The United Nations on June 6, 2012 launched an online platform that will track the progress of the financial and policy commitments made by countries towards realizing the anti-poverty and social development targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The website, Integrated Implementation Framework (IFF), was launched by UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon at an informal meeting of the General Assembly.

“Starting today, we have a tool that is available and accessible to anyone in the world – a one-stop shop to monitor all commitments made by Member States to help meet the Millennium Development Goals,” the UN News quoted Mr. Ban as saying.

Officials say the IFF will provide an overview of all international commitments made in direct support of the MDGs since 2000.

It will also provide information on the nature of these commitments, track their delivery, demonstrate inconsistencies and identify gaps between the support provided and the support that is required for achieving the MDGs.

According to Ban Ki-moon, though the IFF will not solve the challenge of ensuring delivery on commitments, it will help to “increase accountability and strengthen global partnerships.”

In addition, the website aims to serve as a resource for policymakers, academics, researchers and civil society interested in what governments have done in support of the achievement of the MDGs, and as a springboard for discussions on the post-2015 development agenda.

There are a total of eight MDGs, ranging from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015. They form a blueprint agreed to by all the world’s countries and all the world’s leading development institutions and have galvanized unprecedented efforts to meet the needs of the world’s poorest.

By Ekow Quandzie