Human Development Report

Generali and UNDP, in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and The Human Safety Net Foundation, have so far presented together two editions of the Human Development Report (HDR) in Europe – the annual publication issued by the Human Development Report Office of UNDP. Both presentations took place in Venice at the Procuratie Vecchie, the home of Generali Group’s foundation The Human Safety Net.

"Breaking the Gridlock: Reimagining cooperation in a polarized world" is the title of the 2023/2024 edition of the HDR, which assesses the gridlock resulting from uneven development progress, intensifying inequality, climate change, conflict, and escalating political polarization. It emphasizes how global interdependence is being reconfigured and proposes a path forward where multilateralism plays a pivotal role.

The report calls in fact for a reimagining of global cooperation, proposing immediate action for climate stability, greater equity in harnessing new technologies for equitable human development, new and expanded financial mechanisms to support development. It also promotes the reduction of political polarization through new governance approaches focused on enhancing people's voices in deliberation and tackling misinformation.

The 2021/2022 edition of the HDR, titled "Uncertain Times, Unsettled Lives: Shaping our Future in a Transforming World", focused on the challenge of increasing uncertainty, proposing three actions to tackle it: investing in resources and capabilities; insurance, including social insurance, in order to protect people from the unavoidable consequences of uncertain times while safeguarding people’s capabilities, and innovation to generate useful skills to face the challenges of the future.

As highlighted in the report, insurance provides an essential stabilising force in the face of uncertainty. Insurers will have to offer enhanced and extended protection to people, focusing on innovation and the modernisation of services, so that they can deal more effectively with the current context of instability. The challenge of financial inclusion and the opportunity - even for the most vulnerable - to access credit and insurance services in order to reduce poverty and inequality is essential.