NEDA, UNDP to launch 2014 Human Development Report

National Economic and Development Authority and

United Nations Development Programme

 National Launch and Press Conference

2014 Human Development Report (HDR)

Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerabilities and Building Resilience

Fifth Philippine Progress Report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Date: Wednesday, 20 August 2014

Time: 12.30 pm – 05.30 pm

Venue: Grand Ballroom A, Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria,

ADB Avenue corner Ortigas Avenue, Quezon City

The 2014 Human Development Report (HDR) highlights the need for both promoting people’s choices and protecting human development achievements. It takes the view that vulnerability threatens human development and, unless it is systematically addressed, progress will be neither equitable nor sustainable. This Report focuses on the people at greatest risk and on key underlying drivers of vulnerability. It analyzes structural causes – social marginalization, position in society and insufficient public services – and pays attention to the different vulnerabilities faced at different stages of the life cycle. 

 

The 2014 Report also identifies measures essential to yield robust and sustainable human progress in the midst of natural disasters and socio-economic shocks and risks. It highlights on multidimensional approaches in building resilience across sectors and in deepening collective action to reduce vulnerabilities and improve human development.

An updated Human Development Index (HDI) with rankings of 187 countries is also released in the 2014 Report. The HDI measures progress in the major elements of human development - life expectancy, education and income. It shifts measurement of progress from national income accounting to the people-centered variables of human development.  

What have been the achievements of the Philippines in terms of human development? How did the Philippines fare against other countries?   

The Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Country Reports, on the other hand, are considered as one of the best instruments for obtaining MDG evidence from the ground, extracting lessons learnt and maintaining momentum towards the MDGs. They represent an unbroken tradition of reporting from the ground - the first such report originated in 2001.

With 2015 fast approaching, the Philippines is faced with the twin tasks of making as much progress as possible on the MDGs, and articulating the post-2015 development priorities that would, inter alia, build upon the results of the Philippine experience with the MDGs. The next round of MDG reports (from 2013 onwards) should therefore help motivate a final push for the MDGs, while also contributing to the framing of the post-2015 development agenda.

The Philippine Government has prepared four national progress reports on the MDGs which were released in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2010. These reports presented the progress and gaps in achieving the MDGs and identified challenges that need to be addressed to fast track its achievement. The reports have become instruments in advocating the MDGs to various stakeholders and in mobilizing support for programs and projects needed to achieve the MDGs by 2015.

The Fifth Country Report aims to provide a brief reflection on the totality of the Philippine experience with the MDGs, including identification of the unfinished business that remains. The focus is on the four areas where the Philippines is lagging behind or challenged, in terms of attaining the 2015 targets, namely: poverty reduction, achieving universal primary education, improving maternal health and combating HIV and AIDS. Emerging priorities are also discussed.

The HDR is an editorially independent publication of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).Further information can be found at hdr.undp.org

The Philippines Fifth Progress Report on the Millennium Development Goals is a publication of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), with the support of UNDP.