As G-8 and G-20 leaders prepare to gather in Canada, new analysis issued on Tuesday by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and the United Nations Millennium Campaign finds that, in absolute terms, many of the world’s poorest countries are making the most overall progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

MDG’s are the set of promises world leaders made to significantly reduce extreme poverty, illiteracy and disease by 2015.

Particularly relevant for G-8 countries are the findings which underline the importance of open trade and effective and timely aid in driving this success.

For poor countries, political leadership, accountability and adequate budgetary allocations for the Goals are cited as key criteria to drive sustained progress.

Eleven of the 20 countries making the most absolute progress on the MDGs are amongst the poorest countries in Africa; half of African countries are on track to meet the target of halving poverty by 2015.

The analysis also finds that most low and middle income countries are making progress on most of the key MDG indicators.

“This study decisively establishes with hard evidence that much of the negative reporting on progress on the Millennium Development Goals is misleading,” said in Nairobi Salil Shetty, Director of the United Nations Millennium Campaign.

“Instead of lamenting that Africa might miss the MDG targets, we should be celebrating the real changes that have happened in the lives of millions of poor people, not least because of the unified effort between governments and citizens, supported by donors. The leaders and tax-payers of G-8 countries must now keep their aid commitments, with the confidence that their investment is making a tangible and large scale difference,” added Shetty.

The new analysis contrasts national-level progress in absolute terms, as distinct from progress relative to global MDG targets.

The report identified a number of additional factors that contribute to progress on the MDGs with the report adding that poor countries must have consistent leadership committed over an extended period of time to reducing poverty.

“They must make the public sector accountable to citizens and empower local governments and communities. Furthermore, they must prioritize investment in human development and budgets for health and education,” said the report.