Qatar’s Third National Human Development Report
Qatar’s 3rd National
Human Development Report
Expanding Capacities of Qatari Youth
Sharon Ng and Aziza Al Khalaqi
General Secretariat for Development Planning (GSDP)
Workshop on Human Development Approach
and Measurement for the GCC States
Doha – Qatar, 9-11 May 2011
Qatar’s Third National Human Development Report
National Ownership: Qatar’s NHDRs

Qatar’s NHDRs are prepared by the
General Secretariat for Development Planning (GSDP) in partnership with UNDP (UAE)
– Participatory across all stakeholders
– National and international inputs
– Rigorous analysis and benchmarking
– An agenda for national policies
QNV 2030 rests on four pillars

GSDP established in 2006 also coordinates:
- Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV)
defines long-term outcomes to overcome
key challenges facing the nation
- National Development Strategy
2011-2016 (NDS)
provides medium-term planning
framework towards QNV’s development
goals
Qatar National Vision 2030
Human
development
Social
development
Economic
development
Environmental
development
Develop
all people
to enable them
to sustain a
prosperous
society
Develop just
and
caring society
with
high moral
standards
and
active role
in global
development
Develop
competitive
diversified
economy
to secure
prosperity
for all in
present and
future
Ensure
harmony
between
economic
growth,
social
development
and
environment
Institutional development and modernization
Qatar’s Third National Human Development Report
NHDRs Support and
Provide Synergies with QNV and NDS
Qatar National Human
Development Reports
 First NHDR 2006 addressed
various general aspects of
human development
 Second NHDR 2009,
Advancing Sustainable
Development focused on
- Economic growth, social
development and
environmental management
- Water and human
development
- Marine environment and
human development
- Climate change and human
development
 NHDR provided inputs for NDS
and sector strategies
QNV
2030
NDS
2011–2016
Sector Strategies
2011–2016
Ministry and agency strategies
Qatar’s Third National Human Development Report
Qatar’s Second NHDR - Outcomes

Second NHDR, Advancing Sustainable Development, launch and seminar attended by
over 150 participants from government, private sector, civil society and academia and
had broad and sustained coverage in local newspapers

Second NHDR widely circulated to stakeholders in Qatar and through UNDP’s global
network and GSDP’s website

The solid analytical evidence-based analysis heightened awareness of key
environmental issues across Qatar and continues to serve as an essential reference for
planners, academics and students alike

Process of preparation and success of launch deepened partnerships
o Promoted capacity building within MoEnv
o Supportive and gave momentum to work on environmental statistics at QSA
o Serve as a basis for institutional, regulatory and policy initiatives, as well as programmes and
projects to achieve the Environmental Pillar of the QNV

Strong interest, support and follow-up from Qatar’s private sector, including QP,
RasGas, Shell and ExxonMobil
o Sponsored media supplement in English and Arabic press
o Offer of support for Qatari overseas training in Sustainable Development
Qatar’s Third National Human Development Report
Qatar’s and Gulf States HDI, 2009
> 0.91
0.90 - 0.91
0.89 - 0.90
0.84 - 0.89
Kuwait
0.916
Kuwait
Bahrain, 0.895
Manama
Saudi Arabia 0.843
Riyadh
Qatar 0.910
Doha
Abu Dhabi
United
Oman
0.846
Qatar’s Third National Human Development Report
Qatar relative to average of top five countries
Qatar’s Progress Relative to World’s Top 5 HDI Countries
Qatar’s achievement in per capita GDP highest but education
attainment lagging
(%)
100
95
GDP Index
90
85
Human Development Index
Life Expectancy Index
Top five countries in 2009:
1) Norway
2) Australia
3) Iceland
4) Canada
5) Ireland
80
Education Index
75
70
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Qatar’s Third National Human Development Report
Why Qatar’s 3rd HDR Focuses on Youth
Youth is a fast growing group
Tomorrow’s parents, workers & leaders
 An expanding share of Qatar’s
population
 Population aged 15-24 grew by 15
percent per annum from 2004 to 2010
 Youth component in population
18% of total population
 During period to QNV 2030, youth in
2010 will grow into young adults,
embarking on careers or pursuing
higher and advanced education
opportunities
Youth is a period of transition
 Vulnerable and experimental period childhood dependency to independent
adulthood – need guidance
YOUTH
(persons
aged 1524)
Need specific youth policy focus
 Essential to expand opportunities
and choices through investments
in their education, health,
employment, sports and leisure
Qatar’s Third National Human Development Report
Qatar 3rd HDR
Expanding Capacities of Qatari Youth
Subjects
Youth and
rapid change
Youth and
education
Youth and
employment
Youth and
wellbeing
Main themes being covered – challenges and opportunities
 Demographic changes, impact of immigration on youth
 Family, Fertility and Divorce
 Relative poverty and Qatari youth
 Educational reforms for a knowledge based society
 Vocational post-secondary and tertiary education
 Educational performance
 Career options – a predisposition towards public service
 Incentivising private sector employment and entrepreneurship
 Harmonization between education and labour market
 Lifestyle risk - obesity, diabetes, smoking
 Risky behaviour - road traffic accidents
Youth
empowerment
and participation
 Participation in civil society
 Leadership
Youth and gender
(cross cutting)
 Low retention rates of Qatari males in secondary school
 Higher participation and performance of females in tertiary education
 Gender gap in annual salaries
Qatar’s Third National Human Development Report
Qatar’s 3rd HDR
Expanding Capacities of Qatari Youth
 Preparation involves strong partnership with relevant ministries and
agencies, private sector, civil society, youth organisation and UNDP
 Commissioned 15 background papers, to be integrated into HDR3
- 12 from national experts and 3 from international experts
 Focus groups, forum and youth essay competition organised jointly with
Qatar University, to obtain voices of youth
 Youth Development Indicators:
- Comprehensive data for labour and education
- Lacking in health, wellbeing and youth participation – ie. HIV, drug and other
substance abuse, smoking, mental health, reproductive health
 Draft HDR to be reviewed by UNDP, International Readers and National
Advisory Committee (15 members including 2 youths)
 Launch of NHDR and seminar in late 2011