Jordan Times
Monday, September 26, 2005
Kingdom's HDI rank
remains static for third year in a row
Jordan ranked 10th out of 20 Arab states, including the occupied
Palestinian territories
By Dalya Dajani
AMMAN — For the third consecutive year, the
Kingdom has ranked 90 among 177 countries in its Human Development Index (HDI),
which measures the well-being of a nation's citizens.
The UNDP's Human Development Report 2005 (HDR), launched here yesterday, shows
that Jordan's index in improving the health, education and standard of living of
its citizens progressed from 0.750 last year to 0.753 this year.
The HDI, which focuses on life expectancy, adult literacy and per capita income,
makes a comparative measure of the quality of life in 177 countries.
According to the report, the life expectancy level in Jordan this year rose to
71.3 years, compared to 70.9 last year.
Adult literacy, however, dropped slightly, from 90.9 per cent last year to 89.9
per cent this year, while real GDP per capita increased from $4,220 in 2004 to
$4,320.
The index, which placed Jordan in the “middle human development” category, is
based on 2003 figures, the most recent available data.
In terms of the region, Jordan ranked 10th out of 20 Arab states, including the
occupied Palestinian territories. Iraq was not included in the HDI ranking due
to a lack of data.
Qatar topped the list, followed by the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Libya.
The HDI of Kuwait, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Mauritania remained unchanged,
while the Yemen and the Sudan both recorded a slide of two points from 2004.
UNDP Resident Representative Christine McNab told officials at the report's
launch that the Kingdom was making steady progress in meeting its international
commitment to address human development goals, but that more effort was
required.
“Jordan has made progress in some key areas to meet the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) by 2015, however it remains slightly off- track in others,” said
McNab.
The official noted that while Jordan had made advances in areas such as poverty
and women's participation in public life, it needed to sustain such progress.
According to the report, the Kingdom's Gender Development Index (GDI) jumped
three points from 76 last year to 73 this year among 140 countries. Yet, it
ranked seventh among 12 Arab states in this category.
As for its Human Poverty Index, which seeks to provide a multidimensional
measure of poverty by focusing on the four basic dimensions of human life —
longevity, knowledge, economic provisioning and social inclusion — Jordan ranked
11th out of 103 countries this year.
This year's HDR takes stock of countries' work towards tackling basic human
development challenges as the 10-year countdown for the MDGs approaches.
The world's leaders pledged to tackle some vital aspects of human development at
the Millennium Development Summit in 2000, which include halving extreme
poverty, cutting child deaths, providing children with an education, curbing
infectious diseases and forging a new global partnership.
According to the report, many of the countries that signed the MDG pledge are
offtrack in meeting their targets by 2015.
McNab yesterday cited the report as saying that the slow progress is more to do
with a lack of political will on the part of world leaders, rather than a want
of financial and technological ability.
This year's HDR report, entitled “International Cooperation at a Crossroads,”
said the world continues to face widening social inequalities with insufficient
global efforts in securing aid, fair trade and security.
HRH Princess Basma, also UNDP Honorary Human Development Ambassador, said such
instabilities will put a toll on nations and the development potential of
countries.
“In an interdependent world, the threats posed by violent conflict do not stop
at national borders, however heavily defended they may be,” said Princess Basma.
“Development in poor countries is the front line in the battle for global peace
and security,” she added.
The Princess noted that security had a particular importance in this region that
is striving for improved social and economic development and equality.
She noted, however, that advances in human development in the region,
particularly poverty reduction achieved in Jordan, were unlikely to be
maintained in the face of regional uncertainty.
A top concern of this year's report was the impact of globalisation on poor
countries, including unfair trade policies.
More effective rules in international trade, increased aid and peace are the
main ingredients for improved human welfare and poverty reduction, it said.
The report's authors noted that unless genuine efforts are undertaken
simultaneously on each pillar, “there is a real danger that the next 10 years
will, like the last 15 years, deliver far less results for human development.”
“Rich country trade policies continue to deny poor countries and poor people a
fair share of global prosperity and they fly in the face of the Millennium
Declaration,” said the report.
“Limiting that potential through unfair trade policies is inconsistent with a
commitment to the MDGs... it is unjust and hypocritical,” it added.
Princess Basma said the debate concerning terms of globalised trade has been
high on the national agenda as the country undertakes steady political and
administrative reforms to promote good governance.
She noted, however, the importance of “collective action to ensure that the
chosen strategy delivers the best possible returns for the poor, both now and in
the longer terms.”
Officials at yesterday's launch included HRH Prince Raad, HRH Prince Mired,
Minister of Transport Saud Nseirat, acting for the Minister of planning and
international cooperation, officials and UN agency representatives.