Towards 2021/2022 HDR

The first 2022 Human Development Report Advisory Board meeting took place on over a two-day period on 12 and 15 October 2021 in a hybrid setting. The members present during the meeting included Michèle Lamont and Tharman Shanmugaratnam as Co-chairs, Olu Ajakaiye, Kaushik Basu, Diane Coyle, Oeindrila Dube, Marc Fleurbaey, Ravi Kanbur, Harini Nagendra, Belinda Ryers, Dan Smith, Qixiang Sun, Krushil Watene and Helga Weisz.

The distinguished Members held a thought-provoking discussion on the Zero Draft of the 2022 HDR, whilst providing guidance to the HDRO on the overall strategic direction of the report and of its main arguments. The 2022 HDR seeks to extend the discussions of the 2019 HDR (on inequalities) and of the 2020 HDR (on the Anthropocene), highlighting the ways in which inequalities and uncertainty interact. Together, inequalities and uncertainty unsettle lives, impeding people’s ability to do and be what they value and have reason to value – the expansion of which is central to human development. But this context may also present new opportunities for change. The Advisory Board appreciated these concepts of uncertainties, unsettled lives and uncertain times, as they resonate with what is unfolding at this present moment.

The discussions captured some of the most novel and significant features of the Zero Draft. In addition, there were also some key elements suggested by the Members deemed as worthy of further exploration for the HDRO to consider. Overall, the Board Members complimented the innovative approach of the storyline presented in the Zero Draft.

To conclude, it was decided that the HDRO will produce a First Draft for the second meeting of the Advisory Board in January 2022. The new draft will sharpen the structure of the report and will also reflect on insights drawn from regional and thematic consultations ongoing from October 2021 – January 2022.

Partner: Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad)

Location: Hybrid, virtual attendance and in-person attendance in Norad premises

Date and time: November 11th, 2021

Number of participants: 21 people, including 4 speakers from HDRO

HDRO and Norad partnered to organize a consultation on the 2021-2022 on Transformation Uncertainty. The guiding question for the consultation was: How can just and inclusive transformations be brought about, and which metrics are needed to guide transformations? The consultation was organized around two sessions: Transformation Uncertainty and Transformation Metrics. The discussion benefitted from interventions by experts from the fields of economics, sociology, anthropology. systems analysis, civil society, and international development. Experts welcomed the focus on the processes of transformation, noting that processes impact end results and are shaped by power hierarchies and inequalities. A broad discussion on the need for revisiting the foundations of what development is and should strive for followed, as the goals, norms, and assumptions of development paradigms have brought about strong planetary pressures. Some suggestions included bringing historically marginalized groups to the forefront of assessing development, reviewing the norms and interests that may be impeding transformations, and innovation in global governance structures and institutions to ensure that countries and groups who have contributed relatively less to planetary pressures are compensated as we transform towards a low-carbon future. Values or social norms, in particular, may provide a deeper leverage point to galvanize efforts needed to support transformation, beyond interests. Institutions also play a key role by regulating stakeholders involved, disclosing information that is essential to hold various parties in check.

The Youth Consultation for the Special Human Security Report and the Human Development Report 2021-2022 was held online on November 11th, 2021. This was the first thematic consultation at HDRO.

The objective of this consultation was to understand the specific situation of youth relating to human security to inform the development of the Special Report on Human Security and have youth perspectives on human development under uncertainty to inform the 2021-2022 Human Development Report.

The meeting was attended by Carlos Garcia from the Foro Latinoamericano y Caribeño de Juventudes, Charles Kajoloweka from Youth and Society (YAS), Dalia Marquez from United Youth in Action, Daniele Taurino from Italian Network on Youth Peace and Security, Nadine Khaouli from UNDP-Generation17, Neville Charlton Youth Inspiring Positive Change Ja. Ltd, and Prathit Singh from #COVIDUnder19 Initiative. The consultation was organized and supported by Carolina Rivera Vazquez, Fernanda Pavez Esbry, Rezarta Godo, Anupama Shroff and Dayana Benny in partnership with Noella Richard and Maria Stage from UNDP’s Youth Global Program colleagues.

After introducing the concept of human security and the topic of the HDR, the meeting was structured in three sessions. During the first one, participants shared their insights regarding the most pressing security threats, some issues discussed included: discrimination, youth unemployment and job instability, exclusion from decision making, lack of financing for youth organizations and other obstacles to youth empowerment. The second discussion was around how we can bring transformation and transition to more just societies for youth, focusing on capacity building, empowerment, vocational training, civic education, and the inclusion of marginalized communities. The meeting closed with a short discussion on the role of youth in research in academia and how institutions can better incorporate and listen to their expertise.

Location: Hybrid, virtual attendance and in-person attendance at the International Conference Center in Geneva

Date and time: November 12th, 2021

Number of participants: approx. 40 connecting online, including 8 invited expert speakers. See agenda attached.

A regional consultation on uncertain times, unsettled lives, and transformations in Europe, Turkey, and Central Asia was organized on 12 November. The consultation benefited from expert speakers from the region, with backgrounds in economics, political science, social care economy, social safety nets, human development, human development metrics, international development and diplomacy, peace and conflict studies, and gender studies. Experts engaged in a broad discussion on the emerging challenges posed by the Anthropocene and technological innovation in the region, highlighting how environmental risks and conflict risks are interlinked, how climate-conflict risks are embedded within transformations, as recent developments in the region have shown. Technological shifts, digitalization, and digital divide were stressed as shaping and deepening policy challenges in the region. The report’s ambition to widen policy models to integrate ideas, norms, and culture were welcomed, and speakers’ noted the importance of applying a gender lens to uncertainties as well as to responses to uncertainty. Work on expanding economic frameworks to include issues of care were also highlighted, especially in the context of transformation to sustainable human development.

Agenda

Moderated by: Ben Slay, Senior Economist, UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS

Partner: Economic Research Forum (ERF)

Location: Virtual

Date and time: 22 Nov 09.00 AM – 11.00 AM, 29 Nov 09.00 AM – 11.00 AM, 6 Dec 09.00 AM – 11.00 AM

Number of participants: Aprox. 40 people per event

Between 22 November 2021 and 6 December 2021, The Human Development Report Office and the Economic Research Forum jointly organized a consultation on the 2021-2022 Human Development Report. Over the course of three weeks, the consultation explored risks and responses to Anthropocene and Transformation Uncertainties in the Arab region, including governance threats, a digital transformation, and what metrics to guide transformation for sustainable human development. Participants included thematic and regional experts with profound knowledge of human development challenges in the Arab states. The discussants affirmed that the overlaying of inequalities and planetary pressures are highly relevant policy challenges in the Arab region. A digital transformation may be a great opportunity not only to ease planetary pressures but also to improve governance, enhance transparency of information, and promote inclusive policymaking. Yet experts noted that digital transformation risk exacerbate inequalities and encouraged the focus on how technology can be leveraged to facilitate agency.

Agenda

22 November

Moderation by Dr. Sherine Ghoneim Director of Communications and Policy Outreach at the Economic Research Forum

29 November

Moderation by Dr. Sherine Ghoneim Director of Communications and Policy Outreach at the Economic Research Forum

06 December

Moderation by Dr. Sherine Ghoneim Director of Communications and Policy Outreach at the Economic Research Forum

The virtual consultation on migration for the Special Human Security Report and the Human Development Report 2021-2022 was held on November 29, 2021.

The objective was to understand the specific situation of people on the move regarding the new generation of human security threats and explore migrant perspectives on human development under uncertain times. The consultation had a particular focus on the Latin America, involving experts with vast experience in the region.

The meeting was led and moderated by Isabel Saint-Malo, former Vice-President of Panama. It also had the leadership of Pedro Conceicao, Director of the Human Development Report Office, and Andrew Selee, President of the Migration Policy Institute (MPI). Participants included Felipe Muñoz, Chief of the Migration Unit at Interamerican Development Bank, Kathleen Newland, Senior Fellow and Co-Founder of the Migration Policy Institute, Eduardo Stein, former Vice-President of Guatemala, Laura Thompson, former Deputy Director-General of IOM, Juan Gomez, Director of the Carlos A. Costa Immigration Human Rights Clinic at FIU, Pablo Garron from Global Brigades, Jorge Zequeira and José Felix Rodríguez from the IFRC, Marta Luzes from the Interamerican Development Bank, Carolina Rivera Vázquez from HDRO, and Diego Chaves from the Migration Policy Institute. In addition, Heriberto Tapia and Fernanda Pavez Esbry participated and supported the organization on behalf of HDRO.

After an introduction of the key concepts of human development, human security, and remarks on the ongoing Special Report on Human Security and 2021-2022 Human Development Report from the HDRO director, as well as remarks characterizing the transit of migrants in the Americas by the MPI President, the meeting was structured in two sessions. The first session revolved around the question: What does freedom from want mean for transit migrants in the Americas in 2021? participants shared their insights, including discussions on discrimination, transitioning from victimization to agency for migrants, and the potentials for harnessing the opportunities and contributions brought on by migration. The second session discussed linkages between migration in the Americas, human security, and uncertainty. The discussion highlighted social perceptions of migration and the disconnect between discourse and perceptions on migration, and the contributions of migrants to society.

The objective of the consultation was to understand the specific situation of people in the Latin America and the Caribbean region in regard to human development under uncertain times.

The meeting was co-hosted by HDRO and the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (RBLAC) and included the leading participation of HDRO director Pedro Conceiçao, and UNDP Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean Marcela Meléndez. The event was moderated by Almudena Fernandez, from RBLAC and Heriberto Tapia from HDRO. Álvaro Cálix from the Centro de Investigación y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos Honduras (Ciprodeh), María Laura Alzúa from CEDLAS Argentina, and Guillermina Martin from RBLAC provided commentary and key interventions to presentations from HDRO team members Josefin Pasanen, Tasneem Mirza, Carolina Rivera Vázquez, Fernanda Pavez Esbry and Cecilia Calderón. Over 40 participants attended from several UNDP country offices throughout the region as well as external partners.

During the session, HDRO team members presented ongoing research on the topic of the upcoming 2021-2022 Human Development Report and received valuable feedback from expert attendees. The discussion touched on what uncertainty means in the Latin American context today and reflected on important considerations to tackle this issue from an analytical standpoint as well as from the perspective of metrics. HDRO is grateful to all participants for their valuable input towards the 2021-2022 HDR.

The virtual consultation on LGBTI+ perspectives on human development in uncertain times for the Special Human Security Report and the Human Development Report 2021-2022 was held on December 1st, 2021.

HDRO partnered with the HIV, Health and Development Group at UNDP to benefit from the views of community members, experts, researchers, and policymakers on LGBTI+ perspectives regarding human security threats and policies to cope with the risks of uncertainty.

The meeting started with opening remarks from Pedro Conceicao, and Mandeep Dhaliwal. Attending participants included: Amie Bishop from OutRight Action International, Hiker Chiu from Intersex Asia, Melanie Judge from UNDP Inclusive Governance Initiative, and the University of Cape Town, Keletso Makofane from the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University, Ryan Figueiredo from Equal Asia Foundation (Stichting EqualA Foundation), Ryan Silverio from ASEAN SOGIE Caucus and Stephanie Steinmetz from the University of Lausanne and the University of Amsterdam. The consultation was organized and supported by Heriberto Tapia, Carolina Rivera Vazquez, Fernanda Pavez Esbry, Rezarta Godo, Anupama Shroff, and Dayana Benny in partnership with Ludo Bok and Boyan Konstantinov from UNDP’s HIV, Health and Development Group.

The meeting was structured in three sessions. During the first session, participants shared their insights regarding the most pressing human security threats, highlighting how LGBTI+ people are isolated from important networks that provide resources, starting at the household level and risks of homelessness, lack of access to financial markets, increased health risks and structural discrimination. Some issues discussed included: the role of digital technologies in increasing the risk of harassment, the role of agency to enable LGBTI+ people with choices and expanded possibilities, the role of dominant power relations over inequalities in Africa, and the persecution and detention of LGBTI+ people that do not have an identity document. The second discussion was around how can we bring transformation and transition to more just societies for LGBTI+ people, focusing on solidarity, collaboration, and the importance of social networks and pushing social norms to evolve. The participants highlighted that for radical solidarity and collaboration, we need to look at LGBTI+ persons beyond their sexuality and gender from their other “queerness” – disability, health conditions (HIV), and income opportunities. Finally, the meeting concluded by emphasizing the need for quality and robust quantitative data on gender and sexuality.

Location: Virtual Consultation

The Africa Consultation for the 2021-2022 HDR was held as a Special Event at the African Economic Conference 2021 which was organized by UNDP, ECA and AfDB during 2-4 December in a hybrid setting at Cabo Verde. The theme of the Conference was Financing Africa’s post-COVID 19 Development.

The meeting was opened by Pedro Conceicao, Director of HDRO, following a Panel Discussion that was moderated by Ms Karmima Bounemra Ben Soltane, Director, African Institute of Economic Planning and Development (IDEP), UNECA. Panel discussants included, Dr. Riad Sultan, Senior Lecturer, University of Mauritius who brought in perspectives from SIDS and Blue Economy, and Mr. Joseph Atta-Mensah, Principal Policy Advisor, Macroeconomics and Governance Division, UNECA who talked about regional cooperation and joint climate action in contexts of change.

A recording of the meeting is available here: Day 2 > Special Event E.

Location: Virtual Consultation

The Asia Pacific Consultation for the 2021-2022 HDR was co-organized with UNESCAP on 3 December 2021. The Consultation was held as part of UNESCAP’s Expert Group Meeting on the ‘Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2022’ focusing on how to build forward fairer in the region through bringing in inclusive economic policies.

With opening remarks jointly from the HDRO and ESCAP, the meeting followed an animated discussion on uncertainty in context of the Anthropocene, and the associated socioeconomic transitions, bringing in perspectives from anthropology, humanities, medical sciences, economics, social sciences, and more.

Panel Discussants included:

• Keisuke Nansai, Research Director and Head of Material Cycles Section, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan; Member of UNEP’s International Resource Panel;

• Julia Thomas, Associate Professor, University of Notre Dame; historian for Japan, working closely with the Anthropocene Working Group;

• Ravi Agarwal, Interdisciplinary Practitioner – Activist, Artist, and Founder/Director of Toxics Link, environmental NGO promoting chemical safety and recycling in India;

• Renzo R. Guinto, Chief Planetary Health Scientist, Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Malaysia.

A recording of the meeting is available on ESCAP’s webpage for the event: Photo/Video > Session 5.

Location: Virtual

Date and time: 25 January 2022, 08.30 am – 11.00 AM EST

Number of participants: approx. 25 connecting online

On 25 January 2022, the Human Development Report Office (HDRO) and the Stockholm Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) organized a joint consultation on their two forthcoming flagship reports: the 2021-2022 Human Development Report by HDRO and the Environments of Peace Report by SIPRI. Given the close synergies between the themes of the two reports, the objective of this consultation was to facilitate knowledge- and research exchange. The invited experts discussed today’s complex, cascading environmental and global security risks and the need to examine a low-carbon transition through a peace and security lens. Discussants highlighted the need for whole-of-society approaches and adaptability to safeguard just and inclusive transitions.

Location: Virtual

Date and time: 28 January 2022 09:00 AM – 10:30 AM EST

Number of participants: approx. 25 connecting online

The Human Development Report Office and the New Approaches to Economic Challenges initiative of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development organized a consultation on the 2021-2022 Human Development Report, focused on the broad topic of Uncertainty and its implications for development policy and multilateral institutions. This consultation was geared towards the OECD Development Centre and the invited participants discussed the need for institutional renewal in uncertain times, and the features of policies and institutions which may be responsive to advance transformational change while also committed to the protection and promotion of human rights. Speakers focused on the nature of uncertainty and risks in the Anthropocene, highlighting how uncertainty has liberatory aspects – inherent in uncertainty is the possibility to imagine and build development pathways that allows for easing planetary pressures and expanding human development.

Location: Virtual Consultation

UNDP and UN’s SDG Action Campaign jointly organized a consultation with Civil Society for the 2021-2022 HDR on 21 February 2022. The Consultation brought together leaders from civil society organizations and experts across a wide range of nationalities and fields. It was aimed to understand views and insights from civil society on current policies and institutions, and how these may be adapted and strengthened to respond to today's uncertainty whilst furthering human development. Feedback from the consultation is being used to develop and shape contents of the forthcoming HDR.

The consultation was opened by Ulrika Modeer, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy, UNDP, and Marina Ponti, Director of the SDG Action Campaign, UN. The welcome remarks followed a presentation by HDRO Director, Pedro Conceição, on the overview of the 2021-22 HDR that is currently being developed. This followed a Panel Discussion that was moderated by Oli Henman, Global Coordinator, Action for Sustainable Development. A visual scribe (please see below) was used to capture key messages of the consultation. The Q&A Session was attended by over 60 participants who joined the Consultation.

Panel Discussants included:

• Roberto Bissio, Coordinator, Social Watch

• Lysa John, Secretary General, CIVICUS

• Mitzi Jonelle Tan, Convenor, Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP)

• Claire Melamed, CEO, Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD)

• Vasu Gounden, African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD)

• Tanya Cox, Director, CONCORD

Location: Brussels

UNDP and the European Think Tanks Group (ETTG) jointly organized a consultation on “Uncertain Times, Unsettled Lives” in preparation for the 2021-2022 Human Development Report. The consultation brought together thought leaders, policy makers and practitioners reflecting European expertise on a broad range of development issues.

The consultation was opened by Camilla Brückner, Director of the UN/UNDP Office in Brussels and Heidy Rombouts, Director-General of the Belgian DG Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid (DGD), who reflected on the implications of increased perceptions of insecurity across the world, as found by the UNDP 2022 Special Report on Human Security. HDRO Director, Pedro Conceição, presented the key findings of the Special Report and linked it to the 2021-2022 Human Development Report currently being developed. Patrick Develtere from KU Leuven and Michael Roll from the German Development Institute, provided expert commentaries to the presentation.

An open dialogue in two sessions followed the presentations, moderated by Geert Laporte, Director of ETTG. The participants highlighted the distributional aspects of insecurity, uncertainty, and risk, stressing that while Anthropocene threats – such as climate change or pandemics – are global, people may have very different experiences of insecurity and uncertainty depending on their socioeconomic position. Recurrent themes contributing to insecurity that came up were debt, food security, climate and biodiversity and racism. It was noted that the interdependence between people and planet, and across countries, has been seen as a stumbling block rather than a steppingstone to enable cooperation in face of global challenges. Governments were also put forward as possible actors contributing to uncertainty if they do not put forward evidence-informed policies. Participants discussed how renewed social contracts, restoration of community life, and rebuilding of trust can further the recognition of this interdependence and foster collective action. This calls for inclusive economic systems, whole-of-society approaches, enhancing agency, and more participatory governance systems.

The agenda and list of participants follows below.

Agenda:

List of Participants: