1. Women still face many barriers globally. 93 girls for every 100 boys are enrolled in school in Sub-Saharan Africa and, from 2000 to 2011, the number of women in universities has decreased from 66 to 61 per 100 men. Women continue to have lower wages and job opportunities. Despite the world meeting this goal overall, Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s highest percentage of people without access to clean water and sanitation. An increasing portion of the population is living in slums. There has been a dramatic drop in the number of infant deaths. However, Sub- Saharan Africa still has the world’s highest rates with the death of nearly 10% of all newborns. Half of the world’s under-5 deaths occur here. Progress has been made in trade and coping with indebted countries. Only 6% of Sub-Saharan Africa has internet access. The mortality rate for women in Sub- Saharan Africa is the highest in all regions defined by the UN. Half of all maternal deaths in the developing world occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. Extreme poverty was cut in half globally. However, Sub-Saharan Africa’s extremely impoverished population grew by 100 million. They are the only region to have increases in poverty under the MDG’s. Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest global graduation rate for primary education. Even with children who are able to attend, there is a severe lack of teachers available; the number of teachers would need to double to meet this need. Death from AIDS has decreased and access to antiretroviral drugs has increased in Sub-Saharan Africa. Many more children are sleeping under mosquito nets. However, Sub-Saharan Africa is still the region suffering most from AIDS globally. The failure of the blueprint approach Since 2002, many countries have been able to meet their goals Since 2002, many countries have been able to meet their goals The one-size-fits-all approach of the Millennium Development Goals was inappropriate for Sub-Saharan Africa. The one-size-fits-all approach of the Millennium Development Goals was inappropriate for Sub-Saharan Africa. Eradicate extreme poverty Eradicate extreme poverty Despite increases in GDP above the global average, the wealth gap continues to increase and the number of people living below the poverty line is increasing The underlying issue: Corruption and inequality is preventing many people from getting the assistance they desperately need from aid. The wealth gap is widening and many people continue to suffer from undernutrition. Universal primary education Universal primary education A poor and sick population will struggle to teach and attend school.. The underlying issue: Focusing funds on universal primary education is irresponsible in an area where people are dying of preventable diseases. Gender equality and empowering women Gender equality and empowering women This goal is crucial for achieving all others. Women and children are the sickest and most affected group. The underlying issue: Without proper sanitation and clean water, women and infants will continue to face death and disease associated with childbirth. Women who are dependent on others due to sickness and the rampant diseases in children will continue to be confined to the home and unable to work or have influence. Reducing child mortality and improving maternal health Reducing child mortality and improving maternal health Rates of under-5 deaths and childbirth-related deaths have improved in SSA, although they continue to be the statistical outlier for both. The underlying issue: A majority of these deaths are tied to poor sanitation and education levels of mothers and midwives. HIV, Malaria and other diseases HIV, Malaria and other diseases A focus on prevention, education and treatment has helped SSA reach this goal. The continuing issue: SSA still has more than double the number of new cases compared to the second-most affected region. Environmental sustainability Environmental sustainability SSA has very low greenhouse gas emissions compared to the rest of the world. Their biggest environmental problems are concerning tainted water supplies and improper waste disposal. The underlying issue: Mitigating environmental issues in this topic are beyond the capacity of SSA. It is inappropriate to have this region focus on environmental issues such as GHG emissions or resource use when their impact is already very low compared to the global averages. Global Partnership for development Global Partnership for development Aid is shifting away from the least developed regions. Technology usage remains low in SSA. The underlying issue: Criteria such as internet usage is a lofty goal for the United Nations to judge countries by. Other goals within Goal 8 such as increasing trade are much less pressing than others. With not enough goods and services to help themselves, SSA cannot focus on being in the global market. The Millennium Development Goals were made with Western ideals. The Millennium Development Goals were made with Western ideals. Lacking a geographic perspective, actual sustainable development was hindered in SSA by focusing on issues that are secondary to what they actually need. Lacking a geographic perspective, actual sustainable development was hindered in SSA by focusing on issues that are secondary to what they actually need. In the thirteen years since the goals were made by the United Nations, SSA has made large improvements in many areas. However, with the next set of goals, the UN must focus on the foundations of sustainable development. In the thirteen years since the goals were made by the United Nations, SSA has made large improvements in many areas. However, with the next set of goals, the UN must focus on the foundations of sustainable development. References: Background image: ACCCKF. (2014, October 15). Monthly Archives: October 2014. Retrieved from Africa Centre for Climate Change Knowledge Foundation: http://www.accckf.com/2014/10/ Information: Elliott, J. (2013). An Introduction to Sustainable Development. New York: Routledge. United Nations. (2015). We Can End Poverty. Retrieved from Millennium Development Goals: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/ Brown Agenda\Human Health Green Agenda\Ecosystem Health Human waste removal Basic health and sanitation education Access to clean water Reduce exposure to harmful pollutants Combat HIV and malaria Reduce child and maternal mortality via education Promote gender equality Primary education for all children and adults Promote proper land use Protect waterways from agricultural runoff Curb GHG emissions Address extreme hunger and poverty Address ecosystem and habitat loss Effective Sustainable Development plans must utilize a geographic perspective Western ideals and the Green Agenda of the Millennium Development Goals undermined true development in Sub-Saharan Africa by not addressing the underlying issues of the Brown Agenda. It is unfair and unhelpful to judge SSA by the MDG’s. Instead, a specialized, country specific set of goals should be implemented for regions which have failed to reach many of the MDG’s. These new goals should be set up as a process that begins with the most urgent issues of the Brown Agenda and then gradually shifts from human health to ecosystem heath goals. Secondary global and regionals initiatives for future generations Primary local initiatives which are immediately necessary for current generations