Foreword

The greatest measure of any society is reflected in the opportunities that it creates for human personal development and the expansion of choices in relation to knowledge-based development and humanitarian progress. These principles are fundamental to the concept of human development, which were introduced by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on a global scale in the 1990s. Since then, these goals are being integrated by governments throughout the world in order to expand human choices and to struggle against human deprivations and disparities. Azerbaijan is no exception in its quest to achieve these principles as well.

The human development process, which the UNDP has been monitoring in the Azerbaijan Republic since early 1994, shows steady growth in the Human Development Indices (HDI) after measures taken in 1993 and 1994 in the economic and social sphere. This is particularly true, starting with 1996, after the devastating years immediately following the collapse of the Soviet Union (1991) when Azerbaijan first gained its independence. At that time, the Azerbaijani government, in close cooperation with international organizations deliberately and systematically began to implement measures aimed at human development.

This analysis - The Azerbaijan Human Development Report 2003 - highlights some of the most recent achievements in human development, including the mobilization of the Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and other modern technologies, and the creation and introduction of a Human Development course into the curriculum of secondary schools. This is the first time in the history of Azerbaijan that such a course has been taught in the public school system. These concepts are supplemented and strengthened by a textbook, which was specifically written to be culturally relevant and specific to Azerbaijan. Another major achievement in Azerbaijan has been the establishment of the Human Development Center, as an integral department of one of the major international oil companies. The Center's primary focus is to convert "black gold" into "human gold" for the benefit of the entire nation.

It is very timely that the Government has recently transformed the Ministry of Communication into the new Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. Apart from recognizing the linkage between communication and information technology, this decision has the potential to strengthen Government capacity and contribute to reform in the ICT sector.

This Report explores the potential use of ICT and other modern technologies to facilitate the human development process. The UNDP has established a global priority for what they call Millennium Development Goals, which have also been endorsed by Azerbaijan. These goals are aimed at eliminating human deprivations and disparities through the transfer of knowledge and new technologies. Along with the analyses of the existing, as well as potential, use of ICTs, this Report makes specific recommendations for further strengthening of human development.

Marco Borsotti 
UNDP Resident Representative 
United Nations Resident Coordinator 

 Baku, February, 2004