The document summarizes key points from a joint World Bank and IMF report on progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. It finds that while poverty reduction was occurring prior to the 2008 crisis, the crisis negatively impacted developing countries, especially in Africa. Progress on health and education goals was mixed, with fragile states making the least progress. Maintaining momentum on the MDGs will require policy reforms in developing countries as well as continued support through development assistance, trade, and international financial institutions.

1. A Joint Report by the World Bank and IMF

2. Why achieve the MDGs…

8. Fragile states made the least progress .

10. Low emissions in poor countries will start to grow… the opportunity to intervene is now…

12. As a result… no large GDP contraction (red) for many low-income countries in 2009

15. The crisis sharply reduced wage earnings in many middle-income countries

16. Households above the $1.25 a day poverty line in higher-income developing countries coped by

17. If the recovery weakens and developing countries slide, history says human cost could be very high

19. Economic and policy environment tumbles during downswings

20. It’s the frequency of downturns in Africa’s past that produces very negative results Frequency of growth acceleration and deceleration, growth rates, and GDP per c apita

29. We can do better