Debt

Debt
Photo: Tina Coelho/UNDP

High levels of external or domestic debt can prevent poor countries from making the investments needed in areas such as health, education, and infrastructure to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Goal 8 of the MDGs commits the international community to dealing comprehensively with the debt problems of developing countries through debt cancellation. UNDP works to define and advocate for debt sustainability criteria that protect investments in development and poverty reduction.