Nepal Human Development Report 2014
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Nepal Human Development Report 2014 Beyond Geography Government of Nepal Unlocking Human Potential National Planning Commission Nepal Human Development Report 2014 Beyond Geography Unlocking Human Potential Government of Nepal National Planning Commission Nepal Human Development Report 2014 Beyond Geography, Unlocking Human Potential Copyright © 2014 Published by Government of Nepal National Planning Commission Singha Durbar, Kathmandu Tel: (+977)-014211136 Fax: (+977)-014211700 Email: [email protected] Web: www.npc.gov.np United Nations Development Programme Post Office Box 107 Pulchowk Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: 977-1-5523200 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.np.undp.org All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission. ISBN: 978-9937-8874-0-3 Design and Processed: Print Communication Pvt. Ltd. Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal Cover photo: Chandra Shekhar Karki Printed in Nepal Team for the Preparation of Nepal Human Development Report 2014 Team of Authors STEERING COMMITTEE Pitamber Sharma – Team Leader l Janak Raj Shah, Former Hon’ble Member, National Planning Basudeb Guha-Khasnobis Commission – Chairperson Dilli Raj Khanal l Yuba Raj Bhusal*, Former Member Secretary, National Planning Commission – Member Researchers l Pushpa Lal Shakya, Joint Secretary, National Planning Prakash Shrestha Commission Secretariat- Member Pawan Kanel l Baikuntha Aryal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance - Member l Hari Lamsal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education - Member l Narayan Gopal Malego*, then Joint Secretary, Ministry of Statistical Assistants Physical Planning and Works - Member Tika Gautam l Padam Chand, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Health and Anwesha Aditya Population - Member l Hari Poudel, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Women, Children and Editor Social Welfare - Member Gretchen Luchsinger l Suman Aryal, Deputy Director General, Central Bureau of Statistics - Member l Rajiv Pokhrel, Under Secretary, Ministry of Health and Peer Reviewers Population – Member Kul Chandra Gautam, Pushkar Bajracharya, Posh Raj Panday, l Bhagwat Khanal, Under Secretary, Ministry of Physical Bina Pradhan, Bhuwan Bajra Bajracharya, Madan Pariyar, Planning, Infrastructure and Transport - Member Hari Pradhan, Stella Tamang, Rajendra Dev Acharya, l Sharmila Karki, President, NGO Federation - Member Akhilesh Upadhyay and Tula Narayan Shah l Netra Prasad Timsina, Former President, NGO Federation - Member Reviewers from HDRO, RBAP and IC4HD l Ashutosh Tiwari, Association of INGOs – Member Thangavel Palanivel, Bishwa Nath Tiwari, Scott Standley l Prakash Giri, Federation of Nepalese Chamber of and Tasneem Mirza, Elena Borsatti, Meenakshi Kathel, Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) - Member Meenaz Munshi and Jonathan Hall l Ram B. BK, National Dalit Commission - Member l Shoko Noda, Country Director, UNDP – Member l Rabi Shanker Sainju, Programme Director, National Planning Commission Secretariat- Member Secretary * Yuba Raj Bhusal is currently Secretary, Ministry of Finance. * Narayan Gopal Malego is currently Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Supplies. | v vi | Nepal Human Development Report 2014 Message t is my pleasure to note that the Nepal While Nepal has already met Econom- Human Development Report 2014 has ic Vulnerability Index necessary for gradua- Icome out with unique features – a differ- tion and about to meet the Human Asset ent theme, useful data sets and innovations in Index, we are far behind in meeting the cri- methodologies and analysis. Indeed, the Re- teria for Gross National Income. To meet the port is a huge intellectual contribution to the projected GNI per capita - US$2,094 - Nepal development debate of Nepal. needs to invest to the tune of 16.7 trillion ru- This Report focuses on the produc- pees in terms of the current prices between tive abilities of the regions, households and 2013/14 and 2021/22. individuals. The report also reinforces the fact Given the fast pace with which the that there are inequalities between and within economy needs to grow – 8% annually - for regions, as well as social groups. It reveals that graduation from a least developed country, there is ethnic dimension to the geographic Nepal needs to invest in areas that are grow- disparity. It also points out human develop- ing fast like the services sector. And given the ment does not only depend upon access to inequality, as portrayed by this Human De- facilities and productive abilities but also on velopment Report and the reports published the opportunities available. earlier, the state has to focus on agriculture, The report rightly recommends infrastructure, education, health and the so- strengthening inclusive growth and looking cial sector to decrease inequality. into innovation in development models for For that Nepal will have to focus on lead- problems that defy general economics. Inclu- ing sectors like hydro-power, industries, tourism, sive Growth and innovation in development agriculture and services and make use of eco- models are important at this time, as Nepal nomic growth centers identified in this report to tries to move out of a long drawn out political spur the growth that the country needs. It further transition and its commitment to graduating needs to increase the productivity of the popula- from Least Developed Country to a Develop- tion with a focus on health, education and gain- ing Country status by 2022. ful employment of the youth population. Prof. Dr. Govind Raj Pokharel Vice-chairperson National Planning Commission OverviewForeword | vii Foreword he productive abilities of citizens stakeholders to formulate policies and judi- are the real assets of a country. With cious budget allocations to sectors, regions, Tright skill sets, even countries with- districts and socio-economic groups. The out significant natural endowment succeed Report shows that the pattern of regional in- to attain high level of development and pros- equalities in human development as well as perity. Nepal Human Development Report productive abilities remains entrenched, but 2014 ‘Beyond Geography, Unlocking Hu- there are indications that the gaps may be nar- man Potential,’ traverses a field that has not rowing. To reduce the inequalities further, the been fully explored before, namely, variation rate of economic growth has to be enhanced in productive abilities of different regions, without compromising the essential quality households and individuals. For the first time of equality and equity. The Report suggests in almost a decade, the report also provides that fusing of the two dimensions may be rel- a wealth of data and information on human evant in setting a federal development agenda development at the district level based on the that facilitates a multi-pronged approach to 2011 population Census and other relevant raising productive ability which can ensure surveys. The Report comes at a time when sustainable human development. the country is making efforts to move out of A report of this nature is always a team an extended political transition and has envi- effort. We would like to thank the team leader, sioned graduating from a least developed to a authors and researchers, the National Planning developing country by 2022. Commission Secretariat and the United Na- The Report presents rigorous statisti- tions Development Programme staff, as well as cal analysis across space and time, using the the members of the Steering Committee, peer available national data. The large statistical reviewers, both national and international, and database created in the process, can be used many others who in various ways contributed by the Government and other development in the preparation of the Report. Dr. Som Lal Subedi Jamie McGoldrick Member-Secretary UN Resident Coordinator National Planning Commission Government of Nepal viii | Nepal Human Development Report 2014 Acknowledgements he Nepal Human Development due to Deputy Director Generals Suman Report 2014 is a joint effort of the Aryal and Rudra Suwal, and Director Ishwori TNational Planning Commission and Prasad Bhandari of the Central Bureau of Sta- UNDP. However, the findings, analysis and tistics. policy recommendations of the Report are The team presented the preliminary those of the authors alone. draft to the Steering Committee meeting on In line with UNDP Corporate Policy 12 December 2013 for their guidance and on national human development reports, the inputs. The initial draft was revised based preparation of the Nepal Human Develop- on the inputs of the Steering Committee ment Report 2014 started after the forma- members. Also, in order to ensure effective tion of a NHDR Steering Committee in May participation of various stakeholders and na- 2012 followed by a National Stakeholder tional ownership in finalizing the report, four Workshop on 22 June 2012 that determined consultations were organized with 1) repre- the theme of the report. We are thankful to sentatives of various government ministries the leadership of Janak Raj Shah, former and departments, 2) political parties, 3) civil member of the National Planning Commis- society and the private sector, and 4) develop- sion, who chaired the meeting. ment partners on 24-25 February 2014. We Based on feedback and inputs received thank all the participants of the stakeholder in the workshop, Basudeb Guha-Khasnobis, consultations for their valuable feedback. Senior