OUC has facilitated consultancy contracts for a number of Oxford academics for the UN Human Development Report 2009.

"Looking ahead to 2015 and beyond, there is no question that we can achieve the overarching goal: we can put an end to poverty. In almost all instances, experience has demonstrated the validity of earlier agreements on the way forward; in other words, we know what to do. But it requires an unswerving, collective, long-term effort."

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

 

OUC facilitated consultancy contracts for Oxford academics that are involved in the development of the latest UN Human Development Report 2009 (HDR 09) – “Human Development on the Move”. Dr Martin Ruhs and Dr Nicholas Van Hear from The Centre On Migration Policy and Society (COMPAS) contributed to the UN HDR report, which looks at issues of human development relating to migration, which can lead to either positive or negative human development outcomes. The report was published in July 2009.

UN Human Development reports contribute to the international understanding and debate on issues critical to human development.  Themes the reports have addressed in the past include poverty, gender, democracy, human rights, cultural liberty, globalisation, water scarcity and climate change.  The “Millennium Development Goals” (MDG’s), which were the basis of the 2003 report, are central to the strategy of the UN Development Programme (UNDP). The MDG’s are an agreed set of eight goals, which include: poverty eradication, universal primary education, gender equality and empowerment, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, eradicating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, environmental sustainability and the global partnership for development.

The goals, to be achieved by 2015 and beyond, are being contributed to by developed countries through aid, debt relief and fair trade and by developing countries through stronger governance and prioritisation of education and health investment.

For further information on the MDG’s and current status of these targets please visit www.undp.org/mdg/.

The issues relating to migration and its impacts on human development is currently a high profile subject for many Governments internationally.

This particular study aligns with OUC’s intent to provide consultancy in the area of organisational governance and social responsibility.  It is the case, however, that such strategic and policy related studies often support and act as a precursor to, technological innovation, e.g. in the areas of climate change and environmental sustainability.