Building on the hypothesis that a country's governance quality is crucial for sustainable development, we examined the human development implications of good governance in Nigeria, focusing on the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Human Development Index (HDI). We measured good governance using key World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGIs), including government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law, and control of corruption. Data for the variables were sourced from the World Bank and the UNDP Human Development Report. The datasets were analysed using the least squares estimation method, descriptive statistics, and pre-estimation and diagnostic tests. The findings revealed that government effectiveness has a positive, significant impact on HDI in the short term, suggesting that improving government effectiveness is associated with immediate improvements in human development. Similarly, the regulatory quality index has a significantly positive impact on HDI, indicating that improvements in regulatory quality are associated with potential rather than immediate gains in HDI. However, there is evidence of a long-term positive effect of the rule of law on HDI, suggesting that improvements in legal frameworks, judicial independence, contract enforcement, and property rights significantly enhance human development outcomes in Nigeria. Conversely, corruption control has a negative impact on HDI, highlighting the ineffectiveness of anti-corruption strategies in promoting human development outcomes in Nigeria. Given the findings, this study recommends, among other things, that the government should prioritise institutional reforms to improve the quality of public service delivery, particularly in health, education, and living standards, to foster human development in Nigeria.

Integrative Sustainable Development Goal policy portfolios to accelerate global progress towards a more sustainable future: a modelling study.

Introduction The United Nations Development Programme has been instrumental in promoting the generation of productive activities that respond to a sustainable production model. In this regard, small-scale aquaculture merits particular attention for its demonstrated propensity towards sustainability. The present study analyses the levels of multidimensional sustainability through a case study of a small-scale aquaculture system, utilising a measurement system with indicators. Materials and methods Information was collected through the application of a measurement instrument during visits to oyster and shrimp farms. The evaluation process involved the analysis of 36 indicators, which were distributed across 12 sustainability variables. These variables addressed the technical, economic, social, environmental and governance dimensions. The results were analysed separately by species, and the sustainability trends presented were also evaluated. Results The findings indicate that both productive species demonstrate comparable levels of sustainability, exhibiting distinctions across the various dimensions. In terms of both social and economic dimensions, oyster production is the most significant. Conversely, in technical and governance dimensions, shrimp production is the most important. The study revealed discrepancies in the levels of sustainability, which varied according to geographic sector and the organisational structure of the farm. It has been demonstrated that larger farms tend to exhibit a greater degree of sustainability, characterised by extended production times and a family-oriented organisational structure. Discussion The analysis of the results addresses the contrasts in the levels of sustainability of shrimp and oyster production in the Gulf of Nicoya, and compares them with similar experiences in other latitudes. It delves into areas of opportunity in the region, such as technification, circular economy and good governance, through the presentation of success stories in other small-scale aquaculture systems around the world. It concludes that the priority areas for management in the region are strengthening the management and planning structure, cohesion and coordination of producer, circular economy model, and designing a specific sustainability index.

This article is based on the development and implementation of a climate budget labeling model for Uzbekistan with the support of the United Nations Development Program. The history of the economic approach to the concept of sustainable development is covered. A forecast of funds provided for 2024 for the section of “green” budgeting sectors is given

BackgroundDental caries is a preventable non-communicable disease. Untreated caries in deciduous teeth may contribute to the development of caries in permanent teeth. Nevertheless, limited research has focused specifically on the risk factors in children. The current study examined the association between dental caries and socioeconomic risk factors among children aged 5–14 years across countries worldwide.MethodsAn ecological survey was conducted using nation-based, publicly available online databases from six reputable organizations: the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Bank, the British Fluoridation Society, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Global Burden of Disease Project. Data were collected from these sources between 2014 and 2017. Independent variables included density of dental personnel, parental education, family income, water fluoridation, and sugar consumption. The dependent variables were the prevalence of caries in deciduous and permanent teeth. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, univariate analysis, and multinomial logistic regression.ResultsAfter eliminating countries without complete information, this study enrolled 120 countries with complete data for both dependent and independent variables. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences by parental education, income level, and water fluoridation. We further conducted multivariate logistic regression analysis, indicating that countries with low fluoridation (< 50%) had significantly higher odds of caries in permanent teeth (OR: 13.23; 95% CI: 1.22–143.53; p = 0.03); shorter years of parental schooling was associated with lower prevalence of caries in permanent teeth (OR: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.03–0.47; p = 0.002); and middle-income countries showed increased risk in both deciduous teeth (OR: 3.44; 95% CI: 1.26–9.43; p = 0.02) and permanent teeth (OR: 6.93; 95% CI: 1.75–27.38; p = 0.01) than high-income countries. Sugar consumption and density of dental personnel were not significantly associated.ConclusionThis ecological study provides valuable insights into the global patterns of dental caries in children aged 5–14 years and their associations with selected socioeconomic indicators. Our results reveal significant correlations of dental caries with income level, water fluoridation coverage, and parental education. However, these associations should be interpreted with caution due to the ecological nature of the data and several important limitations.

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite indicator that encompasses the fundamental dimensions of human development, namely health, education, and standard of living. This study aims to objectively rank G-20 countries according to their HDI indicators using 2023 data published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). An integrated Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework combining the MEREC and EDAS methods was applied. Criterion weights were determined using the MEREC method, which assesses the marginal effect of each indicator, identifying gross national income per capita as the most influential criterion. Based on these weights, countries were ranked through the EDAS method. Results indicate that the United States, Germany, and Australia occupy the highest positions, while South Africa, Indonesia, and India rank lowest. These findings highlight the decisive role of economic prosperity, education, and health standards in shaping human development outcomes. Furthermore, the high consistency between EDAS-based rankings and the official HDI order confirms the validity and robustness of the proposed integrated approach, demonstrating its potential for objective, data-driven evaluation of multidimensional development performance.

BackgroundMalaria remains a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for approximately 95 percent of global malaria deaths despite extensive interventions. Significant disparities persist in disease burden across countries, with some achieving remarkable progress while others experiencing persistently high transmission rates, suggesting factors beyond resource availability influence disease control effectiveness. This study examines the relationship between institutional quality, development aid flows, and malaria burden across 38 sub-Saharan African countries during 2010–2022.MethodsThe analysis employed malaria cases and deaths per 1,000 population as malaria burden measures. Key explanatory variables included development assistance for health per capita, government effectiveness indices and health worker density as institutional quality indicators, alongside control variables for intervention coverage, climatic factors, and socioeconomic conditions. Data was sourced from the World Health Organization, United Nations Development Program, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Malaria Atlas project, Demographic and Health surveys, and World Bank databases. Spatial econometric models, including Spatial Durbin Models, Spatial Lag of X, and Spatial Durbin Error Models, were used to account for spatial autocorrelation and cross-border transmission effects, while fixed-effects models with Driscoll-Kraay standard errors provided baseline estimates.ResultsThe study found overall malaria burden reduction across sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria cases and deaths demonstrated significant spatial autocorrelation annually, indicated by Moran's I statistics. Findings revealed that increased health worker density, enhanced institutional effectiveness, and higher aid levels are positively associated with the burden. These effects persisted with lagged values of health workers and government effectiveness. The geospatial analysis reveals that the malaria burden is driven more by local conditions with limited spillover effects from neighbouring countries.ConclusionFindings highlight that while malaria burden has generally declined across sub-Saharan Africa, it is spatially clustered. There is need for localized health systems strengthening alongside targeted regional coordination.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-025-05592-3.

BackgroundGlobal health risk factors contribute significantly to mortality and morbidity worldwide, with diverse impacts across socio-economic groups. This study developed a composite index for health risk factors and subdomains, including nutrition, environmental risks, and non-communicable diseases, across 100 countries stratified by human development index (HDI) from 2015 to 2019. The index tracks disparities, trends, and associations with human development, aiding in resource allocation and informed policy-making for reducing health risks and improving global health outcomes.MethodsA panel dataset comprising 100 countries, categorized into four HDI groups, was analyzed for the period 2015 to 2019. Health indicators were selected to construct a Health Risk Factors Index based on the World Health Organization’s Global Reference List 2018. The development of the composite index and its sub-domains followed the United Nations Development Programme’s methodology for data normalization, utilized Principal Component Analysis to determine weights, and employed the inverse normalized Euclidean distance formula for aggregation. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to examine the relationships between the composite Health Risk Factors Index, its sub-indices, and the HDI.ResultsThe study revealed that very high HDI countries excelled in the Health Risk Factors Index and sub-indices for nutrition and environmental risks, indicating lower health risks. While low and medium HDI groups performed better in the non-communicable diseases index. Singapore achieved the highest health risk factors index scores in 2015 and 2019. A strong positive correlation was observed between HDI with composite and sub-indices of health risk factors and a negative correlation with sub-index of noncommunicable disease during 2015–2019.ConclusionThe study highlights significant disparities in health risk factors across HDI groups, underscoring the need for tailored interventions. In general, very high and high HDI countries require focused efforts on noncommunicable disease-related health risk factors, while low and medium HDI countries should prioritize nutrition and environmental risks. Composite indices like the health risk factor index facilitate benchmarking and policy development, promoting accountability and targeted strategies for global health improvement.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s41043-025-00945-9.

Purpose This study aims to investigate the combined impact of technological innovation, natural resource rents (NRR) and green finance (GF) on sustainable human development in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). SSA is associated with poor quality of life because of low-level standards of living, poor health facilities, weak technological systems and low-level human capital. There is a dearth in the literature on how the advancement of human development could be achieved SSA, and this research provides empirical evidence that is crucial for policy implications. Design/methodology/approach Through adopting the human development index (HDI) the methods of moments quantile regression is used in this analysis. The annual data of the 43 SSA nations for the period are used. Robustness is ensured through feasible generalized least squares and panel-corrected standard errors with pretests confirming cross-sectional dependency heterogeneity and cointegration. Findings The outcomes of the research depict the importance of technological innovations, government effectiveness, NRR, financial development and GF in supporting human development. However, in as much as GF improves human development, its effect becomes insignificant in the upper quantiles. This research also depicts that renewable energy reduces human development, hence a great cause on concern in policymaking. Originality/value The novelty of the study is in employing the HDI of the United Nations Development Programme that constitutes three key dimensions – being knowledgeable, a health life and high standards of living – to cover the gap existing in the literature and present key policies for sustainable human development in SSA.

This paper presents some results of a survey carried out as an activity of the project “SOLIDAIRES” implemented by the Tunisian Association for Science and Research and funded by the United Nations Development Programme in the framework of ODD16 portfolio. It aims to identify the difficulties encountered by female gender students at the University of Gabes. Four higher education institutions are covered by this study: the National Engineering School of Gabes (ENIG), the Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (ISSAT), the Higher Institute of Technological Studies (ISET) and the Faculty of Science (FSG). The results of the survey show that besides the problems, already known, and encountered by most students, females because of their gender suffer from other specific difficulties which are unknown or less considered. The main difficulty that faces females in university is harassment. Much more effort should be put into leaving no one behind in the university.

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite measure introduced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1990 to evaluate a country's overall development. [1] By ranking nations based on their citizens' quality of life, the HDI offers an objective framework for assessing progress across three critical dimensions: health, education, and standard of living. These dimensions are measured through specific indicators: life expectancy at birth (reflecting population health), the average number of years of education received by adults (capturing access to knowledge), and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita (serving as a proxy for economic well-being). [2] Government intervention plays a pivotal role in shaping a country’s HDI through targeted spending in three key areas: healthcare, education, and economic development. These are reflected in healthcare expenditure per capita, education expenditure per capita, and GDP per capita, respectively. Switzerland stands out as a compelling case study, consistently ranking among the highest globally in HDI. As of the latest data, Switzerland holds the top position with an HDI score of 0.967. [3] Over the past two decades, it has maintained its position as a leader in human development, regularly featuring among the top 10 countries worldwide. This paper explores the influence of government interventions in healthcare, education, and economic development on Switzerland's HDI. By analyzing trends over the past 20 years, it investigates the effectiveness and relative impact of these interventions, shedding light on how Switzerland’s investments have contributed to their remarkable human development index.

Abstract Background Eating disorders (EDs) are a major source of non-fatal health burden globally. This study analyzed the impact of gender inequality on Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) from anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) across Western, Central, and Eastern Europe between 1990 and 2022. Methods YLD estimates were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, focusing on individuals aged 10-39 years, grouped into five-year intervals, across 35 countries. Gender Inequality Index (GII) data were sourced from United Nations Development Programme reports, with 2022 as the latest year available. We applied a linear mixed-effects model, including fixed effects for age group, sex, year, GII, and their interactions, and random intercepts by country. YLDs were reported as rates per 100,000 population. Results YLDs from both AN and BN increased steadily over time, with Western Europe consistently showing the highest burden. Females showed higher YLD rates than males across all age groups, with peaks between 20-29 years. Higher GII values were associated with a lower AN and BN burden among males (β = -3,632 for AN; β = -11,200 for BN), but a significantly higher AN burden among females (interaction β = 4,708), particularly during adolescence and early adulthood. Between-country variability was considerable, with the country-level standard deviation reaching 16.2 for AN and 40.5 for BN. Conclusions Gender inequality significantly shapes the non-fatal burden of EDs among young people in Europe. Although gender disparities have narrowed over time, persistent inequalities continue to drive health differences, underscoring the need for targeted policies and healthcare strategies. Key messages • Gender inequality lowers eating disorder burden in males but amplifies anorexia nervosa burden in young females. • Despite improvements in gender equality, substantial sex- and country-level disparities in EDs burden persist across Europe.

This paper examines the potential of digital games as communication tools to reach global audiences, extending beyond established cultural and geopolitical divides. It shows the empirical data gathered in our EU and UKRI-funded Games Realising Effective and Affective Transformation (GREAT) project, where we collaborated with several organizations to investigate this potential. Namely, a significant case study called Play2Act was undertaken in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which forms the focus of this paper. The aims of this study were to find out how much of the world’s population could be reached via digital games and how many citizens would be willing to communicate their climate attitudes in a simple and short survey that was inserted into popular mobile games. Currently, there are 3 billion gamers in the world and the idea of reaching citizens via games to understand their opinions on critical global issues and then passing this information to policy-makers emerged. This is the main objective of our project, as to whether games can act as an effective communication channel between citizens and policy-makers, the context being the climate emergency. Governments do not typically have the opportunity to understand their citizens’ needs fully. The aim of this project is to decrease the barrier and increase representation and democracy. The findings obtained from the Play2Act study suggest that games, moreover their ability to engage, and inherent social dynamics create a unique opportunity to support meaningful dialogue with a large proportion of citizens reached, engaged and completed the surveys. The study engaged with almost 1 million players from every UN recognised country, with only two exceptions, and ca. 181,000 surveys completed, confirming the global reach of games. The next steps are for UNDP to take this information to individual countries with recommendations of appropriate climate policies based on their citizens’ voices, this having huge potential for digital games being policy transformational tools. This research contributes to knowledge on the intersection of technology, culture, and communication and offers valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholder groups seeking to leverage digital games for social impact.

The distribution and determinants of cardiovascular health (CVH) in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region have been limited to single-country studies. To estimate the distribution and determinants of CVH score in the WHO African Region, which comprises Algeria and countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The secondary objective was to estimate time trends in CVH over 20 years. This study constituted repeated nationwide and subnational cross-sectional WHO STEPS (STEPwise Approach to Noncommunicable Disease Risk Factor Surveillance) surveys from 2003 to 2022 in 22 countries in the WHO African Region. Participants included nonpregnant adults aged 18 to 69 years without known cardiovascular disease (CVD). Individual factors (age, sex, education level, and marital status) and contextual data from the United Nations Development Programme and the World Bank databases. The primary outcome was the weighted prevalence of the Life's Simple 7 score categories (0-7, 8-11, and 12-14 indicating poor, intermediate, and ideal CVH, respectively) and the factors associated with CVH status. The study population included 73 024 individuals free of CVD (mean [SD] age, 35.4 [12.9] years; 49 505 female [weighted, 49.4%]) and representing 95 million people across 22 countries and 25 surveys. The weighted prevalence of ideal, intermediate, and poor CVH was 26.2% (95% CI, 25.7%-28.0%), 57.9% (95% CI, 54.8%-59.0%), and 15.9% (95% CI, 15.1%-17.0%), respectively. Older age, female sex, lower education, and heavy alcohol consumption were associated with lower odds of achieving intermediate or ideal CVH scores (females vs males: odds ratio [OR] for intermediate CVH, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.67-0.89; OR for ideal CVH, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.64-0.92; ages 55-69 vs 18-25 years: OR for intermediate CVH, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.10-0.20; OR for ideal CVH, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.04-0.09; no education vs tertiary: OR for ideal CVH, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.43-0.92; heavy episodic drinking vs nondrinking: OR for ideal CVH, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.39-0.67). Country-level contextual factors, particularly higher mean years of schooling (β = 0.24; 95% CI, 0.17-0.32), higher education percentage (β = 0.01; 95% CI, 0-0.02), and higher prevalence of undernourishment (β = 3.14; 95% CI, 0.63-5.65), were associated with higher CVH scores. The spatial-temporal model did not reveal any statistically significant trend in the weighted prevalence of CVH score categories between 2003 and 2022, overall and by sex. This situational analysis of cross-sectional WHO STEPS surveys of CVH status region identified actionable factors of the CVH status across 22 countries in the WHO African Region. This information is crucial for guiding policy efforts in CVD prevention in countries of the WHO African Region.

This research examines the challenges, opportunities, and advancements associated with the political engagement of women in Pakistan, as they relate to Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), which promotes gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. Despite the implementation of constitutional safeguards and institutional measures, including reserved seats in the National and Provincial Assemblies, women remain underrepresented in significant political positions in Pakistan. The study employs a qualitative technique that is based on secondary data to analyze trends from 2002 to 2024. These secondary data sources encompass academic literature, media sources, international development indicators, policy documents, and officials' reports. The research employs Feminist Theory to identify the institutional, cultural, and structural barriers that impede women's access to and participation in political power. This review concludes that the majority of women are nominated through reserved quotas and frequently lack independent political agency, despite the fact that they hold approximately 20–21% of parliamentary seats. The participation of women in decision-making settings is still being undermined by tokenism, patriarchal party structures, and societal standards.Pakistan has made only a limited amount of progress on important Sustainable Development Goal 5 indicators, particularly the indicator regarding the percentage of seats held by women and women as decision-makers, according to the study's findings. Pakistan is not as advanced in promoting women's leadership in mainstream politics as its regional counterparts, such as India and Bangladesh, as evidenced by comparative data analysis. Furthermore, the investigation evaluates the effectiveness of organizations such as the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the United Nations Women's Organization (UN Women), emphasizing the significance of civic education, social empowerment, and gender-sensitive reforms. In order to accomplish Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), a fundamental transformation in political culture, legal institutions, and cultural attitudes is necessary, as the results indicate. This objective cannot be accomplished solely through quotas. In order to enhance the political representation of women, a series of policy recommendation are presented at the end.

Our objective was to explore associations between human development and gender inequality indices in the birth country of immigrant parents and child risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) alone, ASD with early learning delay (ELD), and ELD alone. We used data from a multi-site case-control study that recruited US-born children aged 2-5 years with ASD and developmental delays through clinical and educational sources and a population control group through vital records. We defined ELD as Mullen Scales of Early Learning composite score ≤ 70. Parental birth country and socio-demographics were collected via interview. Associations between United Nations Development Programme human development (low-medium/high-very high), inequality-adjusted human development (< 50th /≥50th percentile) and gender inequality (≥ 50th /<50th percentile) indices with ASD/ELD categories were assessed with multinomial logistic regression. Effect modification by having a non-US born mother vs. non-US-born father only, and age at parental immigration was assessed. Odds for ASD + ELD were higher if parents immigrated from a country with lower human development, both overall and adjusted for inequality, and more gender inequalities. None of the indices were significantly associated with ASD alone nor ELD alone. Having a non-US-born mother vs. non-US-born father only and parental age at immigration did not modify these relationships. This study supports evidence that health, well-being and equality conditions in the birth country of immigrant parents may influence ASD + ELD risk but not ASD alone or ELD alone. Results can be used to support families immigrating from countries with low human development and high gender inequality indices and their US-born children.

Education in transfusion medicine - What is preferred?

Gender diversity and the inclusion of women in leadership roles are increasingly recognized as critical drivers of organizational equity and sustainability, particularly through their influence on workforce diversity, employee development, and fair compensation practices. While these effects are well-documented in developed economies, evidence from transitional contexts remains limited. This study explores the impact of female leadership on the social dimension of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance in private sector companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Focusing on three key outcome areas—inclusive hiring, investment in employee training, and average employee compensation—it examines whether a higher share of women in decision-making positions correlates with stronger ESG-related practices. Using original data from 131 firms that applied for the 2024 United Nations Development Programme’s SDG Business Pioneers Award, the analysis reveals a positive association between female leadership and all three outcome variables. These findings suggest that gender-inclusive leadership contributes meaningfully to socially responsible business practices, even in transitional economies. By providing empirical insights from Bosnia and Herzegovina, this study adds to the growing body of research on gender and sustainability. It highlights the potential of female leadership as a lever for advancing ESG goals and offers practical implications for policymakers and corporate actors aiming to align business strategy with inclusive and sustainable development.

Empowering communities through citizen science: Redefining prosperity in Tanzania The Citizen Prosperity Index offers essential data for effective policymaking and community action, aligning with global development goals focused on community empowerment and sustainable growth, key priorities for organisations like the UNDP. Research in Tanzania by the UCL Institute for Global Prosperity (IGP) is pioneering an approach that empowers local communities to define, measure, and shape prosperous pathways that reflect local needs and priorities. The Citizen Prosperity Index is an approach that yields vital context-specific data to inform robust policymaking and community action. It aligns with global development objectives focusing on community empowerment and inclusive sustainable development – themes central to organisations like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

This study examines the application of human security theory in the humanitarian operation at Camp Atterbury, which provided temporary resettlement for over 7,200 Afghan evacuees in the State of Indiana as part of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW). Afghan evacuees were admitted to the US under humanitarian parole and experienced a transitional period since their arrival on August 2021. Using the three pillars of human security: freedom from fear, freedom from want, and freedom to live in dignity, conceptualized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Kofi Annan, this analysis explores the security measures, essential services, and accommodations implemented to support Afghan refugees. This research utilizes a case study approach focused on Camp Atterbury, using open-source data from official reports and archives, government documentation, media briefings, and records from many institutions and organizations involved in the camp’s six-month operational period. Key areas of evaluation include security measures, healthcare and educational programs, and legal assistance. The analysis reveals that Camp Atterbury implemented a comprehensive human security framework which ensured freedom from fear, freedom from want, and freedom to live in dignity. The findings suggest lessons and policy implications for future humanitarian operations.