Human development is about putting people at the center of development. It is about people realizing their potential, increasing choice and enjoying the freedom to lead the lives they value. Created in 1990, the "Human Development Report" has explored themes including gender equity, democracy, human rights, globalization, cultural liberty and water scarcity. The past years have witnessed the emergence of a growing consensus on climate change. Governments across the world have seen the warning signs. The science linking global warming to human activity is unequivocal. The economic case for action is compelling: the costs of inaction will heavily outweigh the costs of action. Yet the politics lags behind the science and the economics. Collectively, the world's governments are failing to act with the urgency demanded by the scale of the threat.
The window of opportunity for avoiding dangerous climate change is closing fast. This year's "Human Development Report" explains why we have less than a decade to change course and start living within our global carbon budget. It explains how climate change will create long-run low human development traps, pushing vulnerable people into a downward spiral of deprivation. Because climate change is a global problem with global causes and effects, it demands a global response with countries acting on the basis of their historic responsibility and capabilities.

El Informe sobre Desarrollo Humano 2020 (que celebra su 30º aniversario) constituye la última edición de la serie de Informes sobre Desarrollo Humano publicados a escala mundial por el Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD) desde 1990. Estos informes ofrecen una explicación independiente, analítica y basada en datos empíricos sobre los principales problemas, tendencias y políticas en el ámbito del desarrollo. Este informe ofrece una alternativa necesaria y que invita a la reflexión frente a la parálisis ante un alarmante cambio planetario. Su publicación se produce en el momento en que la pandemia de COVID-19 ofrece una visión de lo que pudiera ser una ""nueva normalidad"" al mismo tiempo que abre la oportunidad de que la humanidad cambie de rumbo. El informe también plantea un nuevo Índice de Desarrollo Humano, de carácter experimental, ajustado por las presiones planetarias.

Human Development Indices and Indicators: 2018 Statistical Update is being released to ensure consistency in reporting on key human development indices and statistics. It provides a brief overview of the state of human development - snapshots of current conditions as well as long-term trends in human development indicators. It includes a full statistical annex of human development composite indices and indicators across their various dimensions. This update includes the 2017 values and ranking for the HDI and other composite indices as well as current statistics in key areas of human development for use by policymakers, researchers and others in their analytical, planning and policy work. In addition to the standard HDR tables, statistical dashboards are included to draw attention to the relationship between human well-being and five topics: quality of human development, life-course gender gaps, women's empowerment, environmental sustainability and socioeconomic sustainability. Accompanying the statistical annex is an overview of trends in human development, highlighting the considerable progress, but also the persistent deprivations and disparities

This 2016 Africa Human Development Report on gender equality follows the 2012 Africa Human Development Report, which looked at the importance of assuring food security for all Africans. The two reports share a common objective of addressing what might be considered two unfinished agenda items on Africa's development trajectory. Both have long been recognized as important priorities for the governments and citizens of African countries. This year's report on gender equality reviews the ongoing efforts of African countries to accelerate the pace of assuring women's empowerment through all spheres of society - in the home and community, in health and educational attainment, in the workplace, and in political participation and leadership. While significant progress has been made across numerous fronts in most countries, gender equality for African women and girls is still far from satisfactory. This report adopts a political economy approach to gender equality and women's empowerment in Africa.

The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) conducts country evaluations called "Assessments of Development Results (ADRs)" to capture and demonstrate evaluative evidence of UNDP's contributions to development results at the country level. UNDP has been present in Cameroon since 10 September 1972. Since 2008, UNDP has implemented interventions in two programme cycles, 2008-2012 and 2013-2017. UNDP Cameroon has been selected for an ADR since its country programme will end in 2017. The ADR will be conducted in 2016 to feed into the development of the new country programme.

The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) conducts country evaluations called "Independent Country Programme Evaluations (ICPEs)" to capture and demonstrate evaluative evidence of UNDP's contributions to development results at the country level, as well as the effectiveness of UNDP's strategy in facilitating and leveraging national effort for achieving development results. The ICPE for Namibia was conducted in 2017 as the UNDP Namibia country programme ends in 2018. Results are expected to feed into the development of the new country programme.

The Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) conducts country evaluations called "Independent Country Programme Evaluations (ICPEs)", formerly known as Assessment of Development Results, to capture and demonstrate evaluative evidence of UNDP's contributions to development results at the country level, as well as the effectiveness of UNDP's strategy in facilitating and leveraging national effort for achieving development results. This is the second ICPE for Bhutan conducted in 2017, towards the end of the current UNDP programme cycle of 2014-2018. The first ICPE for Bhutan was conducted in 2007, before the new programme cycle of 2008-2014. The current evaluation results are expected to feed into the development of the new country programme.

This report addresses the development challenges facing young people in the Arab region. The current young generation is the largest this region has had over the past 50 years, making up 30% of its population. In light of the youth-led movements during and after the 2011 uprisings, the report argues for a renewed policy focus on youth development in the region. It deals with the pillars of human development (income, education and health) with the attainment, achievement and equitable distribution of education, and with the challenges of finding stable and decent jobs. With protracted conflict in several Arab countries, young Arabs have become victims or perpetrators of violence, challenged by difficulties of mobility and migration. AHDR 2016 aims to engage youth in building a better future.

This evaluation of UNDP's contribution to disability inclusive development is part of the work programme for the Independent Evaluation Office approved by the Executive Board in 2014/2015 (DP 2014/5). It provides an assessment of UNDP contribution to disability inclusive development during the period 2008-2016, corresponding to the current and past UNDP strategic plans, and to the period within which the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has been in force.

This Assessment of Development Results (ADR) in Iraq was conducted by the Independent Evaluation Office (IEO) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2013 towards the end of the current UNDP programme cycle of 2011–2014 with a view to contributing to the preparation of the new UNDP country programme as well as the forthcoming United National Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The ADR assesses the strategic positioning of UNDP support in transition and development. The ADR covers a particularly important time for Iraq, in its efforts towards reconstruction and transition to development.

In Connection with the UNDP-RBAS Since 1990, the United Nations Development Program has been providing annual "Human Development Reports" that set out the basic social and economic indicators for the nations of the world. The Arab Human Development Report, which is focused exclusively on the twenty-two Arab states, provides a comprehensive and comparative examination of the region. Filled with charts, tables, and sidebars, the book provides analysis of the current situation, compares Arab performance with other world areas, and provides an agenda for action. Past AHDRs have focused on the deficits of freedom, knowledge, and women's empowerment that exist in the region; the 2004 edition will focus on freedom and good governance. The reports have received considerable attention from the press, policy makers, and politicians, including Thomas L. Friedman in his column for the New York Times: "There is another tremor shaking the Arab world. This one is being set off by a group of courageous Arab social scientists, who decided, with the help of the United Nations, to begin fighting the war of ideas for the Arab future by detailing just how far the Arab world has fallen behind and by laying out a progressive pathway forward."

The new report is based on surveys conducted in more than 3,000 households in south central Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland. It reveals that although the majority of Somali youth believe they have a right to be educated (82%) and a right to decent work (71%), they feel disempowered by multiple structural barriers built into the family, institutions, local government and society at large. The report contains a Youth Charter, developed by youth representatives from Somaliland, Puntland and south central Somalia which underlines the aspirations, perceptions and needs of young Somalis.