Malawi ranked 174 on development index
Malawi’s human development as measured in three basic dimensions—a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living—was stuck relative to other countries, but with a marginal improvement between 2012 and 2013.
According to the United Nations 2014 Human Development Report (HDR) titled ‘Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerabilities and Building Resilience’, Malawi has been ranked 174 in 2013 and did not move compared to 2012 data.
However, the report which was released by the United Nations Development Programme last week indicates that Malawi’s Human Development Index (HDI)—a composite index of life expectancy, education and income—improved to 0.414 in 2013 from 0.411 in 2012, an indication that the quality of life marginally improved during the period.
The report indicates that life expectancy at birth improved from 54.8 years in 2012 to 55.3 years in 2013, while gross national income (GDI) per capita worsened from $774 in 2012 to $715 in 2013.
In 1990, when the HDR was launched, Malawi registered an HDI of 0.270, improved to 0.406 in 2010, rose to 0.411 in 2011 and has been stuck around that for the past two years.
However, analysts have often pointed out that to achieve an improvement in the quality of life Malawi needs to be committed and that the reports show that the country is not doing enough.
Analysts note that, as a country, Malawi must have a national agenda that should be institutionalised across both public and private sectors which must be pursued regardless of change of government.
According to the 2014 HDR, while Malawi is categorised as a low human development country, Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, and neighbouring Zambia are ranked as medium development countries.
Along with Malawi under the low human development category are Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Lesotho and Ethiopia while Mozambique lies a few notches below.
United Nations Development Programme (Undp) administrator Helen Clark is quoted as saying the report looks at two concepts which are both interconnected and immensely important to securing human development progress.
She said the 2014 HDR shows that overall global trends are positive and that progress is continuing yet lives are being lost and livelihoods and development undermined by natural or human-induced disasters and crises.
The HDR also recognises that the value of employment extends far beyond the income it generates.
