A United Nations Summit meeting with a focus on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was held between 20-22 September. During the meeting, participants discussed the status of progress toward the achievement of the MDGs as well as an action agenda for the way forward. Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Minister for Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara attended the meeting on behalf of Japan.

In his address to the meeting, the Prime Minister announced concrete contribution measures in the fields of health and education, the two areas among all the MDGs on which progress lags the farthest behind, based on the principle of achieving a "society in which human suffering is reduced to a minimum." Emphasizing his dedication to these areas, the Prime Minister named his initiative the "Kan Commitment." Specifically, the Prime Minister announced that Japan would provide assistance of USD 5 billion over five years beginning in 2011 in the health field -- including contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria amounting to USD 800 million in the coming years -- and USD 3.5 billion for support in the field of education. In addition, in terms of the form of the contributions to be made, the Prime Minister proposed to the international community two assistance models: one to support the health of mothers and children called "EMBRACE" (Ensure Mothers and Babies Regular Access to Care), and the other to support basic education called "School for All." At the same time, the Prime Minister called for the strengthening of coordination among a broad range of stakeholders working for the achievement of the MDGs, and proposed that Japan hold an international conference on the matter next year.

The outcome document adopted at the end of the meeting contained elements which Japan has emphasized as important, such as human security, comprehensive efforts on each goal, the strengthening of efforts by all stakeholders including civil society and the private sector, and the factors which Japan values when it provides support for the fields of health and education. It is a major achievement that the international community was able to come to an agreement on important factors when working for the achievement of the MDGs, and make clear a direction for future efforts during this Summit meeting.

Copies of the development policies announced by Japan this time are available via the links below:

• Health (PDF, 553KB)
• Education (PDF,23.65MB)