A new human development index (HDI) report released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has revealed a concerning trend for the first time in 20 years, where inequalities in human development are widening between nations at the upper and lower ends.
The Human Development Report 2023/2024 was launched in Abuja, yesterday, by the minister of finance, Wale Edun, minister of youth development, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim and the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator, Mr Mohamed M. Fall, amongst others.
At the launch of the 2023/2024 HDR, Edun pointed out that, “The HDR is a rallying cry that we can and must do better than this, and it charts a way forward for conversations on reimagining development cooperation for a better world. In re-imagining cooperation, international financial architecture ought to be structured to proactively support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the realization of human rights.”
He added that, “The only way to facilitate such a structure is through ambitious reforms, starting with more inclusive, representative and, ultimately, more effective global economic governance.”
In her remarks, the resident representative for UNDP Nigeria, Ms. Elsie G Attafuah mentioned that “Since its (HDR) inception, the Human Development Report has become a flagship knowledge product.
“This unique annual report has not only helped to establish a new broad definition of development, but also to evaluate the progress made and highlight key challenges drawing on statistics.
“This report encourages political leaders and development practitioners around the world to keep raising our ambitions and following up on areas that need support.”
Attafuah further added; “The report calls us to change course, otherwise the world may not recover from the decline in human progress. The repercussion of not changing course and removing the gridlock is in the additional lives that will be lost, in opportunities that will be forgone, and in feelings of despair.”
