Helen Clark Says Living Standards of 2 Billion Better

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP), led by New Zealander Helen Clark, says that 2 billion people have lifted themselves out of low human development in the last 25 years.

The Human Development Index by the UNDP calls for equitable and decent work for all. The report was launched this month in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.

Decent work contributes to both the richness of economies and the richness of human lives, UNDP administrator Clark. “All countries need to respond to the challenges in the new world of work and seize opportunities to improve lives and livelihoods,” Clark said.

Sub-Saharan Africa has been cited as a region where significant gains have been made in human development. The report, however, cautioned that there is an urgent need to address wide inequalities and gaps in opportunities.

The choice to focus on work in this report was made because the subject has changed so much recently Clark told the Associated Press after the launch of the report in Addis Ababa.

“There are so many aspects to the work issue in the major global agenda now,” she said. “Part of this is the migration challenge. Migration is part of the human story. Europe needs migrants and Africa needs remittances. There are natural fits here that all need to understand.”

Clark, 65, has been administrator of the UNDP, the third-highest UN position, since 2009.

Original article by Associated Press, The Daily Star, December 14, 2015.