Investing in Inclusive Human Development

This article addresses issues relevant to building an effective human capital base in the five countries of Central Asia and proposes ways to enhance prospects not only for each country but also for the region as a whole. It will deal with the two main components of human capital: education and training, and health. For each of these, the analysis will start by examining recent trends, identifying similarities and differences between countries, and reviewing policy directions and recent reforms. Common issues, as well as those specific to a particular country, will be discussed before proposing a possible program of actions that could help the countries achieve their vision. The analysis is constrained by the limited availability of reliable statistical data. Detailed information on all aspects of human development is not always available for all countries. There is, in particular, very scarce information about human development outcomes and policies in Turkmenistan, which limits the capacity to make policy recommendations for this particular country. For other countries, when data are available, comparability is sometimes made difficult by differences in reference period, definitions, coverage, and sources. Some caution is therefore advised in the interpretation of data.