Vietnam makes big leap in human development: UNDP
11/12/19
Vietnam has made good progress in human development,
with an average annual Human
Development Index (HDI) growth of 1.36 percent during the
1990-2018 period.
This places Vietnam among the group of countries with the highest HDI growth
rate in the world.
This is one of the key finding of the 2019 Human Development Report, entitled
“Beyond income, beyond averages, beyond today: Inequalities in human
development in the 21st Century”, released by the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) on December 9.”
Addressing the report launching ceremony in Hanoi, UNDP Resident Representative
in Vietnam Caitlin
Wiesen said the 2019 Human Development Report disclosed the
next generation of inequalities emerging around digital technology, education,
and the climate crisis and proposes new ways of measuring and approaching
inequalities.
Wiesen praised Vietnam for having firmly embarked on people-centered
development and equality in its current socio-economic development strategies
and plans.
“Vietnam’s significant Human
Development progress since 1990 has been achieved with
relatively low increases in inequality,” she said.
Taking into account the Inequality Adjusted HDI, Vietnam is nine places higher
than its HDI ranking in 2018, she added.
According to the report, with the HDI of 0.63, Vietnam ranks 118th out of 189
countries, and it needs only an additional 0.007 points to join the High Human
Development group. Vietnam’s HDI rank is higher than India, Laos, Myanmar and
Cambodia.
Vietnam has also been performing well in terms of gender equality. The Gender
Development Index value of 1.003 puts the country in the top five groups of 166
countries in the world, with Vietnam ranking 68th out of 162 countries in
Gender Inequality Index. Particularly commendable is the share of seats in parliament
which places Vietnam among the top third of countries globally.
However, Caitlin said, there were important areas for improvement. Vietnam
ranks among the bottom third of countries globally in terms of sex ratio at
birth (1.12), violence against women by non-intimate partners (34.4 percent)
and women with accounts in financial institutions or with mobile money service
provider (30.4 percent).
Although Vietnam’s forest coverage as among the top third of countries
globally, the country is among the bottom third of countries in terms of carbon
emission per capita.
Addressing these would be a key challenge to ensure the sustainability of
Vietnam’s growth, she said.
Caitlin suggested Vietnam raise people’s awareness of sex-selection issue.
Nguyen Tien Phong, Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP, said regarding to
socio-economic sustainability, a lot of jobs generated by small and medium
enterprises did not require skills, meaning Vietnam ranks low in skilled labour
force and vulnerable employment.
Vu Dai Thang, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, said Vietnam has
issued an action plan on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable
development.
The Vietnamese Government’s determination was represented by the Nation
Assembly's approval of the master plan on socio-economic development for
ethnic minority people with the goal of ensure equality in human development.
It was in accordance with the spirit “Don’t leave any one behind” upheld by the
government, he said./.
All comments [ 6 ]
An inclusive growth path – rapid, sustainable growth that leaves no one behind – is key to achieving overall progress in human development.
Vietnam’s performance in terms of human development has been impressive over the last 35 years but progress varied between periods and has slowed down in recent years.
To expand productive employment, Vietnam needs to maintain macroeconomic stability, increase economic efficiency, and enhance connectivity and technological readiness as well as nurturing innovation.
Vietnam’s renewed development success rests on it building an inclusive and equitable economy – and that the route to this lies in full employment based on decent jobs, and opportunity and security for all.
During 30 years of reform, Vietnam has synchronously implemented various solutions to promote sustainable development, the leader said, highlighting the country’s major achievements such as macro-economic stability, high economic growth and improved growth quality.
We should call for efforts to speed up the restructuring and improvement of economic institutions, towards the more efficient use of natural resources, energy saving, advanced economic competitiveness, climate change adaptation and poverty reduction.
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