History of the Human Development Report
The Human Development Report (HDR) was first launched in 1990 with the single goal of putting people back at the center of the development process in terms of economic debate, policy and advocacy. The goal was both massive and simple, with far-ranging implications — going beyond income to assess the level of people’s long-term well-being. Bringing about development of the people, by the people, and for the people, and emphasizing that the goals of development are choices and freedoms.
Since the first Report, four new composite indices for human development have been developed — the Human Development Index, the Gender-related Development Index, the Gender Empowerment Measure, and the Human Poverty Index. Each Report also focuses on a highly topical theme in the current development debate, providing path-breaking analysis and policy recommendations. The Reports’ messages — and the tools to implement them — have been embraced by people around the world, evidenced by the publication of national human development reports at the country level in more than 140 nations.
The Human Development Report is an independent report.
It is commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and is
the product of a selected team of leading scholars, development practitioners
and members of the Human Development Report Office of UNDP. The teams were led
by Mahbub ul Haq and Inge Kaul from 1990 through 1994; by Mahbub ul Haq and
Sakiko Fukuda-Parr in 1995, by Richard Jolly and Sakiko Fukuda-Parr from 1996
through 2000, and by Sakiko Fukuda-Parr with Nancy Birdsall from 2001 through
2003. In 2004, Kevin Watkins joined as Director of the Human
Development Report Office, thereby taking the role of Lead Author for the Reports of 2005 until 2007/2008. As of 2008, Jeni Klugman is the Director and Lead Author of the global Report.
The Report is translated into more than a dozen languages and launched in more than 100 countries annually.
Access the list of global research themes
The Regional, National and Sub-national Reports
Human Development Reports (HDR) at the regional, national and sub-national levels take the human development approach to the regional or country level and are prepared and owned by regional and national teams. They both feed into and draw upon the data and analysis of the global Report. Over 600 regional, national and sub-national reports have been produced so far in over 140 countries.
National reports place human development at the forefront of the national political agenda. They are tools for policy analysis reflecting people's priorities, strengthening national capacities, engaging national partners, identifying inequities and measuring progress. As instruments for measuring human progress and triggering action for change, regional reports promote regional partnerships for influencing change, and addressing region-specific human development approaches to human rights, poverty, education, economic reform, HIV/AIDS, and globalization.
As policy advocacy documents, they have introduced the human development concept into national policy dialogues — not only through human development indicators and policy recommendations, but also through the country-led and country-owned process of consultation, research and report writing.
As advocacy tools designed to appeal to a wide audience, the reports can spur public debates and mobilize support for action and change. They have helped to articulate people’s perceptions and priorities, and have served as a source of alternate policy opinion for development planning across varied themes.
