National Human Development Report

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The National Human Development Reports (NHDR) take the Global Human Development Report approach to the national level and are prepared and owned by national teams. More than 540 national and sub-national HDRs have been produced so far by 135 countries, in addition to 31 regional reports.

They have introduced the human development concept into national policy dialogue — not only through human development indicators and policy recommendations, but also through the country-led and country-owned process of consultation, research and report writing. Data that is often not published elsewhere - such as statistics disaggregated by geographic location, ethnic group or along rural/urban lines - help pinpoint development gaps, measure progress and flag early warning signs of possible conflict.

As advocacy tools designed to appeal to a wide audience, the reports also spur lively public debates and mobilize support for action and change. They have helped to articulate people’s perceptions and priorities, as well as serve as a resource of alternate policy opinion for development planning.

Example:

Lao PDR 2006 - National Human Development Report: International Trade and Human Development

Fundamental to enlarging choices in Lao PDR is helping the poor to increase their prospects for wealth and happiness. At its most basic level, this means making it easier for people to lead long and healthy lives, to be knowledgeable, to have access to the resources needed for a decent standard of living and to be able to participate in the community.

UNDP is committed to reducing poverty and promoting growth. In order to do this in a strategic manner, it is important to understand the state of poverty in the country so we can advocate for change from the government and population. By both contributing to the debate on alternative approaches and helping to develop shared visions, UNDP seeks to inform decision-makers, as well as raise public awareness and introduce the human development concept into policy dialogue through high-quality and independent analysis.

UNDP's main tools for achieving these aims are the National Human Development Reports (NHDRs). These are designed to provide a balanced measure of human progress by analysing both economic growth and social development, as well as strengthening Lao PDR statistical and analytical capacity, and constitute a vehicle for the realization of the goals set at the Millennium Declaration.

The first NHDR for Lao PDR entitled “National Human Development Report 1998”, explains the concept and importance of human development. Its most significance contribution is that for the first time it presents a picture of the state of human development in the country as of 1996, thus providing a baseline for future developmental measurements. The Report also explains some of the initiatives undertaken by the Government to improve the state of human development and refers to the national plans. It also compares the development situation with that of other ASEAN countries and puts Lao PDR in a general regional perspective.

The Report was launched in March 1999, during a seminar that was attended by a high level delegation of government, international organizations and independent experts. The concept of human development was for many a new one, but it was well received and the potential for the periodical publication of a NHDR was accepted. From the many recommendations that were gathered during the seminar and through subsequent facilitation missions by experts, an approach was devised to continue the sequence with an improved second NHDR.

The second NHDR (2002), "Advancing Rural Development", takes an in-depth look at the different aspects of rural society. Where 80% of the population lives in rural areas, the report gives an important analysis of agricultural systems from wet rice paddies to uplands forestry and looks at the impact of opium and unexploded ordnance development. It also assesses the strengths and weaknesses of current government policies towards rural development and concludes that decentralization is a key element to ensure their success. The Report also includes some interesting chapters on ecology and the ethnic diversity of Lao PDR.

The third NHDR on "International Trade and Human Development" - Lao PDR 2006 was released by the National Statistics Centre under the Committee for Planning and Investment, with the financial support of UNDP at the Round Table meeting, 28-29 November 2006.

This NHDR recommends the "best path" to take that will simultaneously boost trade and human development.