Bold actions are urgently needed if the development vision that world leaders laid out in remarkable unison at the
turn of the century is to be realized. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Monterrey Consensus have created a powerful global compact for development. The MDGs set clear targets for eradicating poverty and related human deprivations. The Monterrey Consensus stresses the mutual accountability of developing and developed countries in achieving these goals. But the continued credibility of this compact hinges on expediting its implementation. Nearly five years have passed since the Millennium Declaration was adopted, and current stocktaking of progress during that time has focused global attention on the need to scale up action-making 2005 a crucial year to build momentum for the MDGs.

Unless the international community acts now, there's a grave risk the world won't meet international targets to reduce the number of people dying of disease. The report also warns Sub-Saharan Africa is in danger of not meeting any of the Millennium Development Goals - international targets to reduce poverty, disease and illiteracy by the year 2015.