In order to ensure excellence in analysis and to capture lessons learned and practice from HDR teams worldwide, a comprehensive review strategy is strongly recommended.
As of November 2002, UNDP adopted a policy that each national and regional HDR must undergo a process of peer review prior to publication. This is the responsibility of the country offices. The peer review is a way to maintain objectivity and assure quality of research and analysis and should be undertaken during the final stages of the preparation process. Peers must be selected and contacted by UNDP and/or the HDR team, thereby ensuring that their expertise is relevant and the feedback they offer is of value.
Examples:
HDRO has conducted a transparent and participatory strategy to review reports and to capture lessons learned and practice from the growing number of reports published by UNDP offices world wide. The review has examined how different reports have adhered to and applied the six principles outlined in the UNDP Corporate Policy on National Human Development Reports. The findings of the review exercise have fed into UNDP’s results based management efforts and have been shared at various levels. The technical review methodology was designed and approved by the UNDP Executive Team in 2003.
Access the database of reviews in this section .
Human Development Reports and Indigenous Peoples - Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
The aim of the desk review is to analyze to what extent indigenous peoples' issues are addressed, included, and promoted within the context of selected national and regional Human Development Reports (HDRs). The HDRs reviewed are the most recent from the following countries, region, and sub-region: Asia-Pacific (2008), Cambodia (2007), Ghana (2007), Kenya (2006), the Niger Delta (2006), Russian Federation (2006/2007), Rwanda (2007), Tanzania (2007/2008), Thailand (2007), and Uganda (2007).
Evaluation of National Human Development Reports - UNDP Evaluation Office
The UNDP Evaluation has conducted an evaluation of the system of National Human Development Reports that has evolved since 1992. This evaluation draws strategic lessons from the successes and weaknesses of the NHDR system, in order to sustain its contributions and improve its future effectiveness.
Asia and Pacific Region
This review was prepared by A.K. Shiva Kumar and was presented as a background paper for the Seoul Workshop on NHDRs. The paper reviews the Asian NHDRs and provides very interesting insights. It covers such issues as (i) the treatment of the human development concept in NHDRs, (ii) use of data and human development indices, (iii) ownership and consultative processes, (iv) maximizing policy impact of NHDRs, and much more.
NHDR Write-Ups
The Virtual Development Academy's Practitioner Course on Human Development solicited from its participants a brief snapshot of National Human Development Reports. Those listed below originate from members of the teams who authored the Reports. They offer a very good window into the NHDR process on several themes. Seeta Prabhu, of UNDP India and moderator of this course, has compiled this selection:
Poverty, Inequality and Exclusion
Response to Globalization
Conflict, Peace and Human Security
Gender
HIV/Aids
