‘We Must Double Down on Human Development’, Advance Policies That Invest, Insure, Innovate, Secretary-General Says in Message for Report’s Launch

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the launch of the Human Development Report, “Uncertain Times, Unsettled Lives: Shaping our Future in a World in Transformation”, today:

Our world faces widespread and interlinked challenges that are unsettling lives and disrupting the global economy.  They are triggering spikes in food and energy prices, driving up inflation and drowning vulnerable countries in debt.  An uneven economic recovery from the pandemic is further exacerbating inequalities and leaving entire regions behind.

This comes at a time when developing countries are already struggling with a slate of challenges not of their making — from the pandemic to the impacts of the climate crisis to debt distress and a lack of access to adequate resources to finance the recovery in the context of persistent and growing inequalities. 

We are now facing a perfect storm that threatens to devastate the economies of many developing countries.  Meanwhile, a growing mental health epidemic is affecting millions of people around the world.  This year’s Human Development Report shows how these widespread challenges are causing immense uncertainty.

Uncertainty is costly.  For the first time ever, the world’s total human development has declined for two years in a row.  The Report puts forward a clear solution:  we must double down on human development and advance policies around the so-called “three I’s”:  investment, insurance, and innovation.

We must invest in global public goods; expand insurance through social safety nets; and innovate, fostering new pathways and technologies.  This is vital to empowering people, rescuing the Sustainable Development Goals, and truly shaping a better future in a world of transformation.  Thank you.