NHDR & GHDR Ceremony Launched [Archives:2001/43/Local News]

The Ministry of Planning and Development, in cooperation with the UNDP office in Yemen, organized a ceremony last Wednesday to launch the National Human Development Report (NHDR) 2001 and the Global Human Development Report 2001.
In his speech, Mr. James Rowley, UNDP Resident Representative, highlighted the Global Human Development Report (GHDR) and the issues it tackles.
He said the report this time focuses on the use of new technologies to serve human development.
Mr. Rowley confirmed that the UNDP will continue financing the launching of National Reports, considering them as of vital significance to supporting strategies and monitoring the humanitarian situation in countries. He approved the NHDR this year, which focuses mainly on civil society and its role in human development. He stressed that the UNDP did not at all interfere with the information presented in the report, and that it was prepared by a national team of specialists. However, he said, “We don’t claim that everything in it is perfect.” On his part, Mr. Ahmad Sofan, Minister of Planning and Development, said the report is good but it does not give correct figures about various issues, adding that the team has taken their information from official sources. The first NHDP 1998 gave an analytical overview of human development conditions and attempted to identify more expanded options in measuring human development potentials in Yemen vis-a-vis a regional and international situations.
The second report, however, introduced civil society as being an important indicator of the ongoing democratic process and transformation. It also discussed a revitalized partnership between the state and civil society; concepts and development, the institutional make up of civil society, political participation and other issues.
The report says, “The national economy has achieved modest performance during the last three years. Real GDP grew from 584,742 million YR in 1997 to 666, 261 million YR in 2000. Per capita incomes rose from 35,339 YR to 36,408 YR during the same period.”
According to the GHDR 2001, in 1999 Yemen was ranked 133 out of the 162 countries, with a human development index of 0.468, making Yemen one of lowest in human development. The NHDR presents important indications about human development. It shows that civil society organizations soared from 286 in 1990 to 2,786 in 2000.
It shows that life expectancy at birth is 60.7 years, the literacy rate among adults 47.3%, the total enrollment rate in all educational levels 54.5%, and GDP per capita (purchasing power parity) $912, with a human development index of 0.487 in 2000. The population number is put at 18.261, 50.1 percent of them are male while 49.9 percent are female. The life expectancy at birth for females at birth is 62.7 years and 58.8 for males. Literacy among adults is estimated at 26.5 percent (female) and 68.7 percent (male). The parliament representation of women is 0.7 percent in comparison with 99.3 percent for men. The empowerment of men in administrative posts is estimated at 95.6 percent and 4.4 percent for women. In vocational and technical posts, it is 15.8 percent (female) and 84.2 percent (male). Around 18.7 percent of the population is not expected to live to the age of 40. Populations with no access to safe water is put at 64% and 50% are without health services. 48.5% of Yemeni children are underweight.
The report also gives important figures and indicators about other scopes of human development in Yemen.
Mohammed Hatem Al-Qadhi
Yemen Times

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