The UNDP resident representative in the Dominican Republic says that for the first time the country is ranked among 53 countries with higher development levels, including 20 in Latin America and the Caribbean. The report places the DR’s human development index (HDI), which based on life expectancy, education levels and income indicators, at 0.7. This has been achieved despite the fact that the country has to absorb mass immigration from neighboring Haiti, which is included in the list of the least developed countries in the world.
Notwithstanding, the Dominican Republic kept its ranking of 102nd of 187 countries in human development, according to the United Nations.
The announcement was made by Luciana Mermet, Deputy Resident Representative at UNDP, during the presentation of the 2014 Human Development Report – Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerabilities and Building Resilience. The report provides a fresh perspective on vulnerability and proposes ways to strengthen resilience.
During the announcement, she said the biggest challenge for the Dominican Republic is wealth distribution. She said the report reflects data studied from 2011-12 and does not include the progress made during the Medina administration.
Making the presentation at the Crowne Plaza yesterday, Thursday 25 September 2014 Mermet called for more programs for women and young people, who are included in the more vulnerable groups. Nevertheless, she said that more women than men are graduating from high school in the Dominican Republic, unlike the average situation in Latin America and the Caribbean. Despite this, only 51% of women enter the workforce, which is below the regional average.
Melisa Breton was the coordinator for the UNDP Human Development Report in the Dominican Republic.
http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/DOM
http://hdr.undp.org/en/2014-report
http://www.do.undp.org/content/dominican_republic/es/home.html
http://acento.com.do/2014/actualidad/8177542-informe-pnud-resalta-dominicanas-estudian-mas-que-los-hombres-pero-ganan-menos/
http://www.listindiario.com/economia-and-negocios/2014/9/25/339080/Pais-avanza-poco-en-IDH
República Dominicana entre 53 países con desarrollo humano alto