In September 2000, world leaders at the UN Millennium Summit set eight development goals to be achieved by 2015 - from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education – which would serve as a master plan for all the world’s leading development institutions

1) Eradicate extreme poverty & hunger
2) Achieve universal primary education
3) Promote gender equality & empower women
4) Reduce child mortality
5) Improve maternal health
6) Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria & other diseases
7) Ensure environmental sustainability
8) Develop a global partnership for development

Microfinance services are playing a major role in achieving these goals. Microfinance not only improves the economic status of the poor, and the status of women, but gives the poor the ability to improve their housing, access education, health services and opportunities for their families.

Go to http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/ to read more!