HDR

Presentation to European Parliament continues global conversation on HDR

Since its global launch last September, the 2021/22 Human Development report (HDR), “Uncertain Times, Unsettled Lives: Shaping our Future in a Transforming World,” has garnered sustained interest around the world with its timely findings and hopeful messages on how human development could thrive in the face of uncertainty.

The conversation on these themes from the HDR continued on January 24 with a presentation to the European Parliament. Co-organized in Brussels by HDRO, UNDP’s Office in Brussels, and the SDG Alliance of the European Parliament, the event featured a briefing on key themes of the report, followed by a panel discussion with the two co-chairs of the SDG Alliance, MP Udo Bullman and MP Barry Andrews; HDRO Director Pedro Conceição; Georges van Montfort, Deputy Director of UNDP’s Office in Brussels; Blandine Bouniol, Director of Advocacy with Humanity and Inclusion and CONCORD Board member; and Virginia Barchiesi, INTPA Youth Sounding Member, Italy.

"The Human Development Report 2021/22 provides an agenda and conceptual framework for us all to build a just transition with universal values," said Andrews.

"Today's discussion about the Human Development Report was one of the most inspiring ones I ever had. Let's work together and push for change for the better," said Bullman regarding the event.

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Two-day workshop at University of Arizona yields rich discussion on human development

From January 18-19, colleagues from the Human Development Report Office (HDRO) engaged in two days of discussions around the findings of the HDR 2021/22 at the University of Arizona.

Hosted by Prof. Tauhidur Rahman and the Initiative for Agency and Development at the University of Arizona, the workshop consisted of two segments: a public talk by HDRO Director Pedro Conceição and a series of presentations and a panel discussion with HDRO research and statistics team colleagues and academic experts:

• Liesl Folks, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, University of Arizona
• Tauhidur Rahman, Director of IfAD and Professor of Development Economics, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Arizona
• Russell Tronstad, University Distinguished Outreach Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC), University of Arizona
• Erle Ellis, Professor of Geography & Environmental Systems, University of Maryland
• Leandro Prados de la Escosura, Emeritus Professor at Universidad Carlos III, Madrid and Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research
• Ingvild Almås, Professor of Economics, Institute for International Economic Studies, Stockholm University
• Charles Noussair, Professor of Economics, University of Arizona
• Price Fishback, Professor of Economics, University of Arizona
• Tim Finan, Professor of Anthropology, University of Arizona
• Josefin Pasanen, Researcher, Human Development Report Office
• Fernanda Pavez Esby, Researcher, Human Development Report Office
• Christina Lengfelder, Research Specialist, Human Development Report Office
• Yu-Chieh Hsu, Statistician, Human Development Report Office

The two-day workshop allowed a deep-dive discussion on what it would take to build a more hopeful future for human development in uncertain times. Some of the insights from discussions include:

• Human development is about wellbeing achievements, but also human agency. Human freedoms, diversity and creativity is necessary to navigate this novel context of interacting uncertainties. Measurements of agency and freedoms show how expanding metrics uncovers new insights.
• It is time to think of the Anthropocene context beyond environmental degradation, to recognize humans as a geological force shaping our planet. Although there is urgency in accelerating transformations towards a low carbon future, going beyond narratives of crisis and collapse can help us to act on the agency we have in shaping our planet. Human Development can be our "aspirational superpower" in navigating the uncertainties and challenges of the Anthropocene.
• Beliefs and emotions, alongside preferences, shape behavior. Emotions such as happiness can have tangible impacts on important human development dimensions - such as education and productivity. People’s beliefs about how whether inequalities are fair determine their political stand on how to redress inequality.

UN training session sensitizes stakeholders and learners to HDR findings

On January 25, HDRO co-hosted a workshop with UNITAR on the 2021/22 HDR to sensitize stakeholders and interested learners to the many ways in which interacting layers of uncertainty – stemming from dangerous planetary change in the Anthropocene, transformations, and political polarization - are unsettling people’s lives.

HDRO colleagues presented the key findings of the report and interacted with the workshop participants, who also learned about topics including:

• Harnessing human development to navigate uncertain times
• Collective action in times of uncertainty
• Charting paths to transformation

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In Memory of Dr. Inge Kaul (1944-2023)

HDRO was saddened to learn of the passing of dear colleague and friend Dr. Inge Kaul. She led the Human Development Report Office together with Mahbub ul Haq when it was first set up. In addition to her work on the first Human Development Reports, she published extensively on global public goods, effective multilateralism and international cooperation financing. We will treasure the memory of her warmth, dedication and contributions to human development that continues to inspire the development sphere.

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Food for thought: The optimists were right and can be so again

"The world can be a better place. But we cannot take for granted that it will be," said Martin Wolf of the Financial Times in his opinion piece.

Featuring findings from the 2021/22 HDR, Wolf argued that there is reason to be optimistic, as we have made real progress amidst converging shocks and crises that comprise the “uncertainty complex”. However, he emphasized thatwe cannot wait for another period of catastrophe before we attempt renewal.

"We have stumbled, often badly, on our road to the answers. If the optimistic view I still hold is to prove true, we have to stumble faster," Wolf said.

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Coming up: More HDR events and a new-look newsletter!

The month of February is packed with exciting HDRO events that will enrich your understanding of human development and much more:

• Wednesdays (1, 8, 15, 22 Feb): Viewing Multidimensional Poverty from Many Angles. RSVP HERE
• 6 Feb: Side event for the 54th session of the Statistical Commission “Human Development During Uncertain Times”. RSVP HERE
• 7 Feb: IIAS-SEAPP Doha Conference 2023, “Developmental States for Sustainable Development”. More info
• 13 Feb: G-STIC Conference 2023 in Rio, Brazil: High-level plenary session: Toward an equitable and sustainable future. More info
• 14 Feb: 150th anniversary of the International Law Association (ILA) Paris, Webinar. More info
• 22 Feb: Regional Launch of the 2021/2022 HDR in Vienna, co-hosted by IIASA. RSVP HERE
• 24 Feb: Health Capabilities Workshop - University of Pennsylvania. Details forthcoming.
• 28 Feb – 1 March: Launch of a Human Development background paper on Public perceptions, subjective Well-being, and social trust in Colombia. 

Details forthcoming.

HDRO is also excited to announce that a new-look newsletter is on its way, with a brand-new visual identity and features to make your reading experience more enjoyable and interactive. Stay tuned!