Region continues to lag in human development

Countries of the central Africa and Great Lakes region are among those that continue to lag in human development, according to an annual report by the UN Development Programme (UNDP). The human development index takes into account such factors as life expectancy at birth, adult literacy rate, and GDP per capita. The Human Development Report for 2003 ranks Burundi fourth from the bottom among 175 countries worldwide. Faring only slighting better are the Central African Republic, at 168; the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at 167; Tanzania, at 160; Rwanda, at 158; and the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), at 140. Republic of Congo was the only one of the six ranked among countries having "medium human development", with the others ranked as having "low human development". "Human development is about much more than the rise or fall of national incomes. It is about creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests," UNDP said in a statement. "People are the real wealth of nations. Development is thus about expanding the choices people have to lead lives that they value. And it is thus about much more than economic growth, which is only a means — if a very important one — of enlarging people's choices." Every year since 1990, UNDP has commissioned the Human Development Report by an independent team of experts to explore major issues of global concern. A worldwide advisory network of leaders in academia, government and civil society contribute data, ideas, and best practices to support the analysis and proposals published in the report. According to UNDP, the concept of human development looks beyond per capita income, human resource development, and basic needs as a measure of human progress and also assesses such factors as human freedom, dignity and the role of people in development. The Human Development Report is an independent report commissioned by UNDP. [For the complete report, go to www.undp.org]