The 1996 OECD document Shaping the 21st Century laid out seven quantifiable development targets, which have become known as the International Development Targets (IDTs), or sometimes International Development Goals. Although there have been very many previous development targets over the decades, this set of targets have won unprecedented support and predominance. The UK Department for International Development (DFID), and its Secretary of State, have been particularly vocal in promoting the IDTs. The targets have occupied a central position in the two White Papers, public pronouncements of the Secretary of State, and within DFID in developing its strategy. This paper examines the use of the IDTs for measuring the performance of development agencies such as DFID. It begins with a brief introduction to the targets and why targets matter. Part 4 discusses desirable properties of performance measures, their use and appraises the IDTs against these requirements. Part 5 looks at the use of the IDTs by DFID and how they have handled some of the problems mentioned in Part 4. Part 6 concludes.