Human Capital

A Project for the World

Welcome to the Human Capital Project (HCP), a global effort to accelerate more and better investments in people for greater equity and economic growth. In a post-COVID-19 pandemic world, it's even more important to understand why countries should invest in human capital (HC) and protect hard-won gains from being eroded. Find out why the World Bank, countries, and partners are coming together to close the massive HC gap in the world. Check out the Human Capital Network Fact Sheet, updated 2020 Human Capital Index, our videos, visualizations, frequently-asked-questions, and more. You too can help those around the world to #InvestinPeople.

DATA: Explore the 2020 Human Capital Index

Featured

BLOG

Putting people at the center of climate solutions

By Mamta Murthi & Juergen Voegele November 17, 2024
Feature Story

Human Capital Ministerial Conclave: Equipping Young Women and Men for a Fast-Changing World

Ministers from over 30 countries participated in the Human Capital Ministerial Conclave at the 2024 World Bank Annual Meetings.
Report

Human Capital Umbrella Program Annual Report 2023

Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Government of Canada, the Human Capital Umbrella Program serves as a catalyst for accelerating investments in people. Read the 2023 Annual Report.

About the HCP

The HCP aims to protect and invest in people. We host the following related webpages: About, Case Studies, Country Knowledge Exchanges, Key Reports, and Frequently Asked Questions. As of April 2024, the HCP has grown to a network of 95 committed governments participating and taking action in three distinct areas. Learn more by clicking on the topics below.

Click to view HCP Network Factsheet

The Human Capital Index (HCI)

The HCI provides a new definition of human capital and quantifies the contribution of health and education to the productivity of the next generation of workers. Countries can use it to assess how much income they are foregoing because of Human Capital gaps and how much faster they can turn these losses into gains if they act now.

Learn more about the Index and the definition of Human Capital

HCI Frequently Asked Questions

Measurement & Research

Credible measurement of education and health outcomes is critical locally, nationally, and globally. Within countries, measurement leads to insights into what works and where to target resources. It also increases policymakers’ awareness of the importance of investing in human capital, creating momentum for action. Globally, comprehensive measurement sheds light on the differences between countries and spurs demand for investments in human capital.

Case Studies

Country Engagement

The HCP will help countries tackle the worst barriers to peoples’ development, using a “whole of government” approach. As of April 2024, the HCP has grown to a network of 94 committed governments that have expressed interest in investing in human capital at the highest levels. In addition, a number of “Human Capital Champions”—world leaders, thought leaders, celebrities, and others—have signed on to advocate for the next generation.

Access the human capital "Knowledge Exchange" series

Core Resources

WB AND IMF MEETINGS

Human Capital Conclaves

The Human Capital Ministerial Conclave is attended by Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Budget from over 80 HCP countries, WBG Leadership, and prominent global voices from civil society and the private sector.
Webpage

Human Capital Key Reports

How are countries investing in people? What tools are available to support human capital development? Access a curated list of reports and briefs here.
Peer learning series

HCP Focal Point Network Series

Focal points share innovative solutions and best practices to accelerate investments in human capital. While participation is limited, recordings from the webinar series are available.
Report Series

Human Capital Project Case Studies Series

This is a series of case studies commissioned by the Human Capital Project team to examine the development trajectories of selected countries that have prioritized investments in key human capital outcomes.

Recent Reports

View all Reports

Human Capital Umbrella Program Annual Report 2023
May 2024
Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Government of Canada, the Human Capital Umbrella Program serves as a catalyst for accelerating investments in people. The Program continued to advance its work through a whole-of-government approach to support evidence-based initiatives across sectors to foster lasting social and economic transformation. Through analytical work and strategic initiatives, the program influences project design and implementation to effectively advance human capital outcomes.
How to Protect, Build, and Use Human Capital to Address Climate Change
October, 2023
Climate change is a direct threat to human capital. At the same time, human capital empowers people to advocate for climate action and to pioneer the technology for a net-zero-emissions future. Read to learn the impacts of climate change on people and how to protect, build, and use human capital to ensure a livable planet.
Human Capital Umbrella Program Annual Report 2022
Harnessing Catalytic Initiatives to Accelerate Investments in Human Capital - May 2023
The 2022 Annual Report highlights program results in 18 countries in Africa and South Asia. The Umbrella Program mainstreams and embeds a human capital approach to development, and collectively addresses challenges through multisectoral action—a ‘whole-of-government’ approach—yielding results at scale in high priority countries and globally.
Protecting and Strengthening Human Capital Amidst a Global Food and Nutrition Crisis
March 2023
How can countries ensure resilience in the face of growing food and nutritional crises? What implications do these crises have on children, and how can they be abated? Find out more by reading the report. Keywords: high food prices, food shortages, supply chain disruption, food insecurity, vulnerability.
Human Capital Investments in Türkiye
October 2022
Next-Generation Human Capital Investments for Inclusive Jobs.

The aim of this policy note is to examine the relative efficiency and equity of public expenditures and policies for human capital and labor markets over the past decade in Türkiye in preparing for a post-COVID, inclusive, green transition.

The 2020 HCI: Visualization

2020 HCI: Country Briefs and Data

Download Full HCI Dataset

Download the Country Briefs (updated October 2022) that put Human Capital Index (HCI) country data in perspective with Human Capital Complementary Indicators (HCCIs) and specialized Excel files that include detailed data, sources, and methods. These files are available for 172 countries with sufficient data to calculate an HCI value in September 2020. You can download the full HCI 2020 report here. Answers to some frequently asked questions about the HCI can be found here.

Looking for more data? Visit the WBG Databank to see the online HCI database, the HCI World Development Indicator interface, or to find additional metadata. The HCI 2020 also references the socioeconomically-disaggregated Human Capital Index (SES-HCI).

Afghanistan

Human Capital Project

A Project for the World

Featured

Putting people at the center of climate solutions

Human Capital Ministerial Conclave: Equipping Young Women and Men for a Fast-Changing World

Human Capital Umbrella Program Annual Report 2023

About the HCP

Core Resources

Human Capital Conclaves

Human Capital Key Reports

HCP Focal Point Network Series

Human Capital Project Case Studies Series

Recent Reports

The 2020 HCI: Visualization

2020 HCI: Country Briefs and Data

2020 HCI: Country Briefs and Data

Human Capital Umbrella Program

Human Capital Video Playlist

News and Blogs

News

Blogs

HCP Highlights

Experts

Connect With Us