Earth Institute News Archive

posted 03/24/05

Contact: Hafed Al-Ghwell, The Public Information Center, World Bank Group
halghwell@worldbank.org

Sachs to World Bank Staff: MDGs are Achievable

"I believe that we have it within our power, our generation, our time, not only to achieve the goal of halving poverty by 2015 but to achieve the goal of ending extreme poverty by 2025," said Jeffrey D. Sachs in an address at the World Bank. "This will require, not heroism to solve these problems, but investments in the basic needs of the poorest of the poor." watch video of address

March 23, 2005 -- Jeffrey D. Sachs, director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University and Special Advisor to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the Millennium Development Goals, told World Bank Group staff on Tuesday that 2005 is a "pivotal year" for development, "the last chance we have to get the Millennium Development Goals on track."

This presentation will be broadcast on C-SPAN2's "Book TV" on Saturday, March 26 at 9:15 p.m., Sunday, March 27 at 10:30 a.m., and Monday, March 28 at 6:40 a.m.

You can also view it on the web by clicking here. (requires real media player).

In his compelling presentation, Sachs said that 2005 is a "make or break year for world poverty" with the world increasingly focused on the issue in the lead-up to what he called "the biggest gathering of world leaders in history" at the United Nations in September, 2005.

"I believe that we have it within our power, our generation, our time, not only to achieve the goal of halving poverty by 2015 but to achieve the goal of ending extreme poverty by 2025," said Sachs. "This will require, not heroism to solve these problems, but investments in the basic needs of the poorest of the poor."

Sachs paid tribute to the World Bank Group and its work in development. "The staff here and their professionalism are unparalleled," he said. "Your energies are essential and the leadership of the Bank is fundamental. The Bank can, and should, and needs to be in the forefront of the great challenge and the achievable objective of success in the MDGs by 2015."

During his talk and question-and-answer session with staff, Sachs also touched on these points:

  • The objective of ending poverty in the developing world can succeed if there is a true partnership with developed countries
  • Donor countries should follow through on commitments to raise official development assistance to a minimum of 0.7 per cent of their gross national product
  • The private sector has a role to play in development but privatization is not a panacea for the needs of developing countries
  • The current leadership transition at the World Bank Group is an important opportunity to recommit to the Millennium Development Goals as the overarching framework for the institution's policies and programs.

Sachs was speaking in the Washington offices to promote the release of his new book The End of Poverty: Economic Prospects for our Time. The event was sponsored by the World Bank Public Information Center, the InfoShop, as part of its regular lecture and seminar series. Vinay Bhargava, Director of Operations and International Affairs in EXT, served as moderator, while Zia Qureshi, Senior Advisor on Global Monitoring at the Bank, offered comments on the book.

To watch the entire presentation by Jeffrey D. Sachs and his responses to staff questions, go here.

For more information on the Sachs book "The End of Poverty: Economic Prospects for our Time", go here.

The Earth Institute at Columbia University is the world's leading academic center for the integrated study of Earth, its environment and society. The Earth Institute builds upon excellence in the core disciplines — earth sciences, biological sciences, engineering sciences, social sciences and health sciences — and stresses cross-disciplinary approaches to complex problems. Through research, training and global partnerships, it mobilizes science and technology to advance sustainable development, while placing special emphasis on the needs of the world's poor. For more information, visit www.earth.columbia.edu.