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UNDP launches 2019 Human Development Report

Dec 12, 2019, 4:08 PM

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Gambia office have recently launched the 2019 UNDP global human development report, under the theme: Beyond Income, Beyond Averages, Beyond Today.

The report highlights the various inequalities such as gender, the differently abled and services and amenities amongst people from various income ranges and finds a broader solution for policy makers to solving these issues.

Seraphina Wakana, UN resident coordinator explained that the report, which shifted its focus from economic growth, to a people centered development since the 90’s, explores inequalities in human development in the 21st century. “It pays specific attention to the new generation of inequalities caused by climate and technological changes and recommending ways to reduce them.”

She said while income and wealth are key components of assessing inequalities, the report emphasizes that understanding income and wealth disparities require examining other forms of inequalities in health, education, dignity and respect for human rights that contribute to income and wealth inequalities.

The UNDP resident representative, Aissata Dee explained that the HDR applied an approach that focuses on enriching people, opportunities and choices beyond enriching economies where people live in.

“The last integrated household survey found that 69.5 percent of the rural population live in poverty compared to 31.2 of the urban population,” she added.