ADDIS ABABA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has recognized Ethiopia's significant gains in human development and advised the East African country to work on its achievements.
Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to Ethiopia, said Thursday Ethiopia still belongs to the low human development category.
"However, the country has made significant gains in human development, with the human development value increasing by 58.3 percent from 2000 to 2015," said Eziakonwa-Onochie.
Yinager Dessie, Ethiopian National Planning Commissioner, also asserted that the Ethiopian government, in addition to its efforts in improving access to basic public services, is committed to halt major social barriers, including corruption and gender discrimination.
"The Ethiopian government believes in ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth through human capital development and improving the quality of social services," he said.
Latest Human Development Report launched by UNDP on Thursday also urged the global community to invest in combating epidemics and violence and ensuring security.
According to the report, impressive progresses were registered in human development over the past 25 years.
"People now live longer; more children are at school; and access to basic social services has improved; and overall, there has been improvement in people's standard of living," said the report.
The report, however, noted that the world's citizens are not benefiting from equitable and universal access to quality education, health care, social protection and gender equality.
Out of 188 countries for which the human development index was presented, 41 countries belong to low human development category, the majority of which being in sub-Sahara Africa.
