HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND MODERN TECHNOLOGIES
Chapter 1
1.1 Introduction
 Since 1990, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has implemented measures aimed at human development. The global Millennium Declaration, which Azerbaijan has also endorsed, provides additional incentive to the development and realization of these ideas. When Azerbaijan became an independent Republic in 1991, this created opportunities for the free and independent development of the country and for its involvement in global initiatives. Monitoring the human development process began in 1994 and was documented by the publication of the first National Human Development Report of Azerbaijan in 1995. In this relatively short period, the focused activities of the government have led to a consistent improvement in the human development indicators. Due to the dramatic decline of the GDP between 1991 and 1995, the indicators were very low; but since 1996 they have been improving along with the economic growth in the country. The country's rating in various aspects of human development has shown steady improvement.
The growth of human development indicators was brought about because State Policy made them priorities, aimed at expanding the economic, social, and political human rights, as well as creating opportunities for realization of the potential of every member of the society. The development of these priorities was based on three subsequently implemented activities, the first of which was the dissemination of information related to the concept of human development throughout the population.
The second activity involves training specialists in human development theory and practice as related to planning and management. Success in raising the population's general awareness of human development, as well as professional training facilitated the third phase of the State Policy. The President issued special decrees to ensure fulfillment of the measures on the provision of sustainable human development and ecologically sustained development. Since 2001 tasks set up by these decrees, as well as relevant programs have been implemented. In 2002, the State Program for Poverty Reduction and Economic Development (SPPRED) was adopted in which the government has worked together with the World Bank and other donors. On February 10, 2003, the National Strategy for Information and Communication Technologies for the development of the Azerbaijan Republic for 2003-2012 (NICTS) was issued by the President.
In the next 10 years, NICTS will become the most important infrastructure component for rehabilitation and further technological, economic and social progress in Azerbaijan. This should contribute to reaching the MDGs. Throughout 2004-2005 the implementation of these goals will be carried out with support from UNDP and other international organizations.
This chapter is dedicated to the role of ICT and higher technologies in the intensification of human development and formation of human potential. The monitoring of human development processes in the country is an important tool for planning and implementing this field of activity. In this regard, this chapter also addresses the dynamics of various human development indicators.
Box 1.1. Human Development - Element of General Secondary Education
Since 2001, a course in Human Development has been offered in the 10th Form (grade) at 25 selected secondary schools in Baku. This was the result of a joint project between UNDP and Azerbaijan's Ministry of Education. Training materials have been developed and seminars have been conducted for teachers of secondary schools to ensure successful implementation of the project. In 2002, the pilot project was expanded, the number of secondary schools increased, and the area of the project has been extended beyond Baku.
On February 25, 2003, the Ministry of Education made a decree introducing Human Development as a faculty course for all schools in the country, based on the success of the pilot project. A training programme, established with the help of UNDP, has been developed and adopted by the Higher Methodical Council of the Ministry, and has been published and distributed among schools throughout the country. The Human Development textbook was published in September 2003 and has been distributed to all secondary schools throughout the country.
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