Growing up with the promise of the MDGs: Children’s hopes for the future of development

Improving children’s life chances is central to what the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are seeking to achieve. Based on an analysis of survey and qualitative data from 12,000 children in four countries – Ethiopia, India (Andhra Pradesh), Peru and Vietnam – this report examines children’s experiences of growing up during the period of the MDGs. The findings tell a positive story of improving material circumstances and the expansion of primary schooling and basic services. However, the poorest households are not benefiting from poverty reduction and the expansion of basic services, and this has severe implications for children’s development and well-being. The experiences of children documented in this report reinforce the importance of retaining a focus on human development and addressing inequality in international development post-2015.