12 September 2016: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) released its Human Development Report (HDR) for the Caribbean, recommending that countries adopt a new generation of public policies to increase economic, social and environmental gains, boost climate and finance resilience and protect people, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The report finds that the high debt of Caribbean countries’ and their middle-income country (MIC) status hinders their ability to access finance for sustainable development, which limits the region’s potential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

‘Multidimensional Progress: Human resilience beyond income’ calls for rethinking the region’s progress in a more multidimensional way beyond gross domestic product (GDP), per capita income and economic growth rates. The report stresses that “nothing that reduces the rights of people and communities or threatens environmental sustainability can be considered progress.”

“The inspiration for this report comes from the strong demands of Caribbean leaders for more comprehensive metrics for assessing development, and for a more nuanced examination of the meaning of ‘graduation,’ recognizing that income per capita does not reflect the vulnerabilities, development needs and challenges of middle income countries,” said UNDP Administrator Helen Clark at the report launch in Barbados.

The report also finds that economic growth and income accretion are not sufficient for lifting and keeping people out of poverty. Within this context, the report recommends the region adopt a new generation of public policies to prevent people from falling back into poverty: social protection; care systems, particularly for children and older persons; physical and financial assets that can act as cushions in times of crisis; and labor skills. The report further recommends measures to address vulnerability and strengthen adaptive capabilities, such as education and training. The report also recommends investments in people, environment, sustainable and affordable energy, efficient institutions and security and stability, describing them as key factors in boosting economic growth, while cautioning that economic growth must be inclusive and environmentally sustainable. In order to increase resilience, UNDP also recommends, inter alia: strengthening planning frameworks by including a strong emphasis on risk management; intensifying focus on climate change mitigation and adaptation; and transitioning to green economy models.

It highlights that the impact of natural hazards on people and their livelihoods, on productive capital, and on social and economic infrastructure is costly in terms of economic growth sacrificed. UNDP warns that sea level rise and climate change could have severe adverse consequence on people and economies if adaptation policies and programmes are not put into effect.

On the region’s MIC status and challenges in accessing concessional financing, the report underscores the economic and environmental vulnerability of the region’s small island developing States (SIDS). The report suggests the region’s countries are special cases for development and recommends reviewing eligibility criteria for countries to access concessional financing. UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Jessica Faieta elaborated, “The challenges of sustainable, holistic and universal development do not end at a certain income threshold: we don’t ‘graduate’ from development challenges unless we can respond accordingly to the multiple dimensions that enable people to live the lives they consider valuable.”

UNDP also published the HDR for Latin America and the Caribbean, titled ‘Multidimensional Progress: Well-being beyond income.’ The report finds that the relapse of millions of people back into poverty is the main threat to progress in the region. Similarly to the Caribbean HDR, the report recommends focusing on public policies related to social protection, care systems, physical and financial assets and labor skills, which it collectively terms a ‘resilience basket.’ [UNDP Press Release on Caribbean Report] [UNDP Press Release on LARC Report] [Caribbean Publication Website] [LARC Publication Website] [UNDP Administrator Statement]