1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,000 When people fled the conflict in northern Uganda, they gathered in temporary camps. 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,000 Now, nearly 10 years later, they're still there. 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:13,000 One and a half million people across northern Uganda live like this. 4 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:19,000 Despite the best efforts of a dozen NGOs and UN agencies, malnourishment is rife. 5 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:25,000 Only 10% have access to healthy sanitation, and now they face an outbreak of cholera. 6 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:29,000 Welcome to the problems of another tiny corner of Africa. 7 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:34,000 Improving the quality of life of hundreds of millions of people across the world 8 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,000 is the essential objective of the Millennium Development Goals, 9 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:40,000 eight promises made in the year 2000. 10 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:45,000 It's a United Nations project sponsored by its members and key supporters like the EU. 11 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:49,000 We, the European Union, are standing behind these goals. 12 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:54,000 We want to support the Secretary-General Kofi Annan with this aim, 13 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:57,000 and we really want to make a difference. 14 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:02,000 We will stand behind it, and we always stand by our commitments. 15 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:04,000 We will also prove that. 16 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:08,000 The alleviation of poverty is one of the Millennium Development Goals. 17 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:14,000 Over 80% of Ugandans are poor subsistence farmers, a target group for assistance. 18 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:20,000 Agricultural advisors are helping these farmers switch from growing wetland rice to an upland variety. 19 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:25,000 Upland rice requires less seed, is easier to manage, and the yields are higher. 20 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:30,000 This group of rice farmers are looking forward to their first harvest in a few weeks. 21 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:36,000 Professional agricultural advisors from the National Agency, NAADS, 22 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:40,000 have also helped Ojiambo concentrate on poultry production. 23 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:42,000 I'm moving from poverty. 24 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:48,000 I started earning a little money whereby I see that my family does not suffer a lot. 25 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:53,000 When people are sick, it is very easy for me to take them to the hospital. 26 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:57,000 I've seen that closing is a bit easier. 27 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,000 Yes, that's what I can tell. 28 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:08,000 The European Union is the largest donor to the United Nations and to developing countries like Uganda. 29 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:11,000 This rural road project is using manual labour. 30 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:14,000 It's a chance for local men and women to earn a little extra money. 31 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:18,000 But aid in the form of handouts from Europe is no strategy in the long term. 32 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,000 The real economic impact will come later. 33 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,000 We want to have these countries come up like every other country. 34 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,000 So I think there is a very strong moral basis, 35 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:33,000 but of course the moral basis then also has to translate into means. 36 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:37,000 And we also give the means and we also give a lot of technical support. 37 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,000 Linking trade and development is key to the European approach. 38 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:45,000 When this road is complete, local farmers will be able to bring their produce to market, 39 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,000 something that was impossible before. 40 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:52,000 There are other positive signs regarding the development goals. 41 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,000 Two years ago there were 150 pupils in this school. 42 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:57,000 Now there are 410. 43 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,000 It's the same pattern nationwide. 44 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:03,000 Uganda's Universal Primary Education Programme, UPE, 45 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:07,000 has seen a doubling of pupils in school and lower drop-out rates. 46 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:15,000 It is a very good programme because most of the parents here in our area are very poor. 47 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:19,000 They can't afford paying school fees for their children. 48 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:23,000 But this UPE has helped them so much 49 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:29,000 because parents buy only books, uniforms and send their children to school. 50 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,000 Children are happy as you see them. 51 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,000 Everything is going on well. 52 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:40,000 Environmental concerns are another focus of the Millennium Development Goals. 53 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:43,000 Carbon emissions are not the burning issue here, 54 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:46,000 rather the threat to Uganda's natural forest. 55 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:51,000 It's at crisis level, fuelled by the growing population's demand for firewood for cooking. 56 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:57,000 We need timber for most of our activities, for fuel, for paper, for everything. 57 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:02,000 So without replanting, we are killing the country. 58 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,000 The country will have no future. 59 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:09,000 The response of the European Union is to support commercial forestry plantations. 60 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,000 Private planters receive partial funding by way of a grant 61 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:16,000 to clear land and plant trees in Uganda's central forestry reserves. 62 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,000 Planters have to take a long-term view of their investment, 63 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:21,000 and the grant aid comes in a trickle. 64 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:24,000 There is no quick money in this, that's what I'm telling you. 65 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:31,000 If now, for example, I would wish my great-grandchildren to be involved in this business, 66 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:35,000 that's why I have managed to get 1,000 hectares here. 67 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:39,000 When it comes to a millennium issue like HIV-AIDS in Africa, 68 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:42,000 it's hard to be optimistic, but it's not hopeless. 69 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:45,000 Everyone attending this clinic is HIV-positive. 70 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,000 It's being run by TASO, the AIDS Support Organisation, 71 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:52,000 a professional network of supports based on care and protection. 72 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,000 With HIV, that's not the end of life. 73 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,000 You still can do a lot for your family. 74 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,000 Your family still loves you. They need you. 75 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:00,000 You see, your support is still there. 76 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:06,000 Medically, coping with AIDS in Africa is inevitably compounded by other conditions 77 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,000 like malaria, TB or even malnourishment. 78 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,000 The wider availability of antiretroviral drugs is one area 79 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:15,000 where the international community can make a difference.