The Department for International Development (DFID) is the part of the UK Government that manages Britain's aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty.

Millennium Development Goals

The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were agreed at the United Nations Millennium Summit in September 2000. Nearly 190 countries have subsequently signed up to them.

The eight Millennium Development Goals are:

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Achieve universal primary education 
• Promote gender equality and empower women 
• Reduce child mortality 
• Improve maternal health 
• Combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases
• Ensure environmental sustainability
• Develop a global partnership for development

In July 2007, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, speaking alongside the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, launched the MDG Call to Action, with the support of 14 heads of state or governments and 21 private sector leaders. With many of the MDGs still off-track at the halfway point to the target year of 2015, this seeks to accelerate progress on achieving them.  The private sector has a vital role to play in achieving the MDGs. The Business Call to Action focuses on getting big businesses to support economic growth in the developing world

For further information on MDGs click here