Informal meeting of experts on the framework for the elaboration of human resources development indicators

Abstract

The decade 1990-1999 is the UN's Fourth Development Decade, for which four priorities have been set. These are: ensuring economic growth on a worldwide basis, resolving the debt problem of developing countries; sustaining the development of human resources; and preventing environmental degradation. Unesco's Third Medium-Term Plan (1990-1995) is located within this context. Its underpinnings - related to the four UN priorities. Noted above are the perceptions that, in the course of much economic development to date, the cultural dimensions of development have largely been ignored, poverty has been deepened, human capabilities have not been utilised sufficiently, and damage has been sustained by the ecosystem. The strategic implications for UNESCO include: increasing the understanding of the interrelations between UNESCO concerns (education, science and culture) and sustainable development; enhancing human resources and their role in the development process, and promoting local, national and international instruments for human resource development. Three broad classes of action are envisaged. First is work on defining the role of human resources in relation to sustainable development, and analysis of the impacts of policies on human resources (with attention to developing relevant indicators). Second is increasing understanding of the cultural dimensions of develeopment, by means of supporting research on relations between sociocultural factors and economic development. And third is participation, together with other UN .partners, in the Fourth Development Decade. Within UNESCO's 1990-91 approved programme, programme area VI, part VI.1, addresses "The Human Dimension of Development". Sub-programme VI.1.1 concerns "Human Resources in relation to 'Sustainable Development'", while sub-programme VI.1.2 focuses on "The Cultural Dimensions of Development". In the first of these, action area 4 is particularly relevant to the present meeting.