Human Development Reports - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Learn more about Human Development

Resources: Reports and related | Streaming and interactive | Youth | Learning and training | Books and periodicals | Literature | Courses

Human Development Reports and related

Human Development Report First launched in 1990 with the single goal of putting people back at the center of the development process in terms of economic debate, policy and advocacy, the Report is the primary publication of this office.

Human Development Research Paper Series Research on key issues in human development The Human Development Research Paper (HDRP) Series is a medium for sharing recent research commissioned to inform the global Human Development Report, which is published annually, and further research in the field of human development. The authors include leading academics and practitioners from around the world, as well as UNDP researchers.

Let's Talk Human Development Discussion blog To mark the 20th anniversary of the Human Development Report, we are posting a column visiting some of the key concepts that continue to contribute to the human development approach and the upcoming Human Development Reports.

Streaming and interactive materials

People First: The Human Development Reports Video This video tells the story of the Human Development Report, its origin, its concepts and the reasons for its emergence in 1990. It discusses the Human Development Index (HDI) and key approaches to the measurement of development that go well beyond national incomes. Mixing interview footage and images from the field, this video is a great introduction to the concept of Human Development.

The Human Development Journey Online course This course introduces you to the concepts and principles of human development, and explains why this approach is important for the practice of development. The course also discusses the importance of measuring human development, and explains how disaggregated and qualitative data can highlight differences across regions and ethnic groups.

Human development materials for youth

Two degrees of separation between hope and despair A young people's summary of the United Nations Human Development Report 2007/2008 The young people of the world have produced a Youth Booklet that includes drawings, poems and human stories on climate change and development, entirely made by and for young people!

Water Rights and Wrongs A young people's summary of the United Nations Human Development Report 2006 The young people of the world have produced a Youth Booklet that includes drawings, poems and human stories on water and development, entirely made by and for young people!

Sustainable Human Development A Young People's Introduction This student-created textbook is designed to provide an introduction to the concepts of Human Development and sustainability. The publication is well suited as key reading material for both Geography and Citizenship classes.

Learning and training materials

HDR Toolkit for National and Regional Human Development Report Teams Practical Guidelines, Examples and Resources for Achieving Excellence in HDRs This Toolkit is intended as a reference for all who are involved in the preparation of Human Development Reports (HDRs). It is a practical handbook, with clear suggestions for action and specific examples, along with tools for guidance and support.

HDR Timeline Key Steps in the Human Development Report Process A companion to the HDR Toolkit, providing recommendations for the sequencing of many different processes involved in producing and advocating HDRs.

Measuring Human Development A Primer This publication is a tool for all those working on sub-national, national and regional Human Development Reports (HDRs). This reference may also be useful to all professionals working on human development issues. It consists of guidelines and tools to support the production of quantitatively and qualitatively rigorous reports that support a process of evidence based policy making and advocacy.

Ideas, Innovation, Impact How Human Development Reports Influence Change This publication features concrete examples of the effects of Human Development Reports. Included are descriptive texts highlighting stories such as that of Egypt's Governorates which now use the HDI to target the 58 lowest ranking sub-administrative units, and Kosovo’s HDR recommendations that led to a Law to carry out a population and housing census.

Books and periodicals

Journal of Human Development and Capabilities A Multi-Disciplinary Journal for People-Centered Development The journal publishes original work that expands concepts and measurement tools for human development and the capabilities approach, and that challenges traditional views of economics.

Reflections on Human Development by Mahbub ul Haq, Founder of the Human Development Report This work explores a new development paradigm whose central focus is on human well-being. Increase in income is treated as an essential means, but not as the end of development, and certainly not as the sum of human life. Development policies and strategies are discussed which link economic growth with human lives in various societies.

An Introduction to the Human Development and Capability Approach Freedom and Agency Aimed at undergraduates and post-graduates in the social sciences, as well as development practitioners, this textbook provides an introduction to the human development and capability approach; it also clarifies key concepts and fosters debate on a number of critical issues. The book is available for download.

Handbook of Human Development Concepts, Measures, and Policies Human development assumes a special significance in today’s world of increasing affluence, expanding technological innovations, and rapid globalization. Defined as an enhancement of capabilities and an expansion of freedoms, the perspective is particularly critical as we collectively think of solutions to end global poverty, promote human security, and establish a just and peaceful society for all. This handbook contains key readings by eminent experts who have shaped the concept and practice of human development over the past fifteen years.

Human Development Literature

For more introductory information on Human Development, please see:

Griffin, Keith and Terry McKinley. (1992) "Towards a Human Development Strategy". Human Development Report Occasional Papers.

Haq, Mahbub ul. (1992) "Human Development in a Changing World". Human Development Report Occasional Papers.

Fukuda-Parr, Sakiko. (2003) "The Human Development Paradigm: Operationalizing Sen's Ideas on Capabilities" in Feminist Economics 9(2-3), 2003, 3001-317.

Sen, Amartya. (1999) Development as Freedom. New York: Anchor Books.

Streeten, Paul. (1992) "Global Governance for Human Development". Human Development Report Occasional Papers.

Human Development and Capability Association - an association that promotes research from many disciplines on problems related to impoverishment, justice, and well-being
Website: www.capabilityapproach.com

Complete bibliography of published works on human development and the capabilities approach.

For more resources, visit the NHDR Workspace HD Training Materials.

UNDP, Academic Courses and Training on Human Development

These documents contain a wide range of documented Human Development courses and trainings that occur both within and outside of university settings worldwide. Courses are offered on all continents.

• Human development training 
• Human development events and conference announcements
• Human development academic courses and training

This website will also be host to an online Human Development Journey course, available to the public free of charge.

For UNDP staff only, two Human Development courses exist in the Learning Management System (LMS). Registration is done through the UNDP LMS system.

• UNDP - The Human Development Journey (introduction to human development, comparison to other development approaches, the measurement of human development, advocacy and linkages to the UNDP Practice Areas)
• UNDP - Advanced Human Development (instructor-led online by appointment only)

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2013 Report