UN to issue first HDR on Abu Dhabi by year-end

 

The United Nations will issue its first human development report (HDR) on Abu Dhabi towards the end of 2011 as part of plans by the emirate to promote development within its far-reaching 2030 economic blueprint. 

The Department of Economic Development (DED) said it was working with the UN Development Programme (UNDP to issue that HDR, which is described as the first comprehensive report by the UN on the emirate. 

“The report will help offer specific recommendations to further raise the level of human development in the emirate, based on critical and scientific review of reality,” DED said in a statement on Saturday. 

It said the HDR focuses on five major domestic issues which include data and statistical indicators, economic growth and its implications on social aspects, demography, education and labor related issues. 

DED undersecretary Mohammed Omar Abdullah, who is also Chairman of the Higher Committee of the Human Development Report, said the HDR is part of analytical studies intended to aid decision makers, and provide specific recommendations on topics that are addressed, adding that the report is centered on concepts of human development, such that the humanitarian concerns are the focus of attention and not only the economic side. 

“This report is very important as it comes against the backdrop of rapid growth which the emirate has experienced over the past years, within the policy set by the leadership and the government to achieve the objectives of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, and to place the Government of Abu Dhabi among the best five governments in the world,” Abdullah said. 

He said the HDR would help the Government in achieving many objectives, including the adoption of new policies to further raise living standards, enhance social progress, set up innovative indicators  for human development, and  rationalize national assets to address key aspects of sustainable development. 

Elissar Sarrouh, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to the UAE, explained that the programme has realized the importance of the role played by the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in development and growth of UAE in all fields, adding that there is a need to shed light on human development issues through the first report on human development for the Emirate. 

Sarrouh said citizens are the most concerned stratum in the process of achieving sustainable development, stressing that the indicators of quality of life are not confined only to wealth and employment opportunities, but also the physical environment, health, education, social life and entertainment. 

Sarrouh added that this report is a separate document that will reveal the facts and point out development trends, while retaining its own national identity, citing the priorities of the Government of Abu Dhabi to achieve sustainable development embodied in the 2030 Vision. 

 “Based on international experience, and Arab human development reports, taking into account the varying characteristics of citizens and non-citizens in the GCC countries in general and UAE in particular, it was agreed to adopt two approaches as far as this HDR report is concerned,” Sarrouh said. 

“First, this report is to be considered as one of a series of reports to be prepared once every two or three years, so that development issues would be addressed later as per the priority accorded to them. Second, the different indicators will be calculated and the characteristics of population as citizens and non-citizens and total population will be addressed.”