Grasping The Essence of The Millennium Development Goals: A Literature Review

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a set of global objectives formulated and established by the United Nations to address various economic, social, and environmental challenges faced by the global community. Created in 2000, the MDGs have shown uneven progress, prompting critical analysis and improvement efforts, leading to the development of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a more robust replacement. This research aims to delve into the essence of the formation of MDGs through an analysis of various relevant literature sources. This literature review employs a descriptive analysis method to dissect various aspects of MDGs, including theoretical aspects, historical context, and the impact of their implementation in various countries. The findings of this study highlight both the successes and obstacles encountered in achieving the MDGs and their relevance to post-MDGs sustainable development. The research also provides deeper insights into the policies and strategies needed to continue the MDGs’ achievements within the context of the SDGs adopted in 2015. The findings of this research are expected to make a significant contribution to a better understanding of the MDGs.


Introduction
The United Nations (UN) adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000, marking a significant milestone that reflected the global aspiration to improve the conditions of humanity [1].It was a historic moment that showcased the world's determination to bring about positive change.The MDGs consisted of eight ambitious goals aimed at addressing various social, economic, and environmental challenges facing the global community today.These goals ranged from eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality, reducing child mortality, improving child and maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, reducing the prevalence of malaria and other diseases, to ensuring environmental sustainability.The MDGs provided a detailed framework outlining the vision for better global development [2][3][4].
The MDGs have had a significant impact on the world.They have encouraged nations to prioritize social development, community well-being, and environmental protection [5].The MDGs have also motivated various stakeholders, including international financial institutions and non-governmental organizations, to collaborate in achieving these goals [6].While the achievements of the MDGs have 1324 (2024) 012059 IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1324/1/012059 2 been inspirational, challenges remain [7].Some countries still struggle to reach these goals, and inequality continues to be a serious issue [8].
However, over time, the precise understanding of the "essence" of the MDGs has often become blurred [9].The MDGs era ended in 2015, and the world is now implementing the more extensive and ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Nevertheless, the MDGs remain relevant to the history of global development and serve as a foundation for future development.
This research aims to unearth the essence of the MDGs by returning our understanding to their roots.It seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the true meaning of the MDGs.Throughout this research, we will reflect on the MDG era comprehensively, including the achievements and failures that occurred, as well as the social, economic, and environmental impacts resulting from the implementation of the MDGs.Additionally, we will explore how the MDGs have shaped our understanding of the concept of global development and how they influence our perspective on the current Sustainable Development Goals.Through a deeper understanding of the nature of the MDGs, we hope to provide valuable insights into the evolution of global development and how we move towards a better future.

Methods
The study conducted in September and October 2023 employs a descriptive analysis approach to analyze various dimensions of MDGs.This approach involves the search, selection, and critical analysis of various literature sources on MDGs from various academic sources and official United Nations documentation.The research sources consist of data that can be found through Google Scholar, which are then selected based on inclusion criteria that emphasize credibility and the certainty of information relevance.
After the identification and collection of scholarly publications, reports, and various documents related to MDGs, a comprehensive analysis of the content and significant findings from each data source is conducted.The gathered information is then summarized into several major points, including (1) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), (2) the historical context and evolution of MDGs, (3) theoretical aspects and implementation approaches, and (4) successes, challenges, and post-MDGs relevance.
The research method was chosen because it allows for comparisons and the synthesis of findings from various sources to gain a more comprehensive understanding of MDGs.The qualitative data generated from this literature analysis forms the basis for the research findings and conclusions.The results of this literature review are expected to provide in-depth insights into MDGs based on critical analysis from various academic and practitioner perspectives documented in trustworthy documents.

Discussion
This discussion discusses the essence of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by analyzing the various dimensions of the MDGs.The discussion in this paper is based on a selection and search of various literature sources.After screening 60 titles and abstracts, 45 articles were left that described the set of global goals cashed in on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and reviewed in full.Of these, 45 articles included discussions on critical assessments of the MDG goals while others focused on successes in the MDGs that will be built upon in the SDGs.

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
In September 2000, a meeting of the United Nations (UN) was held to discuss a contract of heads of state that emphasized the main concern of the world community to work together to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) until 2015.The MDGs have a goal of focusing on the human aspect as the main supporting actor in development which includes all components of activities that have an output on human welfare itself [10].The eight goals of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, improve access to education and basic infrastructure, promote gender equality and empower women, reduce maternal and child mortality, improve maternal health, and combat diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria.In addition, the MDGs also aim to ensure environmental sustainability and enhance and develop global partnerships in the development process.There are qualitative and quantitative targets for some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) [11].
The first MDG goal and achievement of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger is a challenge in achieving the MDG goals in the health section.There are challenges in achieving the MDG goals in the health sector, namely how the government can define commitments and effective policies that are already available so that they can become routine programs in health services, especially for people who are more in need, namely the poor [12].
The Millennium Declaration has also made an agreement that the obligation of each country to implement development in accordance with the goals of the MDGs and the commitment high-income country that help and support efforts to achieve the MDGs.However, there is a lack of consistency in determining the scale of achievement of the MDGs, whether the goals apply universally to lowermiddle-income country as a whole or only to economically vulnerable lower-middle-income country.The Millennium Declaration identifies the importance of special attention to human rights, democracy, and the importance of good and supportive governance.These are all forms of development efforts.However, these efforts are more focused on countries that are vulnerable and affected by conflict [13].
The goals of the MDGs have been called excessive and overly ambitious and therefore unrealistic because they ignore local capacity constraints, but there is a contrary view that the goals are not excessive and ambitious when compared to the many unmet human needs.

Historical Context and Evolution of the MDGs
The Millennium Declaration or UN General Assembly Resolution number 55/2 was signed by member states of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2000.This resolution at the UN General Assembly aims to realize a more decent life by 2015 for people living in lower-middle-income country.The form of signing the Millennium Declaration in 2000 was the preparation of legislation in national governments to stimulate policies in accordance with the MDGs as stipulated in the 'United Nations Framework Towards Millennium Development Goals'.The MDGs focus on three things: human development, infrastructure development, and the importance of upholding human rights.The main focus of the MDGs is the main pillar in the creation of the 8 goals of the MDGs.However, in its implementation, the MDGs can be adapted to the conditions of the countries concerned [13].
The MDGs succeeded in raising public opinion by showing the importance of making ambitious goals by putting basic unmet human needs at the forefront, the MDGs tailored decisions based on high and lower-middle-income country.Because of these decisions, the MDGs helped lift many people out of extreme poverty and hunger and promote gender equality in life.However, disparities still exist as progress has been uneven.People are still trapped in poverty in some parts of the country.Many pregnant women still die in childbirth and there is still a gap between rural and urban populations especially in economic aspects [14].
Eye health programs that focus primarily on disability and visual impairment are important to recognize as an urgency in addressing functional limitations that show good results.It is part of the development agenda with greater responsibility in the effort to align with the MDGs.It is important that eye health programs work in an integrated manner with other programs within and outside of health to achieve the MDGs by 2015 [15].
The aspect of the importance of electricity is not included in the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).Electricity is critical to the development efforts of lower-middle-income country.Electricity serves as a basic human need like clean water, sanitation, education services, health and others.That is why access to electricity plays an important role in helping to achieve the MDGs [16].

Theoretical Aspects and Implementation Approaches
The implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) involves several theoretical concepts that provide the foundation and direction for global efforts to achieve the established development goals [17].The concept of global development has evolved over time and has had a significant influence on the formulation and implementation of the MDGs [1].One crucial development is the understanding that global development encompasses not only international development but also includes universal and global issues [18].This led to the inclusion of social goals in the MDGs, alongside the traditional focus on macroeconomic growth [19].
The theories that support the MDGs provide an important conceptual foundation.For example, the significance of education and healthcare in reducing poverty underscores the close relationship between income growth, and health in poverty reduction efforts [20].This prompted recognition within the MDGs of the importance of meeting basic needs, gender equality, and environmental protection [21][22].
However, despite the widespread recognition of the MDGs and their impetus for global efforts to address social and economic inequalities, there has been criticism stating that they prioritize economic growth too much without addressing the structural root causes of inequality.Debates about the effectiveness and underlying assumptions of the MDGs continue, underscoring the importance of continually improving global development approaches [23][24][25].
Furthermore, theories of health and education play a crucial role in the implementation of the MDGs in various countries.These theories emphasize the importance of careful planning, evaluation, and interventions based on theoretical knowledge [26].The integration of these theories into health education and behavior change programs is key to the success of improving public health.
The integration of environmental and sustainability concepts into theories that support the achievement of MDG targets has a significant impact on these efforts.Experts have explored the relationship between industrial areas and their surrounding environments, creating a shared framework for evaluating sustainable communities.Evidence of long-term performance in sustainability stocks indicates that sustainability efforts can yield significant economic benefits [27].Additionally, the implementation of sustainable architecture in green cities has contributed to mitigating the impact of global warming and addressing urgent environmental issues [28].
Another crucial aspect is the role of countries and international organizations in achieving the MDGs [29].They have adopted various approaches, including inter-country cooperation, foreign aid policies, intergovernmental organization implementations, participatory approaches in healthcare services, and a diverse taxonomy of theoretical approaches [30][31].All of these are collective efforts to achieve global development goals.
Furthermore, the United Nations (UN) and other international organizations play a pivotal role in influencing the global implementation of MDGs.They have been instrumental in promoting sustainable development through Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The previous MDGs also increased the commitment and efforts of governments and other actors in improving public health.However, the success of MDGs varies between countries due to different challenges and issues, and the implementation of MDGs requires a multi-sectoral approach [32].
Community empowerment is also a crucial element in achieving the MDGs, allowing community members to play an active role in setting priorities, strategies, and measures to improve health and reduce disparities [33].This empowerment aims to strengthen individuals and community institutions while promoting modern cultural values that support sustainable development [34].
Lastly, evaluation and learning play a vital role in improving the implementation of MDGs [35].Collaboration between implementers and evaluators helps design improvement initiatives and ensures the credibility of evaluation results [36].Skilled evaluators can contribute to the design of improvement interventions and facilitate the necessary learning process during the MDGs' implementation [37].Rigorous yet flexible evaluation is required to allow adaptation to changing conditions and needs [38].
Learning from the implementation of MDGs provides valuable input for the future global development agenda.Countries have a central role in shaping the future of global health based on their experiences with MDGs [39].New agendas like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) require significant investment in sustainable infrastructure and human development.Multilateral development banks also play a crucial role in supporting the new global agenda, but improved operational coherence is needed to enhance their impact [40].
In conclusion, the implementation of MDGs involves various theoretical concepts and practical approaches.It also entails cooperation among countries, international organizations, and community empowerment to achieve ambitious global development goals.Evaluation and learning continue to play a role in improving implementation, while lessons learned from the MDGs help shape a better future global development agenda.These reflect the complexity and challenges of striving for inclusive, sustainable, and equitable global development.

Success, Barriers, and Post-MDGs Relevance
Countries around the world have adopted various strategies and approaches to achieve the targets set in the MDGs.The implementation of these diverse strategies has resulted in reports describing a wide range of approaches taken by different countries.Important notes found in these documented outcomes can serve as a source of in-depth insights, highlighting key points such as how a country achieved target success and identifying various barriers that arose during the process [41].The post-MDGs era not only provides retrospectives on what has been achieved but also highlights new directions and relevant priorities for the future.This is crucial to ensure that sustainable development efforts can continue to progress, taking into account knowledge, particularly based on the experiences gained.Thus, as a global community, we can take concrete steps to shape a more just society, a more inclusive economy, and a more sustainable environment in the times ahead.

Success Post-MDGs.
Following the conclusion of the MDGs, the international community has witnessed significant progress across various sectors.Although the MDGs reached their deadline in 2015, their success remains relevant as the foundation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are currently the global agenda.Some of the successes achieved post-MDGs include: poverty reduction: over one billion people have successfully lifted themselves out of extreme poverty, reflecting the global commitment to combat poverty; access to education: access to primary education has seen rapid improvements, with gender parity in primary education approaching nearly equal levels in many countries; health: significant reductions in child and maternal mortality rates, as well as progress in addressing HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other communicable diseases [42].

Post-MDGs
Challenges.Despite significant progress, there are still several challenges hindering the full achievement of post-MDGs goals, including: inequality, while global poverty rates have declined, inequality within and among countries persists.This reflects the fact that the benefits of development have not been enjoyed by all segments of society; Environmental Issues; Climate change; environmental degradation; and biodiversity loss pose serious threats to sustainable development; Conflict and Crises: In various parts of the world, conflicts and crises impede the attainment of development goals, resulting in loss of lives and infrastructure damage [43][44].

Relevance of Post-MDGs.
In the current global context, the relevance of post-MDGs becomes highly significant: Foundation for SDGs: The successes and challenges of the MDGs serve as lessons for formulating the SDGs, which now comprise 17 goals with 169 targets, reflecting a more inclusive and holistic approach.Enhancing Global Cooperation: Post-MDGs remind the world of the importance of international cooperation in addressing global challenges, whether they be health crises, climate change, or inequality [45].Sustainable Development: One key message of post-MDGs is the need to ensure that development not only focuses on economic growth but also on social justice and environmental sustainability.

Conclusion
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted by the UN in 2000 have had a significant impact in improving the quality of life of many individuals, especially in poverty alleviation, education, gender equality and health.Although much progress has been made, challenges such as inequality and climate change still exist.The MDGs, even though their mission has been completed, remain relevant as a foundation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reminding us of the importance of global cooperation and inclusive and sustainable development.