The Millennium Project was commissioned by the United Nations Secretary-General in 2002 to develop a concrete action plan for the world to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to reverse the grinding poverty, hunger and disease affecting billions of people. In 2005, the independent advisory body headed by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, presented its final recommendations to the Secretary-General in a synthesis volume Investing in Development: A Practical Plan to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
Three quarters of the 1.1 billion people living on less than $1 a day live in rural areas, and most rely on agriculture for their food and income. We work to help these small farmers boost their productivity, increase their incomes, and build better lives for their families. Learn More
Financial Services for the Poor
Fewer than 10 percent of the world's poor have access to safe, affordable financial services. We are working with a wide range of public and private partners to help make microfinance—particularly savings accounts—widely accessible to poor people throughout the developing world. Learn More
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
Water, sanitation, and hygiene are all critical to reducing the burden of water-borne diseases, which kill 1.6 million children each year. But 2.5 times as many people lack safe sanitation as clean water. We are focusing our work on sanitation to reduce the burden of disease and improve the lives of the poor. Learn More
Special Initiatives
We learn and have impact across a range of development issues to help reduce poverty and increase opportunities.
Lasting progress against global hunger and poverty will take international attention and commitment—from all corners and across all sectors. We work to increase awareness of global development issues, identify and promote powerful solutions, and advocate for more—and more effective—investments.
