Promoting human development

In Brazil, as in other parts of the developing world, access to clean, drinkable water is an everyday challenge. Focusing on the growing crisis surrounding access to water, the 2006 Human Development Report will put forward solutions to ensure that the interests of the poor are at the centre of water management.

Over the past decade, the world economy has experienced high levels of growth. During that period, expansion in world merchandise trade has been nearly twice as high as world output growth. In 2005, the value of world merchandise exports reached the $10 trillion mark for the first time. Not everyone, however, has benefited from this progress. Inequality, both globally and within countries, is rising. In many developing countries where the economy has been growing steadily, income gaps have widened. In South Africa, for instance, which has enjoyed an average growth rate of 3.9 percent over the past three years, the poorest 10 percent of the population account for 1.4 percent of national income, and the richest 10 percent for 44 percent. While economic growth is an important driver of development, high rates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, budget surpluses and foreign exchange reserves are of limited value if they are not accompanied by a more equitable distribution of resources, improved access to healthcare and education, and sound environment policies. This human development approach has been at the core of UNDP's work for over 15 years. By putting people at the centre of the development process, UNDP helps countries draft policies that address the needs of the poor.

UNDP also promotes people-centered development through the production of Human Development Reports (HDRs). Since its launch in 1990, the HDR has become one of the most respected and authoritative sources of knowledge and insight about global development issues, as well as a valued tool for influencing policy. Commissioned by UNDP, the HDR is independently produced by a select team of leading scholars and development practitioners. Each Report focuses on a highly topical theme in the current development debate, providing ground-breaking analysis and policy recommendations. The HDR series advocates a shift in the development debate away from a sole concern with economic growth toward a balanced concern for equity, sustainability, productivity and empowerment. The Report's signature trademark, the Human Development Index, serves as a successful alternative to GDP as a measure of development.

In addition to the global HDR, UNDP supports the publication of regional reports—which promote partnerships and region-specific human development strategies—and national reports, which provide platforms for national policy debates and tools for measuring progress. To date, more than 550 national and sub-national HDRs have been produced by 135 countries, in addition to 30 regional reports.

Global, national and regional HDRs are much more than just publications. They are dynamic advocacy tools created through a process of broad participation and active engagement within countries—with governments, academics, civil society organizations and other partners—and across regions.

Because they offer flexibility, and because they are grounded in national and regional perspectives, the HDRs are ideally placed to make an impact on policies and practices. Non-governmental groups turn to the reports to monitor progress and hold governments accountable, while journalists use them as a reporting resource. Over the years, the HDRs have resulted in the formation of vibrant national and international communities with a growing commitment to human development.

Here are a few concrete examples of the impact of HDRs:

2005 HDR: International cooperation at a crossroads
Launched in the run-up to the 2005 World Summit, this HDR took stock of human development globally. It examined progress towards the MDGs, highlighting the human cost of missed targets and identifying inequality as a major barrier to human development. It was a call for action to the world's governments who signed the Millennium Declaration. For example, the government of India decided to revise public expenditure in health in order to tackle the persistently high under-five mortality rate, which was emphasized in the 2005 HDR.

Arab states: The power of knowledge
The 2003 edition of the Arab HDR looked at how knowledge deficits hinder human development in Arab countries. It laid out a vision of a future knowledge society built on political freedoms, high-quality education and innovation. Among the results of the Report, a number of Arab countries are upgrading the technology skills of primary school teachers in mathematics and science, and assessing gaps between higher education and labour market demands. New regional initiatives include the launch of an Arab Higher Education Quality Assurance Agency and the establishment of the first Arab Regional E-Government Institute, headquartered in Amman, Jordan, as well as the development of partnerships to strengthen social science research and science policy in the region.

Kosovo: Mapping participation by the numbers
Produced in an election year, the 2004 Kosovo HDR identified wide variations in human development across different communities. It advocated steps to deepen democracy and improve living standards, including governance reforms, the closure of growing gaps between social groups and the mobilization of civil society. Following the publication of the Report, a new law was passed to carry out a population and housing census. The Report also helped prompt the adoption of a new law on decentralization. In addition, the Prime Minister's office has created the Office for Public Safety to move towards democratic oversight of the security sector.