equally,fathers may be induced to make .Adopting different technologies and encour- more use of paternal leave. aging new investments.This would require Enlarging care options,including day-care cen- departing from business as usual,pursuing tres,after-school programmes,senior citizens technology transfer and quickly moving to homes and long-term care facilities.Employers more sustainable work. can also offer child-care onsite.Another Incentivizing individual action and guarding alternative is to subsidize care work through against inequality.This requires recognizing vouchers and tickets. and incentivizing the positive externalities Encouraging flexible working arrangements, in people's work-for example,using a social including telecommuting.There should be suf- wage,which goes beyond a private wage to ficient incentives to return to work after giving reward workers when their work is of value birth.These may encompass reservation of to society (for example,conservation of jobs for women on maternity leave for up to forests). a year.Women could also be offered benefits Managing trade-offs:For example,support- and stimulus (for example,salary increases)to ing workers who lose their jobs due to an end return to work.Telecommuting and flexible of activities in their sector or industry (for hours can also allow women and men to ad- example,mining),implementing standards dress imbalances in paid and unpaid work. (as in the ship-breaking industry),addressing Valuing care work.Efforts would help raise intergenerational inequality and managing policy awareness about the value care work Targeted measures for and facilitating change. brings to society and could encourage differ- Additionally,a mechanism is needed to sustainable work may ent options for rewarding such work. translate the desired global outcomes into focus on terminating, Gathering better data on paid and unpaid country actions(box 3). transforming and work.National statistical systems,using more Policy options mentioned earlier,particularly female investigators and appropriate samples for education and skills building,are especially creating work and questionnaires,should gather better data relevant to addressing youth unemployment. on the distribution of paid and unpaid work. But given the severity of this challenge and Targeted measures for sustainable work may its multidimensional (economic,social and focus on terminating,transforming and creat- political)impacts,it also requires targeted ing work to advance human development and interventions.Exciting work opportunities for environmental sustainability.Policy measures young people should be created so that they may focus on: can unbridle their creativity,innovation and BOX3 Possible measures at the country level for moving towards sustainable work .Identify appropriate technologies and investment These programmes can be a means to support wom- options,including leapfrogging opportunities. en and other traditionally disadvantaged groups. Set up regulatory and macroeconomic frameworks Manage the adverse impacts of the transition by to facilitate adoption of sustainable policies. offering diversified packages of support and level- Ensure that the population has the appropriate ling the playing field to break the transmission of skills base-combining technical and high-quality intergenerational inequality. skills with core abilities for learning,employability Continue to build the skill base of the population. and communicating. This will require a lifecycle approach that recog- Retrain and upgrade the skills of large numbers of nizes the cumulative nature of interventions that workers in informal sectors,such as agriculture. lead to learning.Large investments in the number While some workers may be reached through the and quality of health and education workers will be market,others will need the help of the public sec- necessary,underscoring the continuing role of the tor,nongovernmental organizations and others. public sector in transforming skills. Source:Human Development Report Office. Overview 21
Targeted measures for sustainable work may focus on terminating, transforming and creating work equally, fathers may be induced to make more use of paternal leave. • Enlarging care options, including day-care centres, after-school programmes, senior citizens’ homes and long-term care facilities. Employers can also offer child-care onsite. Another alternative is to subsidize care work through vouchers and tickets. • Encouraging flexible working arrangements, including telecommuting. There should be sufficient incentives to return to work after giving birth. These may encompass reservation of jobs for women on maternity leave for up to a year. Women could also be offered benefits and stimulus (for example, salary increases) to return to work. Telecommuting and flexible hours can also allow women and men to address imbalances in paid and unpaid work. • Valuing care work. Efforts would help raise policy awareness about the value care work brings to society and could encourage different options for rewarding such work. • Gathering better data on paid and unpaid work. National statistical systems, using more female investigators and appropriate samples and questionnaires, should gather better data on the distribution of paid and unpaid work. Targeted measures for sustainable work may focus on terminating, transforming and creating work to advance human development and environmental sustainability. Policy measures may focus on: • Adopting different technologies and encouraging new investments. This would require departing from business as usual, pursuing technology transfer and quickly moving to more sustainable work. • Incentivizing individual action and guarding against inequality. This requires recognizing and incentivizing the positive externalities in people’s work—for example, using a social wage, which goes beyond a private wage to reward workers when their work is of value to society (for example, conservation of forests). • Managing trade-offs: For example, supporting workers who lose their jobs due to an end of activities in their sector or industry (for example, mining), implementing standards (as in the ship-breaking industry), addressing intergenerational inequality and managing and facilitating change. Additionally, a mechanism is needed to translate the desired global outcomes into country actions (box 3). Policy options mentioned earlier, particularly for education and skills building, are especially relevant to addressing youth unemployment. But given the severity of this challenge and its multidimensional (economic, social and political) impacts, it also requires targeted interventions. Exciting work opportunities for young people should be created so that they can unbridle their creativity, innovation and BOX 3 Possible measures at the country level for moving towards sustainable work • Identify appropriate technologies and investment options, including leapfrogging opportunities. • Set up regulatory and macroeconomic frameworks to facilitate adoption of sustainable policies. • Ensure that the population has the appropriate skills base—combining technical and high-quality skills with core abilities for learning, employability and communicating. • Retrain and upgrade the skills of large numbers of workers in informal sectors, such as agriculture. While some workers may be reached through the market, others will need the help of the public sector, nongovernmental organizations and others. These programmes can be a means to support women and other traditionally disadvantaged groups. • Manage the adverse impacts of the transition by offering diversified packages of support and levelling the playing field to break the transmission of intergenerational inequality. • Continue to build the skill base of the population. This will require a lifecycle approach that recognizes the cumulative nature of interventions that lead to learning. Large investments in the number and quality of health and education workers will be necessary, underscoring the continuing role of the public sector in transforming skills. Source: Human Development Report Office. Overview | 21
entrepreneurship in the new world of work..Funding experimentation and risk.This Methods for doing so include: entails solving intractable social and environ- Providing policy support to the sectors and mental problems that may require founda- entities creating new lines of work.Such ini- tions and public institutions to take funding tiatives are ongoing,and new opportunities risks on less proven approaches. are being discovered every day,but they need .Innovating for the public good.Creativity and policy support. innovation can advance many objectives. Investing in skills development,creativity and Policies that direct innovation towards the problem solving.Special support should be greater social good,including volunteer extended to young women and men in ap- work,can enhance human development. prenticeships,trade and vocational training, Voluntary work can be encouraged by tax and on-the-job learning. rebates,subsidies and public grants to volun- .Providing supportive government policies to tary organizations.Public support to create help young entrepreneurs.Areas include advi-and protect space for voluntary work can bring sory services for establishing businesses and social benefits,particularly during emergencies initiatives and better instruments and chan- like conflicts and natural disasters. nels for financing.Recently,crowdsourcing In conflict and post-conflict situations it is has emerged as a means of generating funds important to focus on productive jobs that for small initiatives. empower people,build agency,provide access Making tertiary learning more widely availa- to voice,offer social status and increase respect, ble through the Internet.Massive open online cohesion,trust and people's willingness to courses are linking world-renowned academic participate in civil society.Some policy options institutions and students around the world. are: .Using cash transfer programmes to provide em- .Supporting work in the health system.In many ployment for local young people and poor peo- conflict-afflicted countries the health system ple.In India and Uganda these programmes has collapsed,and support for emergency have provided resources for funding job health services is critical for workers and the searches and for supporting high-quality wounded. training and skills development.They have .Getting basic social services up and run- also increased access to other sources of cred- ning.This has social and political benefits. Exciting work it for entrepreneurship. Communities,nongovernmental organiza- Creative work requires an enabling work tions and public-private partnerships can be opportunities for environment,including financial support,and the drivers. young people opportunities to collaborate and cross-fertilize Initiating public works programmes.Even should be created ideas.Some key requirements for creativity and emergency temporary jobs,cash for work innovation to thrive are: and the like can provide much needed live- Innovating inclusively.Here,new goods and lihoods and contribute to the building of services are developed for or by those living critical physical and social infrastructures. on the lowest incomes or by women,extend- Formulating and implementing targeted com- ing creative opportunities to groups that may munity-based programmes.Such programmes be underrepresented. can yield multiple benefits,including stabil- Assuring democratic creativity.Workplaces ity.Economic activities can be jumpstarted and online platforms can be organized in by reconnecting people,reconstructing net- ways that encourage innovation at all levels. works and helping restore the social fabric. Beyond the policy options,a broader agenda for action is needed .Developing a New Social Contract.In the new have long-term ties to a single employer or world of work participants are less likely to to be a member of a trade union than their 22 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2015
Exciting work opportunities for young people should be created entrepreneurship in the new world of work. Methods for doing so include: • Providing policy support to the sectors and entities creating new lines of work. Such initiatives are ongoing, and new opportunities are being discovered every day, but they need policy support. • Investing in skills development, creativity and problem solving. Special support should be extended to young women and men in apprenticeships, trade and vocational training, and on-the-job learning. • Providing supportive government policies to help young entrepreneurs. Areas include advisory services for establishing businesses and initiatives and better instruments and channels for financing. Recently, crowdsourcing has emerged as a means of generating funds for small initiatives. • Making tertiary learning more widely available through the Internet. Massive open online courses are linking world-renowned academic institutions and students around the world. • Using cash transfer programmes to provide employment for local young people and poor people. In India and Uganda these programmes have provided resources for funding job searches and for supporting high-quality training and skills development. They have also increased access to other sources of credit for entrepreneurship. Creative work requires an enabling work environment, including financial support, and opportunities to collaborate and cross-fertilize ideas. Some key requirements for creativity and innovation to thrive are: • Innovating inclusively. Here, new goods and services are developed for or by those living on the lowest incomes or by women, extending creative opportunities to groups that may be underrepresented. • Assuring democratic creativity. Workplaces and online platforms can be organized in ways that encourage innovation at all levels. • Funding experimentation and risk. This entails solving intractable social and environmental problems that may require foundations and public institutions to take funding risks on less proven approaches. • Innovating for the public good. Creativity and innovation can advance many objectives. Policies that direct innovation towards the greater social good, including volunteer work, can enhance human development. Voluntary work can be encouraged by tax rebates, subsidies and public grants to voluntary organizations. Public support to create and protect space for voluntary work can bring social benefits, particularly during emergencies like conflicts and natural disasters. In conflict and post-conflict situations it is important to focus on productive jobs that empower people, build agency, provide access to voice, offer social status and increase respect, cohesion, trust and people’s willingness to participate in civil society. Some policy options are: • Supporting work in the health system. In many conflict-afflicted countries the health system has collapsed, and support for emergency health services is critical for workers and the wounded. • Getting basic social services up and running. This has social and political benefits. Communities, nongovernmental organizations and public–private partnerships can be the drivers. • Initiating public works programmes. Even emergency temporary jobs, cash for work and the like can provide much needed livelihoods and contribute to the building of critical physical and social infrastructures. • Formulating and implementing targeted community-based programmes. Such programmes can yield multiple benefits, including stability. Economic activities can be jumpstarted by reconnecting people, reconstructing networks and helping restore the social fabric. Beyond the policy options, a broader agenda for action is needed • Developing a New Social Contract. In the new world of work participants are less likely to have long-term ties to a single employer or to be a member of a trade union than their 22 | HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2015
forebears.This world of work does not fit commitments.Further,true globalization the traditional arrangements for protection. rests on the idea of sharing-we should share How does society mobilize funds to cover the responsibility for a "global working life." a widening population that is not always in A Global Deal would require mobiliz- Implementing the work,reach those working outside the formal ing all partners-workers,businesses and sector,accommodate new labour market en- governments-around the world,respecting Decent Work Agenda trants(especially migrants)and cover those workers'rights in practice and being pre- will help work enhance unable to work?There may be a need for a pared to negotiate agreements at all levels. human development New Social Contract in such circumstances This will not require new institutions,merely involving dialogue on a much larger scale reoriented attention in the world's strong than took place during the 20th century. international forums. Denmark is making strides providing secu- A Global Deal can guide governments in rity alongside reskilling and skills upgrading implementing policies to meet the needs of in an increasingly flexible job market(box 4). their citizens.Without global agreements, .Pursuing a Global Deal.In an era of global national policies may respond to labour de- production,national policies and social mands at home without accounting for exter- contracts may not work outside of global nalities.This implies that a global-national compact is also necessary.International BOX 4 conventions such as the International Labour Organization Convention Concerning Flexicurity in Denmark Decent Work for Domestic Workers,which entered into force in September 2013,was The Danish labour market has a lot of what is of- ten called "flexicurity":coexistence of flexibility.in a groundbreaking agreement that stands to establish global standards for the rights of the form of low adjustment costs for employers and domestic workers worldwide.This kind of employees,and security,a by-product of Denmark's well developed social safety net,ensuring high cov- agreement offers guiding principles to sig- erage and replacement rates. natories but leaves space for national govern- The principal aim of flexicurity is to promote ments to implement policies within national employment security over job security,meaning contexts to meet commitments.Motivated protection focuses on workers rather than their jobs. by global actions,national policies create real Consequently,employers benefit from all the advan- change in local communities. tages of a flexible labour force while employees can Implementing the Decent Work Agenda. take comfort in a robust social safety net applied The Decent Work Agenda has four pillars with active labour market policies. (box 5).The agenda and the human devel- opment framework are mutually reinforcing. Source:World Bank 20156. Decent work enhances human development BOX5 The four pillars of the Decent Work Agenda Employment creation and enterprise development. Social protection.Basic social protection,such as This requires acknowledging that a principal route health care and retirement security,is a founda- out of poverty is jobs and that the economy needs tion for participating productively in society and the to generate opportunities for investment,entrepre- economy. neurship,job creation and sustainable livelihoods. Goverance and social dialogue.Social dialogue Standards and rights at work.People need repre- among governments,workers and employers can sentation opportunities to participate,to voice their resolve important economic and social issues,en- views in order to obtain rights and to earn respect. courage good govemance.establish sound labour The International Labour Organization's normative relations and boost economic and social progress. work is key for compliance and measuring progress. Source:ILO 2008b. Overview 23
Implementing the Decent Work Agenda will help work enhance human development forebears. This world of work does not fit the traditional arrangements for protection. How does society mobilize funds to cover a widening population that is not always in work, reach those working outside the formal sector, accommodate new labour market entrants (especially migrants) and cover those unable to work? There may be a need for a New Social Contract in such circumstances involving dialogue on a much larger scale than took place during the 20th century. Denmark is making strides providing security alongside reskilling and skills upgrading in an increasingly flexible job market (box 4). • Pursuing a Global Deal. In an era of global production, national policies and social contracts may not work outside of global commitments. Further, true globalization rests on the idea of sharing—we should share the responsibility for a “global working life.” A Global Deal would require mobilizing all partners—workers, businesses and governments—around the world, respecting workers’ rights in practice and being prepared to negotiate agreements at all levels. This will not require new institutions, merely reoriented attention in the world’s strong international forums. A Global Deal can guide governments in implementing policies to meet the needs of their citizens. Without global agreements, national policies may respond to labour demands at home without accounting for externalities. This implies that a global–national compact is also necessary. International conventions such as the International Labour Organization Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers, which entered into force in September 2013, was a groundbreaking agreement that stands to establish global standards for the rights of domestic workers worldwide. This kind of agreement offers guiding principles to signatories but leaves space for national governments to implement policies within national contexts to meet commitments. Motivated by global actions, national policies create real change in local communities. • Implementing the Decent Work Agenda. The Decent Work Agenda has four pillars (box 5). The agenda and the human development framework are mutually reinforcing. Decent work enhances human development BOX 4 Flexicurity in Denmark The Danish labour market has a lot of what is often called “flexicurity”: coexistence of flexibility, in the form of low adjustment costs for employers and employees, and security, a by-product of Denmark’s well developed social safety net, ensuring high coverage and replacement rates. The principal aim of flexicurity is to promote employment security over job security, meaning protection focuses on workers rather than their jobs. Consequently, employers benefit from all the advantages of a flexible labour force while employees can take comfort in a robust social safety net applied with active labour market policies. Source: World Bank 2015b. BOX 5 The four pillars of the Decent Work Agenda • Employment creation and enterprise development. This requires acknowledging that a principal route out of poverty is jobs and that the economy needs to generate opportunities for investment, entrepreneurship, job creation and sustainable livelihoods. • Standards and rights at work. People need representation opportunities to participate, to voice their views in order to obtain rights and to earn respect. The International Labour Organization’s normative work is key for compliance and measuring progress. • Social protection. Basic social protection, such as health care and retirement security, is a foundation for participating productively in society and the economy. • Governance and social dialogue. Social dialogue among governments, workers and employers can resolve important economic and social issues, encourage good governance, establish sound labour relations and boost economic and social progress. Source: ILO 2008b. Overview | 23
through each of its pillars.Employment cre- participation,empowerment and social ation and enterprise development provide cohesion. income and livelihoods to people,are cru- Conversely,human development contrib- The notion of human cial instruments for equity,are a means for utes to the four pillars.Expanding capabilities participation and facilitate self-esteem and through human development enhances oppor- development is dignity.Workers'rights support human de- tunities for employment and entrepreneurship. still relevant for velopment by ensuring human rights,human The participation aspect of human develop- development discourse freedom and labour standards.Social pro- ment helps enrich social dialogue.Human tection contributes to human development development also emphasizes the promotion of -even more so by ensuring safety nets,protecting people human rights,which boosts workers'rights and in today's world from risks and vulnerabilities and provid- enhances human security.Given all these inter- ing care work.And social dialogue helps links,implementing the Decent Work Agenda human development through broad-based will help work enhance human development. The world has changed and future generations'choices do not get the dramatically,but the concept of attention they deserve.So the notion ofhuman human development remains as development-enlarging choices,emphasizing relevant as ever-if not more so a long,healthy and creative life and high- lighting the need for expanding capabilities The world today is very different from the and creating opportunities-assumes a new world in 1990,when the notion of human importance as a development framework,with development and its measures to assess human people at the centre of development. well-being were launched.Since then,the de- Similarly,as a measure of human well-be- velopment canvas has changed,global growth ing,the human development framework still centres have shifted,important demographic provides perhaps the broadest perspective transitions have materialized and a fresh wave of human progress,while contributing to of development challenges has emerged. policymaking. The global economy is changing.The Yet after a quarter of a century,the time has influence of emerging economies is rising. come to revisit both aspects-the notion and Developed economies'share of global GDP the measures. (based on purchasing power parity dollars)fell from 54 percent in 2004 to 43 percent in 2014. Politically,the desire for freedom and voice has The notion and measures of swept different parts of the world.The digital human development should be revolution has changed the ways we think and reviewed to make them more operate.Inequalities have gone up.Human relevant for today's challenges security has become more fragile.And climate and tomorrow's world change is affecting more human lives. So,is the notion of human development still The conceptual angle of human development relevant for development discourse and as a requires a fresh look for dealing with emerging measure of human well-being?Yes-even more challenges in a fast-changing world,especially so in today's world. in dialogue with the new 2030 Agenda for Even with all the economic and techno- Sustainable Development and the Sustainable logical advancements at the world's disposal, Development Goals. people do not have equitable benefits from pro- The basic focus should be kept intact.But gress,human capabilities and opportunities do issues such as individual and collective choices, not always flourish,human security is at stake,their probable trade-offs in conflicting situ- human rights and freedoms are not always pro- ations,hierarchies among such choices and tected,gender inequalities remain a challenge, the balance between choices of present and 24 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2015
The notion of human development is still relevant for development discourse —even more so in today’s world through each of its pillars. Employment creation and enterprise development provide income and livelihoods to people, are crucial instruments for equity, are a means for participation and facilitate self-esteem and dignity. Workers’ rights support human development by ensuring human rights, human freedom and labour standards. Social protection contributes to human development by ensuring safety nets, protecting people from risks and vulnerabilities and providing care work. And social dialogue helps human development through broad-based participation, empowerment and social cohesion. Conversely, human development contributes to the four pillars. Expanding capabilities through human development enhances opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship. The participation aspect of human development helps enrich social dialogue. Human development also emphasizes the promotion of human rights, which boosts workers’ rights and enhances human security. Given all these interlinks, implementing the Decent Work Agenda will help work enhance human development. The world has changed dramatically, but the concept of human development remains as relevant as ever—if not more so The world today is very different from the world in 1990, when the notion of human development and its measures to assess human well-being were launched. Since then, the development canvas has changed, global growth centres have shifted, important demographic transitions have materialized and a fresh wave of development challenges has emerged. The global economy is changing. The influence of emerging economies is rising. Developed economies’ share of global GDP (based on purchasing power parity dollars) fell from 54 percent in 2004 to 43 percent in 2014. Politically, the desire for freedom and voice has swept different parts of the world. The digital revolution has changed the ways we think and operate. Inequalities have gone up. Human security has become more fragile. And climate change is affecting more human lives. So, is the notion of human development still relevant for development discourse and as a measure of human well-being? Yes—even more so in today’s world. Even with all the economic and technological advancements at the world’s disposal, people do not have equitable benefits from progress, human capabilities and opportunities do not always flourish, human security is at stake, human rights and freedoms are not always protected, gender inequalities remain a challenge, and future generations’ choices do not get the attention they deserve. So the notion of human development—enlarging choices, emphasizing a long, healthy and creative life and highlighting the need for expanding capabilities and creating opportunities—assumes a new importance as a development framework, with people at the centre of development. Similarly, as a measure of human well-being, the human development framework still provides perhaps the broadest perspective of human progress, while contributing to policymaking. Yet after a quarter of a century, the time has come to revisit both aspects—the notion and the measures. The notion and measures of human development should be reviewed to make them more relevant for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s world The conceptual angle of human development requires a fresh look for dealing with emerging challenges in a fast-changing world, especially in dialogue with the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. The basic focus should be kept intact. But issues such as individual and collective choices, their probable trade-offs in conflicting situations, hierarchies among such choices and the balance between choices of present and 24 | HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2015
future generations need to be looked after. satellites and other tools produce real-time Similarly,issues of human development in data on people's activities.These can be har- relation to shocks and vulnerabilities and the nessed to inform policymaking. relationships among human development, Second,big data holds the promise of pro- human rights and human security will have to ducing statistics almost instantaneously and be revisited. allowing disaggregation to levels of detail The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Develop- hitherto undreamt of outside population ment and the Sustainable Development Goals censuses.Such data are expanding the un- require fresh assessment tools for monitoring derstanding of causation in an increasingly progress-measuring environmental sustaina- complex world and enabling rapid responses bility and integrating it with overall measures in some humanitarian situations.But the for human well-being are priorities. data have risks-they could do harm where Three other challenges stand out.First,meas- privacy and anonymity are not respected. ures and indicators have to be identified that Still,many researchers are identifying how allow policy impacts to be more quickly cap- this large volume of information-generated tured.Second,measures are often inadequate both incidentally and deliberately as billions In this changed and for assessing human well-being at times of of people go about their daily lives-can shocks and crises and should thus be revamped support sustainability and provide usable changing world the to fill this need.Third,"quick guidance"policy insights for improving lives. need for revising measures should be explored. Third,it is possible to combine traditional the notion and All these efforts require robust,consistent and new methods of data collection for cen- and credible data.Taking that into account suses,ranging from administrative registers measures of human and also considering a much more ambitious to mobile devices,geospatial information development is vital international agenda,the High Level Panel on systems and the Internet.Many countries the Post-2015 Agenda convened by the UN have already done this. Secretary-General in 2014 called for a data In this changed and changing world,with revolution.It emphasized the need to monitor a new development agenda and new develop- progress.Three issues need highlighting: ment goals,the need for revisiting the notion First,huge amounts of real-time data can and measures of human development is vital provide better information on,say,the Next year's Human Development Report,the attendance of students at school.Sensors, 25th in the series,will be devoted to it. Overview 25
In this changed and changing world the need for revising the notion and measures of human development is vital future generations need to be looked after. Similarly, issues of human development in relation to shocks and vulnerabilities and the relationships among human development, human rights and human security will have to be revisited. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals require fresh assessment tools for monitoring progress—measuring environmental sustainability and integrating it with overall measures for human well-being are priorities. Three other challenges stand out. First, measures and indicators have to be identified that allow policy impacts to be more quickly captured. Second, measures are often inadequate for assessing human well-being at times of shocks and crises and should thus be revamped to fill this need. Third, “quick guidance” policy measures should be explored. All these efforts require robust, consistent and credible data. Taking that into account and also considering a much more ambitious international agenda, the High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Agenda convened by the UN Secretary-General in 2014 called for a data revolution. It emphasized the need to monitor progress. Three issues need highlighting: • First, huge amounts of real-time data can provide better information on, say, the attendance of students at school. Sensors, satellites and other tools produce real-time data on people’s activities. These can be harnessed to inform policymaking. • Second, big data holds the promise of producing statistics almost instantaneously and allowing disaggregation to levels of detail hitherto undreamt of outside population censuses. Such data are expanding the understanding of causation in an increasingly complex world and enabling rapid responses in some humanitarian situations. But the data have risks—they could do harm where privacy and anonymity are not respected. Still, many researchers are identifying how this large volume of information—generated both incidentally and deliberately as billions of people go about their daily lives—can support sustainability and provide usable insights for improving lives. • Third, it is possible to combine traditional and new methods of data collection for censuses, ranging from administrative registers to mobile devices, geospatial information systems and the Internet. Many countries have already done this. In this changed and changing world, with a new development agenda and new development goals, the need for revisiting the notion and measures of human development is vital. Next year’s Human Development Report, the 25th in the series, will be devoted to it. Overview | 25