Socio- Economic indicators of Human Development in Southern Sudan

Abstract

This study is directly focused on the importance of improving socio-economic indicators of sustainable human development in South Sudan States by calculating human poverty index (HPI) in view of the fact that achieving sustainable human development is one of the aims of development of the United Nations Organizations which most countries have undertaken to achieve by 2015. Human development is about much more than the rise or fall of national income. It is about creating an environment in which people can develop their potential needs and interests. Development is thus about expanding the choices of people that have to lead lives that they value. Enlarging these choices lead to long and healthy life, being knowledgeable and access to Services which in turn result in decent standard of living. The absence of these choices means human poverty. This research has attempted to discuss the key concept of development, by examining human development, poverty and their various aspects. Both national and international researches Conducted, their trends, differentials and challenges were covered. Human poverty index calculated for Southern Sudan was a measurement tool developed by UNDP in its series HDRs. The result showed that there was a clear wide variation in human poverty indices among the ten South Sudan states. This study recommended more concentration of human development programs such as MDGs toward these high indices of HPI of South Sudan states, particularly education sector. Linear regression method has been applied to test the effects of some education and health variables on human poverty index (HPI). Based on this, results indicated that most of the mentioned health variables on the regression have significant effect on HPI, as long as some education variable such as, number of basic schools and number of basic school teachers. In light of these results study recommended more attention to human resources development programs of the most affected States by human poverty, especially the field of education variables such as number of basic schools and the number of basic schools teachers and in term of health, increasing the number of doctors and hospitals tend to be the most important variables that lead to reducing human poverty index which in turn, can bring the most important objectives of human development is improving the standard of living.