United Nations Development Programme Research Articles

Advancing progress on tobacco control in low-income and middle-income countries through economic analysis

BackgroundMore than 80% of the world’s 1.3 billion tobacco users live in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), where progress to address tobacco and its harms has been slow. The perception...

Global epidemiological comparison of Streptococcus pyogenes emm-types associated with pharyngitis and pharyngeal carriage.

ObjectivesTo test the prevailing dogma that S. pyogenes emm-types that cause pharyngitis are the same as those associated with carriage, using a global dataset. MethodsDrawing on our systematic review of the global distribution of S. pyogenes emm-types and emm-clusters from 1990 to 2023, we compared the distribution and diversity of strains associated with pharyngitis and pharyngeal carriage, in the context of local United Nations Development Programme Human Development Index (HDI) values. ResultsWe included 20 222 isolates from 71 studies done in 34 countries, with the vast majority of carriage strain data from studies in ‘Low HDI’ settings (550/1293; 43%). There was higher emm-type diversity for carriage than pharyngitis strains (Simpson Reciprocal Index of diversity 28.9 vs 11.4). Compared to pharyngitis strains, carriage emm-types were disproportionately from emm-clusters E and D, usually described as ‘generalist’ or ‘skin’ strains. ConclusionsA limited number of studies have compared S. pyogenes strains from cases of pharyngitis compared to carriage. Our understanding of strains associated with carriage is poorest for high-income settings. In low and medium HDI countries, we found greater strain associated with pharyngeal carriage than pharyngitis. Improving our understanding of S. pyogenes carriage epidemiology in the pre-vaccine era will help to decipher direct and potential indirect effects of vaccines.

Projecting a long‐term healthcare expenditure in the United States: Do climate change, globalization, and technological innovation play a major role?

AbstractRecognizing the paramount importance of health, the United Nations Development Program has outlined sustainable development goals, emphasizing Goal 3, which focuses on ensuring and promoting healthy lives and well‐being for all. Consequently, this study delves into the determinants of healthcare expenditure (HCE), specifically focusing on financial development (FDV), tourism (TOR), technological innovations (TINs), economic growth (EG), and climate change in the United States. The investigation utilizes data spanning from the first quarter of 2000Q1 to the fourth quarter of 2020Q4. To achieve this objective, we employed innovative quantile‐based methodologies, including wavelet quantile regression and quantile‐on‐quantile Granger causality. These approaches facilitated a comprehensive exploration of the dynamic interactions between HCE and its influencing factors across various quantiles and periods. The wavelet quantile regression and quantile‐on‐quantile regression analysis findings consistently indicate a positive impact of CO2, TOR, EG, globalization, FDV, foreign direct investment, and TIN on HCE in the United States. Furthermore, the results obtained from the quantile‐on‐quantile Granger causality demonstrate that CO2 emissions, TOR, EG, globalization, FDV, foreign direct investment, and TIN significantly predict HCE across all quantiles. These insights have informed the formulation and implementation of various policies addressing the complex interplay between healthcare spending and its driving factors.

The impact of economic globalization on income inequality in middle-income countries in Asia: An empirical analysis from 2018 to 2021

This study investigates the relationship between economic globalization and income inequality in Asia during the period from 2018 to 2021. The research aims to contribute to the academic and policy debates on the impact of globalization on income inequality and to identify effective policy measures that can help mitigate the negative effects of globalization on income distribution in Asian countries. In this study, the relationship between income inequality and economic globalization is analyzed using the Random Effects Model (REM) and Generalized Least Squares (GLS) estimation to address the issues of auto-correlated errors and heteroscedasticity in the selected model. The study utilizes secondary data from the World Bank about 28 middle-income countries in Asia, spanning the period from 2018 to 2021, the International Monetary Fund, and the United Nations Development Program. The results of the study indicate that economic globalization is positively correlated with income inequality. The findings of this study provide insights and recommendations that can help policymakers, academics, and other stakeholders better understand the complex relationship between economic globalization and income inequality and identify strategies for promoting more equitable economic growth and development in Asia.

Integration of BIPV design and energy efficient technologies for low energy building in meeting net zero target

Based on the World Energy Transition Outlook, almost two thirds of the CO2 emissions released in the world are related to energy emissions with 36 Gigatonnes of energy related CO2 released in 2015. To reduce CO2 emissions by 70 % before 2050, energy efficiency parameters and renewable energy systems will have to be incorporated together to achieve a more sustainable future. The synergy between these two systems could potentially decrease the total final energy consumption of the world by 25EJ, which is by 5 % by the year 2030. One of those synergy methods would be the incorporation of energy efficient building designs and technologies with BIPV systems. Energy efficient building design is the process of upgrading or constructing buildings or elements that are able to maximize the consumption of energy supplied to them by reducing energy losses, through various innovative and effective systems and technologies. BIPV systems are PV products and components that are integrated into the buildings structure. In Malaysia, research and applications of BIPV are just emerging and is still in early development. In the final report submitted to the United Nations Development Program, Malaysia aimed to achieve an increase of 330 % in installed BIPV capacity. This paper aims to simulate an energy efficient building through a specific 3D modelling software, Autodesk Revit, that incorporates BIPV design systems. The method used to create this model will be performed in four stages. First, the development of a comprehensive 3D model of a suitable building. Second, analysis of photovoltaic system of the model. Third, an intricate energy analysis of 3D building and BIPV system via Revit and Autodesk Insight. Lastly, evaluation of the energy consumption of the building and CO2 emissions. This research has managed to reduce the Final Energy Use Intensity of the building from 194 kwh/m2/year to 140 kwh/m2/year and the CO2 emissions from 258 tnes CO2e to 186 tnes CO2e a year. This research presents the integration of energy efficient designs and technologies, with BIPV systems toward low energy building target.

High burden of noma in the Gambella region of Ethiopia: a 12-year retrospective study on noma cases from the Facing Africa database.

Noma, an infectious disease, mainly affects impoverished children. This study retrospectively assessed noma's prevalence in Ethiopia using data from the Facing Africa database and the 2022 United Nations Development Programme poverty index report. A thorough review of medical records spanning 2007 to 2019 identified a total of 235 noma cases. A standardized data extraction template was employed to systematically gather pertinent clinical and demographic data for subsequent analysis. Prevalence rates were calculated nationally and regionally for both the general population and children aged ≤10 y. The analysis revealed estimated national prevalence rates of 0.65 per 100 000 individuals at risk and 1.9 per 100 000 children aged <10 y at risk. The Gambela region exhibited the highest prevalence rate (11.2 per 100 000), whereas the Benshangul Gumuz region had the lowest (0.25 per 100 000). Similar patterns were observed among children aged ≤10 y, with the Gambela and Benshangul Gumuz regions reporting rates of 32.9 and 0.74 per 100 000, respectively. The study highlights noma's significant impact on children aged <10 y in Ethiopia, especially in the Gambella region. It offers crucial baseline data to assist public health professionals, policymakers and healthcare providers in formulating evidence-based strategies to combat noma and improve affected individuals' well-being.

ASPIRATION PICTURE AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION: HOUSEHOLDS’ INCREMENTAL STRATEGIES IN CLIMATE-RESILIENT HOUSING IN RURAL COASTAL BANGLADESH

While housing is a critical component of incremental climate change adaptation, identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), climate resilient housing implementation is widely focused on the module's safety and modularity, ignoring the beneficiaries' social adaption process underscored by incremental housing ideas. The study explores the incremental adaptation strategies employed by households in climate-vulnerable rural coastal Bangladesh to understand the complex adaptation attitudes of households in social or climate adaptation. The study uses a case study approach with qualitative methods encompassing household interviews, focus group discussions, and in-depth observation on 10 self-built homesteads, 10 Government of Bangladesh (GoB) provided, and 10 United Nations Development Program (UNDP) provided housing modules at Koyra, Khulna. The study observes that households adopt distinct adaptation strategies depending on sittings, roofs, walls, foundations, bedrooms, kitchens, and toilets of modules, which are prone to climate exposure and sensitivity. Therefore, households tackle the delicate complexity of the aspiration picture and social and climate adaptation when the residential situation is coupled with climate vulnerabilities. The study finds that the incomplete nature of a module allows for more aspiration achievement, while a more complete module leads to aspiration adjustments by changing attitudes toward the aspiration picture. This study underscores that in the design of climate-resilient housing modules, it is essential to consider a minimalist approach that can produce more robust climate-resilient homesteads while offering better opportunities for household engagement to enhance knowledge for building back better and safer.

The reported impact of non-communicable disease investment cases in 13 countries

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a leading health and development challenge worldwide. Since 2015, WHO and the United Nations Development Programme have provided support to governments to develop national NCD investment...

Promoting implementation research and One Health approach to respond the four global health challenges: an interpretation of the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) Strategy 2024-2029

Tropical diseases, notably neglected tropical diseases and infectious diseases of poverty, remain major health problems endangering the poorest and most-marginalized people in the world. The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), which is co-sponsored by the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank, is an important programme that helps facilitate, support, guide and coordinate global efforts to combat tropical diseases. On July 2023, TDR formally issued its 2024-2029 strategy, which proposed the direction and proprieties of global tropical disease prevention and control in the next six years. Based on its original focus on supporting researchers and research institutions from low and middle-income countries to conduct research on tropical diseases and building their research capabilities, this strategy proposed some new developments, which mainly included incorporating tropical disease prevention and control into the overall framework of addressing major global health challenges and achieving the health goals set by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to combat tropical diseases and contribute to achieving health goals of SDGs in a collaborative and integrated manner; supporting implementation research and encouraging practitioners and social innovators to participate in research to enable generation of solutions that may be used to solve local health problems; promoting and encouraging the One Health concept and interdisciplinary and cross-departmental collaboration; shifting gradually its focus from disease prevention and control to addressing the health needs of the poorest and most-marginalized populations. These new developments deserve the attention of personnel and institutions in China dedicated to the prevention and control of tropical diseases in order to help their future researches and activities.

Diversionary Post-Coal Politics in South Africa: A Chinese Solar-Powered Industrial Zone Controversy

In September 2021 at a United Nations climate summit in New York, Xi Jinping announced that there would be no further Chinese coal-fired power plants along the Belt and Road Initiative, which stretches as far as South Africa. Instead, the Chinese operator of South Africa’s single largest Special Economic Zone proposal – in rural Makhado – and his local allies suggested that solar power could supply energy for the $10 billion project, including high-emissions industrial projects. This raised the question of whether firms engaged in mining, smelting, processing and other carbon-intensive activities would pick ‘low-hanging fruits’ within the renewable energy sector (instead of that power going into the grid for broader consumption). Their incentive is to do so, in order to safeguard the so-called Minerals-Energy Complex from Western climate sanctions – threatened, on grounds of high CO2-inputs to export products including steel, aluminium and petrochemicals. In spite of a 2022 United Nations Development Programme endorsement of the project, social and environmental resistance has intensified, but the introduction of solar power for high-emissions metal manufacturing presents a special challenge. Two techniques associated with ecological modernisation – natural capital accounting and the Social Cost of Carbon – may prove relevant to civil society critics of ‘extractivism’, in shifting the narrative further across space, time and scale.

Flood Insights: Integrating Remote and Social Sensing Data for Flood Exposure, Damage, and Urgent Needs Mapping

The absence of comprehensive situational awareness information poses a significant challenge for humanitarian organizations during their response efforts. We present Flood Insights, an end-to-end system that ingests data from multiple non-traditional data sources such as remote sensing, social sensing, and geospatial data. We employ state-of-the-art natural language processing and computer vision models to identify flood exposure, ground-level damage and flood reports, and most importantly, urgent needs of affected people. We deploy and test the system during a recent real-world catastrophe, the 2022 Pakistan floods, to surface critical situational and damage information at the district level. We validated the system's effectiveness through geographic regression analysis using official ground-truth data, showcasing its strong performance and explanatory power. Moreover, the system was commended by the United Nations Development Programme stationed in Pakistan, as well as local authorities, for pinpointing hard-hit districts and enhancing disaster response.

Comparative analysis of higher education on the example of certain countries of the European and Asia-Pacific regions

This study analyses and compares higher education in Germany, France, and Singapore. The authors highlight the similarities and differences between higher education systems in some countries of the European and Asia-Pacific regions. Its structure is described, with consideration to characteristics of each state, the place of these countries in the leading world rankings on the level of education is given (Education Index 2022 of the United Nations Development Programme and Human Development Report 2021–2022). A comparative analysis of the study duration, principles of building a higher education system was conducted. Also, the authors studied participation of employers (organisations and enterprises) and state in the process, along with issues of employment of graduates as a criterion for this method. The role of the relative independence of higher educational institutions in resolving admission issues was identified. The authors examined the stages of mastering programmes, the requirements for applicants when entering educational organisations, the types of degrees, and the procedure for awarding them. The system of dual (practice-oriented) training was explored as a basis for employment of graduates in France and Germany, the principles and goals of its functioning in the analysed states of the European region were clarified.

Complexities of State-Building in Somaliland

Abstracts Since the mid-2000s, state-building in Somaliland has emerged as a complex mixture of coexisting, competing programs, political aspirations, and foreign agendas. This article applies a dialectical approach to focus on the scalar relations among actors and models of capacity-building, from programs’ design to their implementation. Drawing on science and technology studies, I use the term “complexities” to describe the “multiplicities” of programs, actors, and different ways of ordering that coexist and overlap, sometimes in tension among them, other times in coordination. Specifically, this article examines two approaches to state-building in Somaliland: the United Nations Development Program’s institution-building and US Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded stabilization programs. Going beyond fixed binaries, such as international and local, homogenous and hybrid, state-building and state-formation, this article observes how these dichotomies are formed and how, rather than being separate, they combine together, generating techno-political arrangements. Somaliland’s complexity is made up of techno-political arrangements that are coproduced by both technical expertise and national political aspirations. Technical capacity-building programs, such as the redesign of the Somalia Institutional Development Project (SIDP), the creation of Somaliland’s National Development Plan (NDP), and the allocation of USAID’s grants, have become the terrain for political claims over the redistribution of resources and the control of state institutions.

Assessment of the UNDP’s humanitarian assistance programme on community development in Lagos State, Nigeria

The study appraised the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)’s intervention programmes on community development in Lagos State. Multiple regression analysis, using ordinary least square (OLS) techniques of data analysis will be used to test Hypotheses. OLS techniques of data analysis constitute inferential statistics. The hypotheses will be tested at 5% (percent) level of significance. Finding suggests that UNDP’s humanitarian assistance programme does not significantly enhance community development in the selected communities in Lagos state. The study also revealed that UNDP’s empowerment programme does not significantly enhance community development in the selected communities of Lagos State. The findings of this study highlight the non-positive impact of UNDP programmes on community development in selected communities in Lagos State. Building upon these insights, the following comprehensive recommendations are provided for consideration by UNDP development Partner. UNDP, in collaboration with relevant governmental and non-governmental agencies, should reinforce humanitarian assistance programs. Emphasis should be placed on the development of long-term strategies that address the root causes of socio-economic challenges, ensuring sustained positive impacts on community development. UNDP's women empowerment programmes should be expanded and tailored to address specific challenges faced by women in the selected communities. Efforts should include capacity-building initiatives, promoting entrepreneurship, and fostering gender equality to empower women as key contributors to community development.

The implications of Artificial Intelligence on international development management

&lt;p&gt;Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool revolutionizing various sectors globally, including international development management. This research aims to explore the current landscape of AI implementation in global development management, assess the benefits and challenges associated with its adoption, and propose relevant policies and practices. A mixed research design, comprising qualitative and quantitative methods, was utilized to gather data from secondary sources. The qualitative section of the study draws upon case studies from diverse operational sectors to examine the impact of AI adoption. These case studies highlight how AI contributes to improved performance in various industries and the potential positive effects on individuals’ lives. The quantitative part of the research utilizes data from renowned databases such as World Bank Open Data, United Nations Development Programme, International Monetary Fund (IMF), OECD Stat, and Global Open Data Index. Integrating qualitative and quantitative data allows for a comprehensive understanding of AI implementation’s economic growth and development across different organizations worldwide. The findings reveal that AI adoption in international development management holds significant promise for enhancing organizational efficiency and individuals’ well-being. However, the research also identifies various challenges associated with AI implementation, such as ethical considerations and potential job displacement. To address these issues, the study proposes policy recommendations and best practices that can guide organizations and policymakers in effectively harnessing the transformative potential of AI. This research contributes to international development management by providing a deep understanding of the importance of AI in the current context. The study offers insights for organizations adopting AI and assists policymakers in identifying and resolving pertinent challenges. By completing this study, organizations and policymakers can proactively address the existing problems and develop strategies to maximize the benefits of AI while minimizing potential risks. In summary, this research underscores the immense potential of AI in driving development and improving lives, laying a foundation for future advancements in international development management.&lt;/p&gt;

Women’s empowerment and child anthropometric failures across 28 sub-Saharan African countries: A cross-level interaction by Gender Inequality Index

BackgroundChild undernutrition remains a major global health issue, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Given the important role mothers play in early childhood health and development, we examined how individual-level women’s empowerment and country-level Gender Inequality Index (GII) are jointly related with child undernutrition in SSA. MethodsWe pooled recent Demographic and Health Surveys from 28 SSA countries. For 137,699 children <5 years old, undernutrition was defined using anthropometric failures (stunting, underweight, wasting). Women’s empowerment was assessed using three domains of Survey-based Women’s EmPowERment (SWPER) index: attitude to violence, social independence, and decision-making; and country-level gender inequality was measured using GII from United Nations Development Programme. Three-level logistic regression was conducted to examine the joint associations of SWPER and GII as well as their interactions with child anthropometric failures, after adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. ResultsOverall, 32.85% of children were stunted, 17.63% were underweight, and 6.68% had wasting. Children of mothers with low-level of empowerment for all domains of SWPER had higher odds of stunting (attitude to violence: OR=1.15; 95% CI, 1.11-1.19; social independence: OR=1.21; 95% CI, 1.17-1.25; decision-making: OR=1.16; 95% CI, 1.12-1.20), and consistent results were found for underweight and wasting. Independent of women’s empowerment, country-level GII increased the probability of underweight (ranging ORs=1.46; 95% CI, 1.15-1.85 to 1.50; 95% CI, 1.18-1.90) and wasting (ranging ORs=1.56; 95% CI, 1.24-1.97 to 1.61; 95% CI, 1.27-2.03). Significant interaction was found between women’s empowerment and country-level GII for stunting and underweight (p<0.05). ConclusionsIn SSA countries with greater gender inequality, improving women’s social independence and decision-making power in particular can reduce their children’s risk of anthropometric failures. Policies and interventions targeted at strengthening women's empowerment should consider the degree of gender inequality in each country.

“The rubber band is already broken”: An extended case study of UNDP transformative resilience framework in the context of Palestine

ABSTRACT We critically explore the resilience discourse of the website for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the lead agency for resilience in the Palestinian context, through engagement with the local Palestinian concept of sumud and neoliberal and postcolonial lenses. Our critical analysis of the UNDP resilience discourse identifies three main problems: the linguistic localization of resilience, the claim of Palestinians’ responsibility for resilience, and the normalization of occupation and absence of justice. These three issues provide an opportunity to understand the limitations of the predominant Western interpretation of the UNDP resilience discourse and its inapplicability in the Palestinian context. We advocate for use of our conceptualization of transformative resilience to actively pursue justice in Palestine and similar contexts.

The Impact of Digitalization on Economic Growth in ASEAN

Purpose – The study aims to confirm a positive relationship between digitalization and economic growth in ASEAN. It seeks to provide insights into the challenges and future directions for ASEAN’s economic growth by examining the impact of digitalization through broadband penetration. Design/Methodology/Approach – This study employs regression analysis using a fixed-effect model with data sourced from World Development Indicators (WDI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), covering the period from 2008 to 2020. Its primary objectives are to offer a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between digital technologies and the economic development of ASEAN, and to identify factors contributing to economic growth in the region. The focus is on Southeast Asian countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam Findings – The findings yield compelling evidence in support of the hypothesis, emphasizing the pivotal role of expanding broadband infrastructure in fostering economic growth across ASEAN countries. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of enhancing broadband infrastructure and highlights the potential impact on the economic development of developing nations. It emphasizes the crucial role played by fixed-broadband, mobile-broadband, and fixedtelephone subscriptions in contributing to the economic growth of ASEAN countries. Research Implications – This study proves a significant positive relationship between digitalization and economic growth in the region. It offers a preliminary understanding of the impact of digitalization on economic growth in ASEAN, laying the groundwork for future research.

Announcement of “9th International Congress on Development of Ag-ricultural and Environment with emphasis on the UN Development Program” Held in Iran

The Article Abstract is not available.

Incidence and Mortality of Salivary Gland Cancer Worldwide and Its Correlation with Tobacco Use (Smoking and Chewing) and With the Human Development Index

Objective: The aim of this study was to quantify the association between the incidence and mortality of salivary gland cancer (SGC) with the consumption of tobacco and with the Human Development Index (HDI). Material and Methods: An ecological study was designed using SGC incidence and mortality data in 172 countries in 2020, reported per 100,000 population with an age range of 10–85 years. Such dependent variables were obtained from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN). The prevalences of smoked and chewed tobacco were obtained from reports made in 2019, sourced from Global Burden of Diseases Study, while the HDI was obtained from the Human Development Report (2019) presented by the United Nations Development Program, and were considered independent variables. Statistical analysis was performed in Stata using Spearman’s correlation test. Results: In 2020, there were 53,583 new cases of SGC worldwide, and countries with very high HDI exhibited a higher incidence. In terms of mortality, there were 22,778 cases worldwide, and countries with a moderate HDI showed a higher number of deaths. SGC mortality was associated with chewing tobacco use overall and in women. Surprising negative associations were found with the incidence of SGC and tobacco smoking in men, as well as with mortality of SGC and smoking overall and in women. CGS mortality was negatively associated with the HDI and all its components. Conclusion: In this international overview, SGC mortality is associated with chewing tobacco in women, as well as with the HDI and its components.