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Millennium Villages Project
Our vision becomes action through the Millennium Villages Project. Offering an innovative integrated approach to rural development, the MVP simultaneously addresses the challenges of extreme poverty in many overlapping areas: agriculture, education, health, infrastructure, gender equality, and business development.
Learn About Our Sector Strategy
The package of MVP interventions was designed to operate well within the budget envelope agreed to by world leaders in 2005—approximately $90 per African by 2010 en route to much further increases by 2015. The Project was launched in 2006 at a budget of only $120 per capita per year, with MVP donors contributing half of the cost ($60) and the other half being covered by local governments, partners, and communities.
One goal of the Project is to create lasting 'open source' tools, systems, and models that can be used by communities anywhere, serving as an incubator for innovative solutions to development challenges. Innovations in healthcare delivery systems (community health workers) information technology (ChildCount+), off-grid energy (SharedSolar), and more are the hallmark of the MVP.
Working in close partnerships with host countries and communities, the Project demonstrates how the MDGs are achievable through practical, low-cost interventions, highlighting the value and feasibility of integrated, community-based investments.
Today, I call on every country to look closely at this success. It is a case study in what is possible, even in the poorest places in the world.
Visit to the MV of Mwandama in Malawi, May 2010
Currently reaching more than 500,000 people in village clusters across 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the MVP is the flagship initiative of Millennium Promise and the Earth Institute, Columbia University.
Click the icons in the map below to learn about the villages.
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Koraro, Ethiopia
RESULT HIGHLIGHTS
The cluster is piloting a beekeeping program as a new source of income in the villages. Over 450 bee colonies including 2,500 hives were supplied to honey business cooperatives. Construction has been completed for five health posts and six primary schools.
SEE VILLAGE DETAILSVillages 11 Population 84,610 Households 16,750 Primary Schools 28 School Year Sept-June Health Centers 14 CHWS 352 -
Bonsaaso, Ghana
RESULT HIGHLIGHTS
Safer deliveries mean healthier moms and babies. Today, more mothers are delivering babies at health clinics and hospitals than at home. Institutional deliveries increased from 30% at baseline to 61% at Year-3 in Bonsaaso.
SEE VILLAGE DETAILSVillages 6 Population 31,790 Households 6360 Primary Schools 22 School Year Sept-June Health Centers 8 CHWS 41 -
Dertu, Kenya
RESULT HIGHLIGHTS
As a result of improvements in education, Dertu Primary was the third best school in the region in 2009 and all twenty-eight students who took the standard eight examinations passed and joined secondary schools. Notably, a student from Dertu scored the highest marks on the exam in the region.
SEE VILLAGE DETAILSVillages 1 Population 6,150 Households 990 Primary Schools 6 School Year Jan-Dec Health Centers 2 CHWS 7 -
Sauri, Kenya
RESULT HIGHLIGHTS
The village community has experienced transformations across several sectors since the project's inception including; an average maize yield increase from 1.9 tons per hectare to 5.0 tons per hectare, a decrease in childhood malnutrition of children under two, down to 2% from 9% at baseline, and consistently high levels of attendance in primary schools.
SEE VILLAGE DETAILSVillages 11 Population 64,960 Households 13,530 Primary Schools 33 School Year Jan-Dec Health Centers 9 CHWS 109 -
Gumulira, Malawi
RESULT HIGHLIGHTS
A 'pass-along' goat program was launched in 2008 with fifty female farmers and continues today, providing women farmers with young goats whose offspring the farmers pass on to their neighbors. A fertilizer subsidy program has made it affordable for farmers to grow heartier and more diverse crops including cowpeas and chickpeas in addition to maize, bringing benefits of higher yields and better nutrition.
SEE VILLAGE DETAILSVillages 1 Population 6,700 Households 1,200 Primary Schools 2 School Year Jan-Nov Health Centers 2 CHWS 6 -
Mwandama, Malawi
RESULT HIGHLIGHTS
The village community has experienced transformations across several sectors since the project's inception including; an over fivefold increase in average maize yields, from 0.8 tons per hectare to 4.5 tons per hectare, chronic malnutrition (stunting) among children under two reduced by approximately one-third, and persistently high numbers of children benefiting from school meals program in primary schools.
SEE VILLAGE DETAILSVillages 7 Population 34,260 Households 8,580 Primary Schools 14 School Year Jan-Nov Health Centers 2 CHWS 43 -
Tiby, Mali
RESULT HIGHLIGHTS
Constructed 96 new classrooms in the first half of 2009, reaching full completion of primary school construction planned for the MVP in Tiby. In 2008, also completed construction of two clinics for a total of six in the cluster, meeting the Health Ministry?s standards.
SEE VILLAGE DETAILSVillages 11 Population 74,350 Households 5,550 Primary Schools 27 School Year Oct-June Health Centers 6 CHWS 155 -
Toya, Mali
RESULT HIGHLIGHTS
Increased school attendance through community outreach and the school meals program. Rated all four health facilities as 'fully equipped' or 'mostly equipped.' All are providing some extent of free primary health services.
SEE VILLAGE DETAILSVillages 1 Population 11,020 Households 1,270 Primary Schools 5 School Year Oct-June Health Centers 4 CHWS 12 -
Ikaram, Nigeria
RESULT HIGHLIGHTS
In 2009, improved maize seeds and other agricultural inputs were provided to farmers at a 60% subsidized rate, as farmers move from subsidy- to a credit-based system. In the first half of 2009, introduced several new high-value crops and trained farmers on pesticide application and on raising these new varieties.
SEE VILLAGE DETAILSVillages 3 Population 18,220 Households 4,170 Primary Schools 16 School Year Sept-July Health Centers 3 CHWS 25 -
Pampaida, Nigeria
RESULT HIGHLIGHTS
The village community has experienced transformations across several sectors since the project's inception including; average maize yields have increased significantly from .8 tons per hectare to 3.5 tons per hectare, 45% reduction in levels of chronic malnutrition (stunting) among children under two, and 20% increase in gross attendance rates in primary school.
SEE VILLAGE DETAILSVillages 4 Population 26,600 Households 4,170 Primary Schools 16 School Year Sept-July Health Centers 4 CHWS 48 -
Mayange, Rwanda
RESULT HIGHLIGHTS
Farmers are producing diversified crops to help support food security and create business opportunities, and dairy producers are using artificial insemination to improve livestock breeding. Honey and poultry production have also been introduced into the cluster.
SEE VILLAGE DETAILSVillages 4 Population 22,900 Households 4,900 Primary Schools 5 School Year Jan-Nov Health Centers 1 CHWS 105 -
Potou, Senegal
RESULT HIGHLIGHTS
The community is now cultivating several high-value crops including three varieties of improved onion, two of cabbage, two of watermelon and one of hibiscus. Combined with pre-existing infrastructure, clean, piped drinking water now reaches nearly all of the population.
SEE VILLAGE DETAILSVillages 6 Population 31,690 Households 3,250 Primary Schools 50 School Year Oct-July Health Centers 21 CHWS 55 -
Mbola, Tanzania
RESULT HIGHLIGHTS
In 2009, farmers diversified their crops to include high-value crops, such as improved cassava cultivars, fruits, and vegetables, as well as honey. In 2008, over thirty community health workers visited all 6,000 cluster households. Over 12,000 individuals received malaria treatment.
SEE VILLAGE DETAILSVillages 6 Population 38,740 Households 6,470 Primary Schools 17 School Year Jan-Dec Health Centers 6 CHWS 40 -
Ruhiira, Uganda
RESULT HIGHLIGHTS
The village community has experienced transformations across several sectors since the project's inception including; average maize yield increased from 1.8 tons per hectare to 3.9 tons per hectare, 20% reduction in chronic malnutrition (stunting) among children under two years old, increase in children in primary school receiving school meals from 5% to 74%.
SEE VILLAGE DETAILSVillages 8 Population 51,710 Households 10,270 Primary Schools 21 School Year Feb-Dec Health Centers 6 CHWS 48
Between now and 2015, the MVP communities will be focused increasingly on starting cooperatives, launching businesses, and connecting to larger markets. Millennium Promise is supporting these efforts by providing technical training, reviewing business plans, and establishing partnerships with local financial institutions to provide loans and savings accounts.
