At the Millennium Summit in 2000, leaders from 189 nations adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration. In support of this they agreed to achieve eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) goals by 2015. For each Goal, Targets were set and indicators to measure progress towards these targets were identified. The production and monitoring of these MDG indicators is important in the effort to achieve the MDGs.

The Statistical Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) works to improve the quantity and quality of official statistics produced by its member states. Particular attention is given to MDG indicators in the countries of South-east and Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia. We assist countries in developing or improving their statistical capacities for monitoring the Millennium Development Goals through expert group meetings, training workshops, interregional cooperation and knowledge sharing. We also participate in the  Inter-Agency and Expert Group on MDG Indicators, coordinated by the United Nations Statistics Division. This group is responsible for the preparation of data and analysis to monitor progress towards the MDGs.

To aid the countries in the MDG monitoring process and to inform the public, UNECE maintains a regional MDG-database with official national and international data on MDG indicators. The UNECE regional MDG database brings together data from the countries in the region and the various agencies of the United Nations that are in charge of the monitoring at the international level. It provides a regional perspective that is further strengthened as it includes additional indicators and disaggregates that are relevant for and used in the UNECE region.