The Human Development Report (HDR) has been published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) since 1990. Its main focus is on the objective of “human development for everyone”. The HDR lists strategies and policies to improve the social and economic development of 193 countries. It covers factors like life expectancy, education, and accessibility to basic facilities.

Key Messages of HDR 2016

For addressing the structural challenges of the current global system, the report presents options for institutional reforms with their five basic messages: 

  1. Human development is achievable for everyone.
  2. Many people continue to be deprived of basic facilities.
  3. The only way to improve human development for everyone is by focusing on analytical issues and assessment perspectives.
  4. Policies can contribute to achieving the goal, provided they are implemented correctly.
  5. A reformed global governance will help attain the goal.

Goals of HDR 2016

  • Measuring human development 

The Human Development Index (HDI) mainly combines three basic dimensions of human development, i.e. life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. These factors are helpful in measuring human development. 

  • Enlarging freedom for every human being 

Human development is about enlarging freedoms so that all human beings can pursue choices that they value with two fundamental aspects, i.e. freedom of well-being and freedom of agency. Both types of freedoms are necessary for human development. 

  • Attainable human development for all

Human development must and can be attained for everyone. Although we have made commendable progress, the world still faces many complex development challenges such as deprivations, inequalities, and violent extremism. 

Some of the impressive achievements have been in regions or areas that once were lagging.

Gender equality and women’s empowerment are now mainstream dimensions for human development. 

  • Addressing basic deprivations among people

Basic deprivations are common among various groups as they are left out to enjoy even the basic dimensions of human development. These groups are women, ethnic minorities, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and migrants. 

The main reason for such a shortfall is because of discrimination. It is to be noted that deprivations of the current generation can carry over to the next generations, and parents’ education, health, and income can greatly affect the opportunities available to their children.

  • Overcoming barriers in universal human development

Some of the barriers are deeply rooted in the social and political system, such as violence, discriminatory laws, imbalances in political participation and unequal distribution of opportunities. 

To gain universal human development, one needs to gain awareness and understanding of the dynamics as to how and why some groups are marginalised. Inequalities in income can influence inequalities in other dimensions of well-being. 

National Policies to Care for Marginalised People

As per the Human Development Report 2016, a focused approach on four aspects can ensure that human development reaches everyone and the ultimate goal is achieved. 

The policy focuses on: 

  1. To reach out to those who are left out by pursuing inclusive growth, enhancing opportunities for women, addressing lifecycle capabilities, and mobilising resources for human development priorities. 
  2. To pursue measures for groups with special needs by using affirmative action and promoting human development for marginalised groups. 
  3. To make human development resilient by addressing epidemics, shocks and risks, combating violence and ensuring people’s security, maintaining human well-being in post-conflict situations, addressing climate change, and promoting social protection.
  4. To empower those left out by upholding human rights, ensuring access to justice, promoting inclusion, and ensuring accountability.

The Action Agenda

Human development for everyone is not just a dream but a realisable goal. The Agenda 2030 and the 17 goals for sustainable development are the focal steps towards achieving human development for everyone. 

Building on its analysis and findings, the report has suggested a five-point action agenda:

  1. Identifying and mapping the left-outs.
  2. Pursuing a range of available policy options with coherence.
  3. Reducing the gender gap.
  4. Implementing the Agenda 2030 and sustainable development goals.
  5. Working towards reforms in the global system. 

Conclusion

Human development is a process of enlarging people’s choices and implies that people must influence the processes that shape their lives.

Globalisation has made the world one big market. The digital revolution has changed the way humans live like never before. More people have access to basic social services. Yet human development is not evenly distributed amongst different levels. 

Some people are getting more than basic facilities, while others are able to achieve only the basics of human development. Some are not even able to meet the basic development requirements. New challenges have emerged because of inequalities, climate change, epidemics, migration and violent extremism.

There is no doubt that the 2016 Human Development Report is an intellectual contribution to resolving issues related to human development.