U NITED N ATIONS D EVELOPMENT PROGRAMME A RAB FUNDFORECONOMICANDSOCIAL D EVELOPMENT ARAB HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2002 Creating Opportunities for Future Generations An accurate diagnosis of a problem is an important part of the solution. It is precisely for this reason that the Regional Bureau for Arab States has commissioned a group of distinguished Arab intellectuals to produce the Arab Human Development Report. The wealth of unbiased, objective analysis it contains is part of our contribution to Arab peoples and policy-makers in the search for a brighter future. The report shows that Arab countries have made significant strides in more than one area of human development in the last three decades. Nevertheless, the predominant characteristic of the current Arab reality seems to be the existence of deeply rooted shortcomings in the Arab ARAB HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2002 instutional structure. These shortcomings are an obstacle to building human development. The report summarises them as three deficits relating to freedom, empowerment of women, and knowledge. These deficits constitute weighty constraints on human capability that must be lift- ed. From a positive perspective, the realisation of human development in the Arab world requires transcending current shortcomings, and even transforming them into their opposites, i.e. advantages enjoyed by all Arabs, assets all Arab countries can be proud of in the Third Millennium. Specifically, the report concludes that Arab countries need to embark on rebuilding their soci- eties on the basis of: • Full respect for human rights and freedoms as the cornerstone of good governance, leading to human development. • the complete empowerment of Arab women, taking advantage of all opportunities to build their capabilities and to enable them to exercise those capabilities to the full. • The consolidation of knowledge acquisition and its effective utilisation. As a key driver of progress, knowledge must be brought to bear efficiently and productively in all aspects of soci- ety, with the goal of enhancing human well being across the region. In the end, bold thinking holds the key to realizing, as opposed to only conceiving of, grand visions for the future. Great goals require great acts. U NITED N ATIONS D EVELOPMENT PROGRAMME A RAB FUNDFORECONOMICANDSOCIAL D EVELOPMENT ARAB HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2002 Creating Opportunities for Future Generations An accurate diagnosis of a problem is an important part of the solution. It is precisely for this reason that the Regional Bureau for Arab States has commissioned a group of distinguished Arab intellectuals to produce the Arab Human Development Report. The wealth of unbiased, objective analysis it contains is part of our contribution to Arab peoples and policy-makers in the search for a brighter future. The report shows that Arab countries have made significant strides in more than one area of human development in the last three decades. Nevertheless, the predominant characteristic of the current Arab reality seems to be the existence of deeply rooted shortcomings in the Arab ARAB HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2002 instutional structure. These shortcomings are an obstacle to building human development. The report summarises them as three deficits relating to freedom, empowerment of women, and knowledge. These deficits constitute weighty constraints on human capability that must be lift- ed. From a positive perspective, the realisation of human development in the Arab world requires transcending current shortcomings, and even transforming them into their opposites, i.e. advantages enjoyed by all Arabs, assets all Arab countries can be proud of in the Third Millennium. Specifically, the report concludes that Arab countries need to embark on rebuilding their soci- eties on the basis of: • Full respect for human rights and freedoms as the cornerstone of good governance, leading to human development. • the complete empowerment of Arab women, taking advantage of all opportunities to build their capabilities and to enable them to exercise those capabilities to the full. • The consolidation of knowledge acquisition and its effective utilisation. As a key driver of progress, knowledge must be brought to bear efficiently and productively in all aspects of soci- ety, with the goal of enhancing human well being across the region. In the end, bold thinking holds the key to realizing, as opposed to only conceiving of, grand visions for the future. Great goals require great acts. THE ARAB HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2002 Creating Opportunities for Future Generations SPONSORED BY THE REGIONAL BUREAU FOR ARAB STATES / UNDP ARAB FUND FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Copyright © 2002 by the United Nations Development Programme, Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS), 1 UN Plaza, New York, New York, 10017, USA All rights reserved. No part 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 of UNDP / RBAS. Available through: United Nations Publications Room DC2-853 New York, NY 10017 USA Telephone: 212 963 8302 and 800 253 9646 (From the United States) Email: [email protected] Web: www.un.org/Publications Web: www.undp.org/rbas Cover design: Khaled Samar Layout and Production: SYNTAX, Amman, Jordan Printed at: Icons Printing Services, Amman, Jordan ISBN: 92-1-126147-3 Printed in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Available through: United Nations Publications Room DC2-853 New York, NY 10017 USA Telephone: 212 963 8302 and 800 253 9646 (From the United States) Email: [email protected] Web: www.un.org/Publications Web: www.undp.org/rbas Foreword By the Administrator, UNDP The United Nations Development and women of the region. Is economic and so- Programme has issued annual Human cial reform keeping pace with demographic Development Reports (HDRs) since 1990. growth and demands for a better life? Building on the work of Nobel Prize-winner This report, the first regional HDR for the Amartya Sen and others, the first HDR was a Arab States, is the result, covering a total of 22 groundbreaking effort to assess the state of countries from the Maghreb to the Gulf. The global development from a people-centered report has some encouraging findings. perspective that puts the expansion of human Overall, it shows that Arab states have made capabilities, choices and opportunities at the substantial progress in human development centre of the development process. The pio- over the past three decades. Life expectancy neering Human Development Index (HDI) has increased by about 15 years; mortality also provided a powerful new way of assessing rates for children under five years of age have a country’s success in meeting the needs of its fallen by about two thirds; adult literacy has al- citizens that looked beyond simple measures most doubled—and women’s literacy has tre- of wealth creation. bled—reflecting very large increases in gross Successive HDRs have followed that path educational enrollments, including those of and fleshed out new approaches to strength- girls. Daily caloric intake and access to safe ening human development and human secu- water are higher, and the incidence of dire rity, in the process helping to catalyze a poverty is lower than in any other developing broader revolution in the policies and pro- region. grammes of development agencies and many But the report also makes it clear how developing countries themselves. That process much still needs to be done to provide current has been stimulated and accelerated in recent and future generations with the political voice, years by the production of a growing number social choices and economic opportunities of regional, sub-regional and national HDRs they need to build a better future for them- that have proven to be powerful tools for ad- selves and their families. It notes that quantita- vocacy and national policy development. tive improvements in health and education To date, UNDP has helped prepare 35 na- have not yet reached all citizens, and finds that tional and sub-national HDRs for 17 Arab too often expansion of services has not been States. As the region as whole seeks to con- matched by needed qualitative improvements front a growing range of political, social and in their delivery. It underlines how far the economic challenges from unemployment and Arab states still need to go in order to join the poverty reduction to peace and enhanced global information society and economy as full human security, we believe the time is right for partners, and to tackle the human and eco- a study that assesses the current state of nomic scourge of joblessness, which afflicts human development across the region and of- Arab countries as a group more seriously than fers some concrete suggestions on how to ac- any other developing region. And it clearly celerate progress in the future. In light of outlines the challenges for Arab states in terms recent events and tragedies, it seems important of strengthening personal freedoms and to ask how the region is doing in allowing po- boosting broad-based citizen participation in litical voice to its citizens and in meeting the political and economic affairs. economic and social aspirations of all the men The report was prepared by a team of III Arab scholars, with the advice of a distin- guished panel of policymakers in the region. As with all Human Development Reports, the conclusions are not in any way a statement of UNDP policy. The disclaimer is particularly important on this occasion, as it is indepen- dent experts from the region rather than UNDP who have placed their societies under a sympathetic but critical examination and have exposed strengths, weaknesses, opportu- nities and threats about themselves in a way that perhaps only Arabs should. So this is not the grandstanding of out- siders but an honest, if controversial, view through the mirror. As such, it is aimed at stimulating discussion and debate by policy- makers, practitioners and the general public alike on how best to tackle the most pressing challenges to improving human development across the region.