Human development distance learning course | ||
By Joyce Davis, President, Davis & Goodman International Media Consultants; The World Affairs Council of Harrisburg
|
Nargiza Alikulova used to think that human development was all about money, helping people live better by increasing their income. Now, she knows that human development is about much more than someone’s financial status. Alikulova, a public relations specialist, was among the 60 people from throughout Uzbekistan who participated in the country's first online school sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in cooperation with the Republic of Uzbekistan. Alikulova and her colleagues spent a summer month delving deeply into some of the most sensitive issues facing the world today. The online course not only made history in Uzbekistan, but it challenged professionals from throughout the country to look at development issues in a new light – putting people first. “Putting people first means treating them with decency and respect, regardless of disability, ethnicity or class,” explained Alina Akhmerova, Lead researcher at the Center for Economic Research, who directed UNDP's “Summer School”. “We wanted to make this course accessible to people all over the country, and doing it online made that possible.” |
|
Applying the Concept of Human Development in Uzbekistan: From Theory to Practice | ||
By Anvar Meliboev, Public Relations Specialist, Uzbekistan
|
Today, the concept of human development is gaining its popularity and practicality among academia, students, civil society, mass media and selected policy makers in Uzbekistan. Acknowledgement of the human development as a development paradigm among above stated parties has mainly been a result of consistent efforts of UNDP in Uzbekistan to raise awareness and promote the concept principles across the country. In Uzbekistan, until 2008 the concept of Human Development had been mostly reflected in the National Human Development Reports (NHDR) published since 1995 to cover topics varying from economic growth to social integrity. However, issued with a view to provide an in-depth assessment of the situation in priority areas of national development and propose recommendations for the future. The NHDRs did not serve as an educational tool, neither had they identified a more complex approach among academia to promote a better understanding of human development in Uzbekistan. |
|
Afghanistan: Security with a Human Face | ||
By Fakhruddin Azizi, HDR Focal Point, UNDP Afghanistan
|
For Afghans, human security is not defined simply as the end of war or the ability to survive, but also the chance to live a life of dignity and to pursue and sustain their own livelihoods. During the past two decades, Afghanistan faced numerous hardships, risks and challenges. For too long, Afghanistan’s security problem has been interpreted narrowly as the security of “state” from international and external aggression, or as the protection of the interest of fragmented groups claiming political legitimacy in the absence of a state. Forgotten were the legitimate concerns of ordinary people who sought security and dignity in their daily lives. Human security is an ideal framework for a development vision for Afghanistan and it is the core of Afghanistan’s first National Human Development Report 2004: Security with a Human Face, which was launched in February this year. |
|
Building on the 2005 Egypt Human Development Report on the “New Social Contract” to Pave the Road for the 2008 Report on the Role of Civil Society | ||
By Nahla Zeitou, UNDP Egypt NHDR Focal Point
|
The 2005 Egypt Human Development Report (EHDR) argues that inequalities in assets, opportunities and voice are all barriers to national prosperity. The energy and talents of a significant number of Egypt's citizens can contribute to development if only equity considerations are brought to the forefront of policy-making. Accordingly, the Report chose “a vision for Egypt in 2015” to be its theme, inspired by Egyptians’ growing aspirations and expectations for accelerated reform. The Report adopts a new paradigm whereby the disadvantaged are not seen only as recipients of international commitments and aid, but as major participants in and beneficiaries of a new social contract between the Egyptian State and its citizens. This new ‘arrangement’ would build momentum for change from the grassroots level upwards, and energize development across society. |
|
Experiences from a Late Arrival: Mexico's HDRs | ||
By Luis F. Lopez-Calva, Director, National Human Development Report-UNDP Mexico
|
In 2001, the Government of Mexico requested the production of a National Human Development Report during a historical time - one year after the political party that had been in power for more than seventy years lost a presidential election. This event represented the beginning of a new era in Mexico’s political system and relations with a variety of national and international actors. Mexico was one of the few countries in the region at the time that had yet to produce an HDR. Thus, a small team was put in place in 2002 and the first HDR was launched in June 2003, which was welcomed by the Cabinet for Social and Human Development –composed by the Ministries of Health, Education and Social Development. The main theme was Regional and Interpersonal Inequality, in a country where human development statistics based on national averages had failed to indicate regional disparities. |
|
