Unsettled times, unsettled lives: A grim picture of human development

Pictured in the background is the wealthier central business district of Recife, a city in Pernambuco state, Brazil. In contrast in the foreground is the desperately poor Coelho shantytown on the banks of the Capibaribe river. Such wealth inequality is one of the concerns highlighted in the UNDP's latest human development report. — AFP

The United Nations Development Programme released its 2022 Human Development Report earlier this month. I’m no fan of long and complicated reports but this one is always worth reading.

It’s written in plain, simple language and pulls no punches. It is worrying, shocking but, at the same time, provides some clear direction. It highlights that global human development is backsliding for the second year in a row.