totally unacceptable, which is why Oxfam campaigns for changes that will make the world fairer and safer for its poorest people. These include:

  • Trade rules which will allow poor countries to grow their economies
  • Controls on the arms trade, to cut conflicts that lock people into poverty
Access to the education that will give millions of children a better future

Do you know any other websites that should be added to this list? Please contact us at the following email adress:

mdgasiapacific@yahoo.com

MDG Advocacy for Media Networks

 

Asia Pacific MDG Media Awards

The Asia-Pacific MDG Media Awards honour distinguished reporting on the MDGSsby producers and journalists in print, radio and television covering the Asia-Pacific region.

The competiton attracts a US$7,000 winning prize ($2,000 for runners up) for each media category and aims to generate better awareness and understanding of the MDGs in Asia-Pacific.  Entires are open until 25 March 2007  - so get your entries in soon!

The competition is open to all radio and TV producers/journalists from public service broadcasting organizations, private networks and free-lance producers covering the Asia and the Pacific.

 

UNDP Human Development Media Fellowship for Asia-Pacific 2007

The Asia-Pacific Human Development Media Fellowship is initiated by the Human Development Unit at the UNDP Regional Centre in Colombo. It is offered once a year.

The objective of the Fellowship is to support policy advocacy and dissemination of research in order to bring people to the centre of the development debate. The Fellowship encourages media professionals from the Asia-Pacific developing countries to undertake media advocacy on issues of concern in the region from a human development perspective.

  

Asia Pacific MDG Media Awards



Update:

 

 

 

 

About the Awards

The Asia-Pacific MDGs Media Awards honor distinguished reporting on the Millennium Development Goals by producers and journalists in print, radio and television covering the Asia-Pacific region.

The MDGs form a human development blueprint agreed to by all the world's countries and all the world's leading development institutions. There are eight goals, all with time-bound targets to be achieved by the year 2015. The MDGs represent a vision of a better world with less poverty, universal primary education, gender equality, healthy mothers and children, a world no longer threatened by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and dwindling environmental resources.

The Awards aim to generate better awareness and understanding of the MDGs in Asia-Pacific, and motivate journalists from the region to cover stories on how MDGs are being pursued in the region. It is also hoped that media will be stimulated, through the Awards, to become a driving force in accelerating national action toward achieving the MDGs.

A team of professional and independent jurors for each category will select the winning entries on 30-31 March 2007 at the AIBD office in Kuala Lumpur. Criteria will cover accuracy and innovation, clarity of message, technical proficiency and overall presentation.

The first of its kind in the region, the Awards will be presented during the 63rd UNESCAP Commission Session scheduled for April 2007.

The 1st prizewinner for each category receives US$7,000 plus a trophy and certificate, and the runner-up US$2,000, a trophy and a certificate. Deadline for all entries is 25 March 2007. The Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) acts as the secretariat for the Awards, which are made possible through the cooperation and assistance of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

 

Contest Rules

  1. Contest year is 1 January 2006 through 30 June 2007. All entries must be postmarked on or before midnight of 25 March 2007 (update: 15 April 2007).

  2. Entries can be in English and in the local language with corresponding requirements.
  3. Entries must have been originally published or broadcast in any country within the Asia-Pacific region during the competition period, or are scheduled for publication and airing not later than end of June 2007.
  4. The applicant must secure signed authorization from his superiors, granting the following royalty-free worldwide rights to AIBD and UNESCAP:
    1. The right to redistribute the submitted material to contest judges for the purpose of screening.
    2. In the event your entry is chosen as a winner, the right to redistribute the material via cable, terrestrial broadcast, satellite, CD/DVD, internet webcast or other media, in original or in any reencoded digital or analogue form, for the purpose of promoting the millennium development goals.

    Furthermore, you guarantee that the material is free from rights of 3rd parties worldwide. Entries will not be returned.

  5. If the entry is yet to be published or aired, the applicant must secure written commitment from the duly authorized media representative for a definite airing or publication not later than 30 June 2007.
  6. All entries should be sent to the following address:
    Asia Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development
    C/o Jose Maria G. Carlos
    2nd Floor, Bangunan IPTAR
    Kompleks Angkasapuri
    50614 Kuala Lumpur
    Malaysia

Content

Entries in the three categories should focus on one or all of the following aspects in their reports:

  • Tracking progress on the MDGs in your country: How are countries in the region performing? Which countries are ‘on track’ to achieve the MDGs and which aren’t? Why are some countries performing well and not others?

  • Human Face of MDGs: What does MDGs mean for citizens in the region ? What is the role of civil society? What are the success stories heading towards 2015? Who are the key players driving forward change and what are they doing?
  • Changes needed in achieving the MDGs – What changes are needed to meet the 2015 target? Eg. improving public service delivery (including education, health, water and sanitation); engaging communities; empowering women; fostering publicprivate partnership; etc.

For more information on the MDGs, please go to www.un.org/millenniumgoals. For information on MDGs in the Asia Pacific region, including reports and 10- minute film on MDGs, visit www.mdgasiapacific.org

 

Who can Participate

Radio & Television

  1. The competition is open to all radio and TV producers/journalists from public service broadcasting organisations, private networks and free-lance producers covering the ‘UNESCAP’ Asia and the Pacific region. Entries will be accepted from all producers, regardless of the nature, size and shape of the organization they might belong to.

  2. Eligible entries include a special report, current affairs programme, talk show or a documentary with a length of between 15 minutes and 60 minutes. A series of at least 10-minute feature report each (minimum of two reports) is acceptable. Daily news stories are excluded.
  3. Each producer can submit up to two programmes only. All entries can be in English and/or in the local language. If they are in the vernacular or local language, a subtitle in English should be in place for television, and for radio, they should be accompanied by a typewritten English translation. In both instances, entry must be submitted together with the entry form and a written certification from the editor/executive producer that the translation truly reflects the content of the programme script in the local language.
  4. Each applicant can submit up to two entries only.
  5. All entries must be submitted in VCD/DVD for TV programmes and in CD for radio programmes.

 

Print

  1. Journalists covering the ‘UNESCAP’ Asia and the Pacific region, whether freelance or affiliated or regularly employed in a newspaper or magazine company can join the competition.

  2. Eligible entries include a special report, feature and investigative piece. Daily news stories and publicity materials are excluded.
  3. Entries must be in English and/or in the local language and must have a minimum length of 1,000 words. Entries in the local language, however, must be accompanied by a typewritten English translation and a written certification from the chief editor of the newspaper/magazine, which published the article that the translation truly reflects the content of the article in the local language.
  4. Each applicant can submit up to two pieces only. They should have been published in a newspaper or magazine of mass circulation in the country of origin within the contest year.
  5. If the article is yet to be published, the applicant must secure a written commitment from the duly authorized media representative for a definite schedule of publication.

 

Web-based Material

  1. Articles published on a web site fall within the print category. Videos published on a web site fall under the TV category. In both cases, web-based materials must be publicly available on the internet throughout the competition period (1 January 2006 to 30 June 2007). Any entrant can submit a maximum of two web-based articles and up to two web-based videos. Entries can be in English or the local language, with an accompanying English translation.

  2. Web-based works are judged as-in, meaning as they appear on the web site. We will not accept DVDs or CD-ROMs with an off-line replication of a web site. Web-based works have to be live and on-line.
  3. The MDG Media Awards assumes that any entered web-based work is authentic in all its parts: text, pictures, audio, video and other multimedia elements. Entries must be secured with signed authorization from the creator(s) (i.e. author and/or producer) as well as from the current owner of the intellectually property rights on the work (i.e. the employer).
  4. Entries don’t have to cover all eight MDGs, but could focus on one. The range of content for the media awards is enormous. Suggested ideas include
    • A person or family’s struggle to ease hunger and fight disease (MDG Goal 1)
    • Success story of an AIDS victim and the role government, civil society and other institutions play into that family’s ordeal. (MDG Goal 6)
    • Young peoples concerns with climate change and air quality (MDG Goal 7)
    • A ‘day in the life’ of a rural child trying to obtain an education (MDG Goal 2)

  5. Reference to the MDGs (whether one or all MDG Goals) in your content is mandatory.

 

Judging Process & Criteria

  1. Each category will have 3 jurors. An AIBD panel will undertake the first screening to ensure basic rules and requirements are met.

  2. Professional and independent jurors with relevant expertise and experience in each category will do the second screening.
  3. They will judge each entry submitted in its entirety, in an independent and objective manner. All entries must meet the universally accepted standards of professional journalism relating to fairness, relevance, accuracy and balance.
  4. Other equally important criteria will involve the following:

    5. Radio and Television

    1. Innovation - (25) Points are awarded for originality, creativity, and novelty.
    2. Clarity of Message – (25) Points are awarded for substance in communicating the topic/issue to the listener/viewer, for raising level of awareness of the value and impact of MDGs and for holding the attention of the audience.
    3. Technical Quality – (25) Points are awarded for production quality, best use of production elements such as music, voice, graphs, interviews, etc.
    4. Overall Presentation – (25) Points are awarded for how various editorial and production elements are combined to produce a compelling programme that impact society as a whole.

    Print

    1. Sourcing – (25 Points) article must feature more than one source of data. Claims must be corroborated by interviews, documents and/or studies.
    2. Clarity of Message–(25 Points) the article explains the topic clearly to the newspaper/magazine audience, ensuring right grammar, syntax and choice of words.
    3. Technical Proficiency – (25 Points) the piece must show above average level of writing skill/style, appealing and able to communicate complex issues into understandable piece to the ordinary reader.
    4. Impact on Society – (25 Points) article must exhibit scope and significance of issue/subject and its impact on society as a whole.
  5. All the jurors will select the winning entries on 30-31 March 2007 at the AIBD office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Awards will be presented in April 2007 in Bangkok, Thailand.
  6. The decision of the board of judges is final.

    7.  

Prizes

  1. The 1st prize winner in the print, radio and TV categories will receive seven thousand US dollars ($7,000), a trophy and a certificate.

  2. The runner –up in the print, radio and TV categories will receive two thousand US dollars ($2,000), a trophy and a certificate.
  3. First prize winners will be invited to a press conference by UNESCAP in Bangkok, Thailand. Airfares and hotel accommodations will be covered by the secretariat.
  4. Cash prizes will be given to the winning producers for radio and TV and to the winning author/writer for print. The winning networks and publications will receive trophies and certificates.

 

Submission Procedures

Broadcast

  1. Submit a completed entry form with one recording of the broadcast material, and four (4) copies of a short description of the broadcast material. Each copy of the short description should have a copy of the entry form attached.

  2. For radio, the recording should be submitted as a CD. A television entry may be submitted as a one-half inch VHS videocassette or a DVD. An English translation of the radio programme should also be submitted.

Print

  1. Submit a completed entry form and four (4) copies of the entry, which may consist of tear sheets, reprints or photocopies. Each of the copies should have a copy of the completed form attached. The submitted stories should clearly show the author’s byline, the name of the publication and the date of the publication.

    2.  

For further details, please contact:

  • Mr. Jose Maria G. Carlos
    E-mail: joecarlos(at)aibd.org.my
    Phone: +60-3-2282-3719/-4618

  • Ms. Stephanie Dunstan
    E-mail: dunstan(at)un.org
    Phone: +66-2-288-2172

 

 

» Download the Contest Rules here (PDF, 85 KB)

» Download the Entry Form here (PDF, 76 KB)

 

 

Winners of MDGs Media Awards 2007

Print Category

First Prize
AN UNHEALTHY STATE OF AFFAIRS
The article speaks of Malaysia’s success in reducing child mortality rates and improving maternal health to the level of developed nations. It looks closely at indigenous groups within Malaysia, particularly the Orang Asli, who have a high level of infectious diseases. Fear of modern treatment, ignorance of health problems, lack of sufficient nutrition and lack of education are examined within the article.

Chin Mui Yoon
Star Publications
Malaysia
April 2007

Judges’ Comments:

"fresh, well written and the MDG element is distinct."
"It is solid, thorough, well-written and widely relevant."

» Download the article in PDF file (1,2 MB)

 

 

Runner-Up
SLOW AND UNSTEADY ON MDG PATH

The article reviews Bangladesh’s performance in implementing the MDGs, saying that the MDGs will be difficult to meet if the country does not implement the necessary reforms, despite economic progress. It looks at the plight of Zohra Bewa who has been struggling to earn a living and educating her two children by doing dirt-filling jobs.
Khawaza Main Uddin
New Age
Bangladesh
April 2007

 

 

» Download the article in PDF file (2,6 MB)

 

Radio Category

First Prize
A LIFE CHANGING TRIP
This feature story focuses on Wang, a 17 year old, living in remote southwest China, who as a primary school student was forced to drop out of school as her family couldn’t afford an annual US$ 10 tuition fee. To fulfill the UN Millennium Development Goals, the Chinese government exempted students in rural areas in underdeveloped western China from paying tuition fees. Wang was finally able to complete her primary education and is now in the final year of her junior high school.


He Fei, Wu Jia, Guan Juanjuan, Jin Zhao
China Radio International
China
April 2007

Judges’ Comments:

"The radio program was successful in bringing the listeners into the picturesque landscape of the moving characters with outstanding use various production elements like music, effects, testimonials and the technique of using comparison..."
"well-paced, giving the audience time to breath and absorb the message."

 

 

 

 


Runner-Up
AANGAN KE PAAR (Crossing the Divide)
The episode follows HIV positive couple, Raj and Sweta, as they challenge the daily prejudices faced by HIV positive people in India, asking shoppers in bustling Delhi Haat if they would accept a ‘positive’ hand of friendship. Raj and Sweta share their stories, including their work in tackling discrimination against HIV positive people and their personal hopes and dreams for the future.

Rupa Jha
BBC World Service Trust
India
December 2006

 

 

» Download English version of the script in PDF file (81 KB)

 

 

Television Category

First Prize
TENT SCHOOLS ON THE PRAIRIE
Thousands of nomad families on western China’s Qinghai prairie live a traditional pastoral life, which makes it hard for children to go to a regular school. But if the nomads can move with the herds, why can’t a school move with the nomads? Mobile tent schools have made big contribution to helping meet the Millennium Development Goals, but they can’t do the whole job. To ensure the children from the prairies get a complete, quality, primary education, the Chinese government is taking special measures.

Li Jiejun
CCTV International
China
April 2007

Judges’ Comments:

"The novel way of spreading education in an inaccessible place was excellent content, combined with powerful sounds and visuals that had so much impact on the audience."

 

Runner-Up
HULING HALA BIRA (The Last Hurrah)
The feature enters the life of Jojo and his family who live under the rail tracks in Manila, facing extreme poverty and dangerous conditions, but managing to get by. Facing eviction from their home, Jojo and his neighbors fight against the demolition of the rail tracks and dislocation from a community they have come to love. A window into the lives of thousands in Manila living in poverty, the feature demonstrates that poverty can deprive us of everything but the will to choose the kind of person we will be.

Horacio Severino/ Ella Marie C. Evangelista
GMA News & Public Affairs
Philippines
January 2007

 

 

Footage forthcoming.

 

» Download the winners of MDGs Media Awards 2007 in PDF file (416 KB) «

 

Related documents

MDG Movie: A Future Within Reach

In 2000, countries of the world pledged to pursue the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) - an international blueprint for human development, with a set of time-bound, measurable targets. Its ambitious timeframe: by or before 2015.

Five years on, Asia and the Pacific has a mixed bag of results. A Future Within Reach is a short video film that looks at how this region characterized by much diversity and disparity, is trying to create better living conditions, livelihoods and choices for its people.

Home to more than half of humanity, Asia-Pacific's performance is crucial for winning global battles against poverty, HIV/AIDS and other threats to human survival. With less than a decade to go, what is needed for a major leap forward?

The film draws findings from the second regional MDG report, a tripartite initiative of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Logo TVEAPProduced by TVE Asia Pacific (TVEAP) for UNESCAP, this 10-minute film is available on DVD, in 7 languages (Bahasa Indonesia, Bengali, Chinese, English, Hindi, Russian and Urdu), for free distribution.

 

 

Watch the Movie Online

 

 

 

Download the Movie