Lebanon

2001-2002 National Human Development Report of Lebanon
Globalization: Towards a Lebanese Agenda
Introduction

by
Yves de San, Resident Representative

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to introduce today the 2001-2002 National Human Development Report of Lebanon. The preparation of the report is an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Council for Development and Reconstruction. 
The first global Human Development Report, back in 1990, defined human development as the process of enlarging people's choices by expanding their capabilities to lead the lives they value (implying long and healthy lives, to be knowledgeable, to have a decent standard of living, and to participate in community life). Since these early days, the concept has been validated and widely endorsed, but with a shift in emphasis from meeting the social needs to issues of governance and "deepening democracy" (the latter being the theme of the thirteenth global Human Development Report published earlier this year). 

The global HDR series has inspired a growing movement in every region committed to embracing the human development approach. Last July, the first Arab Human Development Report was published; it provides an unusually frank account of the development situation and challenges in the region. The Arab Human Development Report links the global dimension and the national dimension, with a backdrop for inter-country comparisons.

As to the National Human Development Reports, they bring alive the message of development of the people, by the people, and for the people, reflecting specific country contexts, priorities and aspirations. They place solid analysis, from the perspective of people-centered development, at the forefront of national agendas, and they shape policies and programmes providing options and broad recommendations on pertinent themes.

The theme of the third National Human Development Report of Lebanon is "Globalization: Towards a Lebanese Agenda." The first and second National Human Development Reports focused on portraying "A Profile of Sustainable Human Development in Lebanon" and on analyzing the complex issues of "Youth and Development". The choice of the theme of this report in mid-2000 has proved to be a strategic one as, more and more, the country is faced and tries to come to grips with the challenges of integrating within an increasingly inter-dependent world. The report explores some of the issues at stake and possible options for Lebanon. It is intended as a contribution to national debate concerning the requirements of a Lebanese development and globalization strategy. It also aims to trigger national action on critical human development concerns in the context of globalization.

National Human Development Reports are national reports not only in the sense that they are country based, but also because they are the culmination of inclusive consultations that help to build consensus among stakeholders. The outcome of such a process, undertaken by a national team, is the very report published today. Obviously, such a process means that the views and opinions expressed in it as contributions to policy-making, are not necessarily those of the UNDP or the Council for Development and Reconstruction.

I seize the occasion to thank and congratulate the National Coordinator, Mr. Salim Nasr, and all those who in one capacity or another were associated with, or contributed to, the preparation of the report.

The publication of the National Human Development Report itself is the centerpiece of a dynamic process that, beyond its participatory preparation, involves extensive dissemination, advocacy, sustained follow-up and monitoring of impact. The report will be widely disseminated and, in the next few days, the process of dialogue and advocacy will be resumed and continued. To follow on a successful series of roundtable discussions that were held during the past year on different aspects of globalization and human development, a number of new initiatives will be taken. Among others, a discussion series will place human development in Lebanon in the regional Arab context, and will be based on both this, the third National Human Development Report and the recently launched Arab Human Development Report.

Thank you.

Friday 20 September 2002