The Indian Government has agreed a five-year action plan with UNICEF to promote child welfare in India. The GOI-UNICEF Programme of Cooperation, signed in August, focuses on reducing India’s infant mortality and maternal mortality rates, fighting malnutrition, tackling HIV, providing quality education, ensuring safe water and environmental sanitation, and providing child protection. About one-fifth of the world’s children live in India and the country’s progress in this area is seen as key to meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).