At a special session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2000, world leaders gathered together and adopted the Millennium Development Goals.  These Goals stand as the major reference point for International Development and Cooperation.

The Millennium Development Goals contain specific targets to reduce poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, discrimination against women, environmental deterioration, and promote international cooperation for development by 2015.

Although governments at all levels; including, local and regional governments are committed to international development and cooperation; it not always easy to accomplish desired outcomes.  This is often because; national laws may prevent necessary actions, or it maybe politically unpopular to use tax dollars for international purposes.

Civil Society Organizations are central to social and public service delivery in most developing countries.  Their services includes community development, sharing of best practices, providing technical expertise and training programs, mobilizing young people, and providing humanitarian relief in times of crisis.  However; as former United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan stated in an address to the World Economic Forum in Davos: "... the tasks involved in the Millennium Development Goals cannot be accomplished by governments, civil society, and development agencies alone.  Participation by the private sector is necessary…" 

Local civil society organizations and enterprises in countries targeted by the Millennium Development Goals need financial capital, institutional knowledge, and "KnowHow". Some of these organizations are Asset Rich and Cash Poor. They all need technical expertise; in order, to accomplish their development objectives by 2015.

Local organizations are hampered by:

• Limited or no cultural history and experiences within their society with the roles and benefits "philanthropy" offers in creating a Civil Society
• The nonexistence of local tax policies to support "philanthropy"
• Inefficient taxing policies and programs that consequently limit tax collection
• Limited private sector activity to provide "measurable" taxable revenues for government; that will impact social and economic development programs

Opportunities for local organizations to success can be had through:

• Engaging in some form of collaboration with a foreign partner
• Foreign consultants with relevant expertise and and shared values
• Donations and investments to finance the import of goods, products and machinery from foreign producers

Supporting the Goals are also important for ensuring national security, international security and global peace. As emphasized in the report by the United Nations Secretary-General High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change: failure to address the issues in the Millennium Development Goals will negatively impact everyone; in both rich and poor countries. 

Poverty creates the conditions necessary to ignite and sustain conflicts. Investing in Economic Development reduces the probability of conflicts:

• Farmers without basic infrastructure and access to agricultural markets are likely engage in narcotics production and trade.
• Slums creates unrest and a cycle of poverty
• Lack of economic opportunities leads to increases criminal activity and violence.
• Weak governments invite rebels to grab land, vital resources and threaten legitimately elected governments.
• Population migrations and displacements create further conflicts between social groups.
• Faced with a hopeless and uncertain future, young people will turn to violence for material gain. 

VillageDirect.Org provides a "template" for like minded individuals and organizations to join, share resources, and reduce fixed costs in support of accomplishing the Millennium Development Goals. 

Supporting the Millennium Development Goals is vital for global justice, human rights, economic development; but it is also good for business. The economic empowerment of communities will create new markets for your goods and services.