Community Voices
Building on the 2005 Egypt Human Development Report on the “New Social Contract” to Pave the Road for the Upcoming 2007 Report on the Role of Civil Society | ||
By Nahla Zeitou, UNDP Egypt NHDR Focal Point
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The 2005 Egypt Human Development Report (EHDR) argues that inequalities in assets, opportunities and voice are all barriers to national prosperity. The energy and talents of a significant number of Egypt's citizens can contribute to development if only equity considerations are brought to the forefront of policy-making. Accordingly, the Report chose “a vision for Egypt in 2015” to be its theme, inspired by Egyptians’ growing aspirations and expectations for accelerated reform. The Report adopts a new paradigm whereby the disadvantaged are not seen only as recipients of international commitments and aid, but as major participants in and beneficiaries of a new social contract between the Egyptian State and its citizens. This new ‘arrangement’ would build momentum for change from the grassroots level upwards, and energize development across society. |
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Experiences from a Late Arrival: Mexico's HDRs | ||
By Luis F. Lopez-Calva, Director, National Human Development Report-UNDP Mexico
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In 2001, the Government of Mexico requested the production of a National Human Development Report during a historical time - one year after the political party that had been in power for more than seventy years lost a presidential election. This event represented the beginning of a new era in Mexico’s political system and relations with a variety of national and international actors. Mexico was one of the few countries in the region at the time that had yet to produce an HDR. |
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Afghanistan: Security with a Human Face | ||
By Fakhruddin Azizi, HDR Focal Point, UNDP Afghanistan
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For Afghans, human security is not defined simply as the end of war or the ability to survive, but also the chance to live a life of dignity and to pursue and sustain their own livelihoods. During the past two decades, Afghanistan faced numerous hardships, risks and challenges. For too long, Afghanistan’s security problem has been interpreted narrowly as the security of “state” from international and external aggression, or as the protection of the interest of fragmented groups claiming political legitimacy in the absence of a state. Forgotten were the legitimate concerns of ordinary people who sought security and dignity in their daily lives. Human security is an ideal framework for a development vision for Afghanistan and it is the core of Afghanistan’s first National Human Development Report 2004: Security with a Human Face, which was launched in February this year. |
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