State of the Region in Human Development

This first Report on Sustainable Human Development introduces a new monitoring system to follow-up and track progress in sustainable human development as well as regional integration. It must be emphasized that this offers less a "photography" of the reality than a selective documentation of development processes in Central America. The goal of this work is to contribute to identifying possibilities for common development action. As is underlined by the Advisory Committee, the underlying message of the Report may be that the future of the region and its integration may depend on the respect for its diversity. This must begin with acknowledging existing social gaps as well as socio-cultural, economic and political plurality within the isthmus. In this perspective, the report not only reaffirms regional plurality, but also represents an opportunity for exercising pluralism in Central America.