December 2017

"Demographic and epidemiological changes are shifting the disease burden from communicable to noncommunicable diseases in lower-income countries. Within a generation, the share of disease burden attributed to noncommunicable diseases in some poor countries will exceed 80 percent, rivaling that of rich countries, but this burden is likely to affect much younger people in poorer countries. The health systems of lower-income countries are unprepared for this change. We examined the shift to noncommunicable diseases and estimated preparedness for the shift by ranking 172 nations using a health system capacity index for noncommunicable disease. We project that the countries with the greatest increases in the share of disease burden attributable to noncommunicable disease over the next twenty-five years will also be the least prepared for the change, as they ranked low on our capacity index and are expected to have the smallest increases in national health spending. National governments and donors must invest more in preparing the health systems of lower-income countries for the dramatic shift to noncommunicable diseases and in reducing modifiable noncommunicable disease risks." READ MORE>>

"The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its accompanying 17 Sustainable Development Goals are grounded in principles of rights, fairness, inclusiveness and equality. Included in the global vision for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is the notion of “shared prosperity” and “a world of universal respect for human rights and human dignity, the rule of law, justice, equality and non-discrimination ... and of equal opportunity permitting the full realization of human potential ...”.

Prosperity for all 

The most promising ways forward may be those that tackle intersections among inequalities, among individuals, and within societies and economies. Among these are measures to realize reproductive rights and gender equality, with a particular and urgent emphasis on reaching people ranked among the poorest 40 per cent—the furthest behind.

Making reproductive health care universally accessible, for example, not only helps fulfil a poor woman’s reproductive rights, but also helps her overcome inequalities in education and income, with benefits that accrue to her, her family and her country." READ MORE>>

"The future of any economy depends far more on its human resources than its physical assets. However, the young people who represent the world’s most dynamic human resources are almost three times more likely to be unemployed than adults. Today’s young people (aged 15-24) make up 18% of the global population, but 40% of the global unemployed.

Those who are in work often find themselves trapped in lower-quality jobs. Young women are more likely to be underemployed and under-paid, and to take on part-time or informal or temporary work. As stated by the International Labour Organisation, economic growth, development and stability largely depend on the education, training and employability of youth. When young people are not engaged in the education system or the labour market, they become disconnected from society, gradually losing any prospect of developing new skills that could help them find meaningful employment." READ MORE>>