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Concept of Capability and UNDP Human Development Reports
Introduction
The source of the human development approach is from the theory of Sen which says that development comes about only when capabilities expand. The idea generated from the theory is that the core reason for development is to ensure that human lives are improved. This can only be achieved if there is expansion in what they can be or do. It could include things such as the being well nourished and healthy, participating in the activities of the community and being knowledgeable. Hence, development can only occur once the obstacles that were present preventing an individual from doing something are removed. The obstacles might be in the form of ill health, illiteracy, lack of resources or lack of freedom- both political and civil. When these obstacles are removed one is said to be capable; hence the origin of the concept of capability Sen, 160).
Purpose Statement
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the concept of capabilities approach that was developed by Amartya Sen, a Nobel Prize winner, and M. Nussban. Amartya has enabled the measurement of human development by the United Development Program (UNDP). He helped invent the capabilities approach, which is the foundation of indices used by UNDP in their measurements. Through these indices the achievement in education and health can be measured in addition to income (Nussbaum, 67).
Objectives
The main aim of this paper is to establish whether the Human Development Reports (HDRs) have their base relying on the concept of capabilities approach and establish why they are based on the approach. Furthermore, it will endeavor in contrasting the other ways such as the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Human poverty index (HPI) which can be used as a measure of human economic development.
Discussion
Human development report and concept of capability
Human development reports are usually published each year since 1990 for UNDP. In the evaluation of contemporary development challenges, the Amartya Sen’s capability approach is normally employed as a conceptual frame work (Sen, 155). A development paradigm has been able to be developed by these reports over time. It is commonly referred to as human development approach and it has the role of informing choices in different disciplines. Some of the disciplines include sustainable development, poverty reduction, globalization, gender inequalities and governance. Hence, what needs to be determined is Sen’s work policy implication on freedom, development, human rights and freedom. Through Sen’s core principles of development that has a flexible frame work, different problems facing poor nations and countries can be analyzed by policy makers without depending on rigid methods that have preset guidelines on how they will operate (Comim, Mozaffar and Sabina, 78).
Going by the first UNDP report to be commissioned in 1990 and launched by Mahbub ul Haq on human development, it is clear the concept of capability had a large effect on it. It is so because its core purpose was to ensure that the focus of development is shifted to people centered policies and from national income accounting. According to Sen, the report had a much greater ambition from any other report that the UNDP could commission as a report to monitor development or for development theme (160). It had the aim of ensuring that a comprehensive approach is set up. It also ensured that tools of measurement and analysis as well as a policy of priorities are included.
Osmani says that for the human development report to be launched by Haq, he had brought together other scholars who had previously worked together on basic needs approach (210). But the needed strong conceptual foundation required by the new paradigm was provided by the concept of the capabilities approach through Sen’s work on capabilities and functioning’s. It is because the capabilities approach does define the development of human as a process that involves the enlarging of an individual’s capabilities of things they can do as well as their functions. In general it makes him or her become well in life. According to Alkire, it is defined as expanding choices in the human development reports (20).
From there on, it has been evident how the concept of capability approach has always been on the fore front in the influence of the evolution of human development approach. Ranis and Frances suggest that it has not only influenced the evolution, but it has also ensured that the challenges in the new areas of policy were tackled through broadening and refining measuring tools and basic concepts (51). Some of the influences the concept managed to establish included influencing the sustainable development in the United Development Program (1994) and gender equity in the United Nations Development Program (1995). Sen’s concept of accountability further looked on the issue of poverty eradication in the United Nations Development program in 1997, later on addressing sustainable development and consumption in United Nations Development Program (1998). Further in the subsequent years of 2000 and 2002, Sen’s concept was instrumental in the United Nations Development Programs of human rights and democracy respectively (Osmani, 206).
The human development reports lately have distanced themselves from Sen’s works. They include own work of participation, freedom and by incorporating references that are more explicit to human freedoms and right. According to Ranis and Frances, Sen’s concept of capability together with Anand has also been able to provide a critical role towards the development of the measurement tools that are necessary in establishing human development Indices (69). The most visible being the Human Development Index (HDI), (Elson, Sakiko, and Polly, 98). Further on, they were also able to cover issues like equality in gender through Gender Related Development Index (GDI) and others like the Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM). All this were developed in the year 1995. In the year 1997, the Human Poverty Index was established that introduced the concept of measuring poverty not through incomes but human lives (Alkire, 36). This was published in the United Nations Development program 1997.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the analysis meets the objective by clearly showing that the various development reports that have been established by the United Nations Development report since the year 1990 have their basis on the concept of capabilities approach. Furthermore, it was established why they are based on the concept which is the need to redefine human development as a means by which an individuals capabilities to function are enlarged. Hence, through this definition it meant that development enabled an individual to do the things they previously deed better. Also, the analysis distinguished clearly the other ways by which the measurement of human economic development can be measured. These included the human poverty index that was published in the United Development Report of 1997.

Work Cited
Alkire, Sabina. Valuing Freedoms: Sen's Capability Approach and Poverty Reduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Print.
Comim, Flavio, Mozaffar Qizilbash, and Sabina Alkire. The Capability Approach: Concepts, Measures and Applications. Leiden: Cambridge University Press, 2008. Internet resource.
Elson, Diane, Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, and Polly Vizard. Human Rights and the Capabilities Approach: An Interdisciplinary Dialogue. Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2012. Print.
Nussbaum, Martha C. Women and Human Development: The Capabilities Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Print.
Osmani, Siddiqur R. "Poverty and Human Rights: Building on the Capability Approach." Journal of Human Development. 6.2 (2005): 205-219. Print.
Ranis, Gustav, and Frances Stewart. "Strategies for Success in Human Development." Journal of Human Development. 1.1 (2000): 49-70. Print.
Sen, Amartya. “Human Rights and Capabilities.” Journal of Human Development and Capabilities 6(2) (2005): 155-66.