January 2004
Geneva, Switzerland

• Agenda
• Background Materials
• Presentations
• Participant List
• Summary Report

1. Resources, Aid Effectiveness and Harmonization
2. Human Resources for Health
3. Monitoring and Benchmarking

Participants agreed that progress on the health MDGs had been too slow: Midway through the period 1990-2015 the results were mixed, but overall the half time score was not seen to be good enough. For example, no country in sub-Saharan Africa was on track to reduce child mortality by two-thirds. It was also agreed that more must be done to tackle communicable diseases - particularly HIV/AIDS.

Initial discussions made frequent reference to the world community's agreement in Monterrey on the need for more resources. This consensus was set in the context of dealing with debt and trade issues. The major point was made that more promises are not needed: rather, it is necessary to deliver on those promises already made.

An important debate took place regarding support to countries. Many believe it important to support countries with good policies and institutions. However, it was also agreed that the HLF broaden its scope to include the concerns of countries in crisis or where poor policies and institutions prevail.

Outcomes of the High-Level Forum on the Health MDGs include:

• A recommendation that the Development Committee of the World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) ensure a closer relationship between Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) and the achievement of the MDGs.
• That the HLF commission joint work to assess the effectiveness of donor harmonization in health and AIDS;
• That the HLF make a link with the Global Commission on International Migration;
• That the HLF endorse plans to establish the Health Metrics Network.

• Issue Paper 1:  Overview of Progress Towards Meeting the Health MDGs
• Issue Paper 2:  Resources, Aid Effectiveness and Harmonization
• Issue Paper 3:  Monitoring the Health MDGs
• Issue Paper 4:  Improving Health Workforce Performance
• Case Study:  Harmonization and MDGs:  A Perspective from Tanzania and Uganda
• Action Points

• The Millennium Development Goal for Health- Rising to the Challenges
• Monitoring the Health MDGs
• The Challenges and Constraints for Achieving the MDGs for Health in Cambodia
• Harnessing the Power of Human Resources for MDGs
• Monitoring Decentralized Pro-poor Health System through the Integration of National Surveys
• OECD-DAC's Work on Agency Performance
• Resources, Aid Effectiveness, and Harmonization
• Harmonization and MDGs:  A perspective from TANZANIA and UGANDA

• Summary of Discussions and Agreed Action Points