As cities around the world struggle to meet the basic needs of their booming populations, many are falling behind when it comes to water, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement marking World Day for Water.

“Urbanization brings opportunities for more efficient water management and improved access to drinking water and sanitation,” Ban said. “At the same time, problems are often magnified in cities,” he added.

Wednesday, 8 March, marks the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. It is a time to not only celebrate the role of the women worldwide, but it is also an opportunity to remind the world of the struggles that women have faced over the years in the fight for equal rights, dignity and respect.

Over the years, the United Nations has paid particular attention to women’s issues, particularly to women’s empowerment as a tool for global development.

When all eyes were on the MDG Summit in September 2010, the UN Millennium Campaign’s partner organizations, the United Nations Foundation and Devex, had already teamed up to launch a global dialogue on “Making the Millennium Development Goals Happen.” The discussion, which focused individually on each of the eight MDGs over a six month period, was intended to serve as a resource for development professionals around the world to discuss, debate, and celebrate progress to date on

Alison Gemgnani, North America Editorial and Advocacy Consultant, participated in the kick-off event of “MDGs Week” at St. Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont.

Anita Sharma, North America Coordinator, participated in a panel discussion on November 15th at the Global Washington Annual Conference: "Bridges to Breakthroughs." The panel entitled “The Changing Environment of International Development” focused on challenges, recommendations, and effective public/private partnerships in global development.

Leanne Rios, North America Communications Analyst, spoke to Social Studies teachers from around the world about their role in helping to assure the Millennium Development Goals are achieved by 2015.

UN Millennium Campaign Global Director, Ms Corinne Woods was in Washington DC to present the first annual Andrew E. Rice Award to a non-governmental organization who has done significant work in advancing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The award, sponsored by the United Nations Association (UNA) of the National Capital Area (NCA), was presented by Woods to Samuel A. Worthington, President and CEO of InterAction, the largest alliance of US-based international government organizations.

Before a crowd at the City Hall in Houston, Texas, Leanne Rios spoke about the importance of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and how they relate not only to the United States, but also to Texas. Rios discussed the recently released US Strategy for Meeting the MDGs stressing that countries able to achieve gains in sustained development are ultimately more capable partners, are more apt to participate in and contribute to the global economy and to provide their citizens with the opportunity and means to improve their lives.

Keeping with the theme of partnership and multilateral commitments and responsibility, President Obama for the second time in two days addressed the United Nations General Assembly and spoke eloquently on the role which America can play in working with citizens, governments, multilaterals and foundations to foster an environment where children are given the opportunity of a primary education, where pregnant mothers receive the live saving health care, where men, women and children have access to clean and safe drinking water, where the scourge of AIDS, TB and malaria and other diseases are add

President Obama’s speech fulfills the commitment he made at the United Nations a year ago to “support the Millennium Development Goals, and approach next year’s summit with a global plan to make them a reality. And we will set our sights on the eradication of extreme poverty in our time.”  The policy outlined by the President has four pillars which will serve as the lynchpins for the Obama Administration’s improved, intensified and coherent approach to foreign assistance.