PTI

United Nations: The United Nations has teamed up with technology leaders Google and Cisco to launch a new online site to track global progress toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

MDG Monitor is a web application that tracks real-time progress toward the set of ambitious targets which the UN members have set for themelves for slashing poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and other social ills by 2015.

In addition to featuring information on the MDGs, the new online resource will serve as an educational and advocacy platform with the most current data in areas such as public health, education and women’s empowerment.

Launching the project yesterday at UN Headquarters in New York, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the MDG Monitor the “newest beacon in the fight against extreme poverty. The goals will help identify gaps and pinpoint areas where additional efforts are required.”

He noted that while the world is facing a “development emergency,” it must realize that there is no silver bullet that can provide immediate relief and change. Also, data on the MDGs is one of the most important requirements that can help measure progress.

Many such monitoring mechanisms might be needed to correctly gauge the pace of progress and to help set more realistic and achievable targets.