When looking at Millennium Development Goal (MDG)-based planning methodology, it is important to identify any missing links in underlying policy design and to assist policymakers in accounting for these gaps so that a framework of issues to measure against can be developed. 

 

In addition, empowerment checks should be in place to deal with unequal power relations and sustain pro-poor development outcomes. Empowerment checks involve looking at the capacity of vulnerable groups to access information, to participate in public life and the development process, to advocate for policy change and to affect decision-making processes.

 

It also is important to assist country-led development of pro-poor and gender-sensitive indicators by policymakers and beneficiaries that can help improve service delivery. The MDGs further need assessment and costing methodology, which aims to create a detailed inventory of public goods and services that must be provided if the Goals are to be reached by 2015 and then to fill the deficit via international assistance. 

 

With regard to governance assessments, the aim is to develop a complementary tool to help policymakers account for democratic governance throughout the MDG planning cycle.

 

The intention is to ensure that policymakers and/or assessment teams are not overlooking the concerns of certain groups of claim holders who are not immediately visible during a national-level assessment.