We are active partners in supporting the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals and encouraging the Australian Government to commit to giving 0.7% of GNI to foreign aid.
Micah Challenge is a global movement of Christian agencies, churches, groups and individuals which aims to deepen people's engagement with the poor and to help reduce poverty as an integral part of our Christian faith.
Micah Challenge takes its name from the prophet Micah, who wrote, "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" Micah 6:8.
Micah Challenge has two main purposes: 1. Inward Reflection: to prayerfully encourage Christians to walk humbly with God and seek His heart for people in poverty. 2. Outward Action: to inspire and equip Christians to do justice and love kindness by being prophetic voices to our government and community on behalf of the poor and oppressed.
Millennium Development Goals In September 2000, all 189 member states of the United Nations signed on to the Millennium Development Goals – a set of eight targets which aim to halve world poverty by 2015. Each target has clear indicators to measure progress and success.
The goals, which all have a target date of 2015, are:
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger a. reduce by half the proportion of people living on less than a dollar (US) a day b. reduce by half the proportion of people who suffer from hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education a. ensure that all children complete primary schooling
3. Promote gender equality and empower women a. ensure girls have the same access to education as boys
4. Reduce child mortality a. cut infant and child deaths by two thirds
5. Improve maternal health a. reduce by three quarters the proportion of women dying in childbirth
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases a. halt and begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS b. begin to reverse the incidence of malaria and other diseases like TB
7. Ensure environmental sustainability a. reduce byhalf the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water b. transform the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020 c. reverse the loss of environmental resources
8. Develop a global partnership for development a. address issues such as trade, debt, aid and public health to promote economic growth and poverty reduction
For more information on the goals see the following links: