Human development is defined as a process of expanding the choices of people and the constant improvement of their wellbeing. The basic features of human development are three: a long and healthy life; acquisition of knowledge and access to the required resources for adequate standard of living.
It is agreed that national human development report, prepared at the country level by nationals for nationals are more likely to reflect the key development concerns close to home and could play a major role in encouraging national debate on development issues.
The first report published in 1998 was titled: Peace and economic growth: Opportunities for human development.
In 1999, it was titled Economic Growth and human development: Progress, obstacles and challenges.
The third report in 2000 was titled, Education and human development: Trajectory, lessons and challenges for 21st century.
The title for this year’s report is Gender, women and human development: An agenda for the future.
The main purpose of the 2001 edition of the National Human Development Report, titled Gender, woman and human development: an agenda for the future, is to analyze the human development situation in the country, with special emphasis on gender desegregation.
In a statement during the launching of the report, Mrs. Marylène Spezzati, UNDP Resident Representative, highlighted some important fundamental issues, which underscore the challenges they present in question of gender from the African perspective. She stated that gender matters are still not adequately incorporated into overall national development agenda. The slow socioecomic trends in Africa have in turn discouraged the incorporation of gender issues in development. The result is that the issue of gender equality is often relegated to a secondary position.
The launch of this flagship product, traditionally prepared by a multi-sectoral team, should constitute a beginning of an open and frank national dialogue on the recent economic gains and human development, especially its impact on gender inequalities.
In Mozambique, the National Human Development Report is getting a growing relevance among politicians, academics, journalists, religious, traders and other sectors. Therefore, it has been playing an important role in strengthening the civil society day after day.
The report was prepared in collaboration with National Institute of Statistics (INE), Southern Africa Research and Documentation (SARDC) and Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM).
For further information, please contact Mr. João Loureiro, Steering Committee President (01-492516)
Maputo, 18 July 2002
NHDR THEMES
1998
Peace and economic growth: opportunities for the human development
1999
Economic growth and human development: progresses, obstacles and challenges
***2 International Awards, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2000
2000
Education and human development: trajectory, lessons and challenges for the century XXI
2001
Women, gender and human development: an agenda for the future
Acronyms:
NHDR: National Human Development Report
UNDP: United Nations Development Programme