Cologne 'MDGs in Focus' Conference
19th to 20th March 2005 West Deutscher Rundfunk (WDR)
The Cologne 'MDGs in Focus' Conference was convened by Television Trust? for the Environment (TVE) and the One World Broadcasting Group (OWBT).
The aim was to catalyse a package of popular, engaging and accessible programmes that explain the MDGs and explore the 'global partnership for development' that is the core of the 'deal' between the G8 and developing 
countries to deliver on them. At the Cologne conference, we aimed to debate and explore programme formats, approaches and ideas on covering MDGs that would appeal to a range of different audiences and also to lay the foundations of a network of broadcasters interested in working together to cover progress on the MDGs to 2015.
Held over two days (view agenda), it was hosted by WDR in its central Cologne television headquarters and attended by 18 broadcasters from Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, the Norwegian Minister for International Development and senior representatives from the UN and international NGO organisations.
Key Speeches
Various addresses and speeches were given by key figures in the Broadcasting, Development and NGO world and various discussions and workshops took place over the two days.
Fritz Pleitgen, opening Address by the Director-General WDR and Vice-President of the European Broadcasting Union. More
Marina Ponti, Deputy Director, Civil Society Outreach, Millennium Campaign: 'The MDGs and why they matter'. More
Kevin Watkins, Director of the Human Development Report Office, UNDP: 'The UN's latest research projections on MDG trends for the next ten years, 2005-2015.' More
Hilde Frafjord Johnson Norway's Development Minister: 'Reaching the Millennium Development Goals Together'. More
Summary and Outcomes
Download pdf to read more about the debate that took place in Cologne and the outcomes of the conference.
Partners
'The MDGs in Focus' was made in association with:
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
For more information on the Millennium Campaign