The DND was adopted by African Governments at the Third African Population Conference in 1992 and was later endorsed by the ECA Conference of Ministers responsible for Economic Planning and Social Development in 1993 and by the Heads of State and Government of OAU in 1994. The ICPD-PA was the outcome of the 1994 Global Conference on Population and Development. Both of these population and development frameworks called for implementation, monitoring and evaluation at regional, subregional and national levels.

This report has been prepared in conformity with the mandate from the DND and ICPD-PA to periodically monitor the implementation of population and development programme. The Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) is called upon to:

(a) Review the report for completeness and supplement information on the report as appropriate;

(b) Appeal to member States to recommit themselves to the implementation of the DND and the ICPD-PA in view of the recommendations of the Third Meeting of the Follow-up Committee on the implementation of the DND and the ICPD-PA;

(c) Provide guidance on appropriate follow-up action on the recommendations.

I. Introduction

This paper is a progress report on the implementation of the two population and development frameworks, namely, the Dakar/Ngor Declaration on Population, Family and Sustainable Development (DND) and the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD-PA). The DND and the ICPD-PA called for the implementation of population and development programmes at national, subregional and regional levels. Both the DND and the ICPD-PA adopted a number of recommendations including those focussing on: (a) population and development strategy and policy; (b) gender equality, equity and empowerment of women; (c) reproductive rights and reproductive health; (d) partnerships with the NGOs, the private sector and community participation; (e) advocacy and information, education and communication (IEC) strategies; (f) monitoring and evaluation of the DND and ICPD-PA; (g) resource mobilization for the implementation of population policies and programmes; and (h) factors affecting the implementation of the DND and ICPD-PA. The paper highlight efforts being made in the Southern Africa subregion in implementation of these aspects and reports on the outcome of the Third Meeting of the Follow-Up Committee on the DND and ICPD-PA. /P>

II. Subregional Effort in Implementation of the DND and ICPD-PA

2. Efforts are being made at subregional level to follow up on the implementation of the DND and the ICPD-PA. This is illustrated by (a) the convening of the First and Second Southern African Ministers Conferences on Population and Development (SAMCPD) in Pretoria on 31 October 1996 and Gaborone on 29 August 1997. Each of these meetings was preceded by a meeting of experts of representatives from institutions responsible for population and development issues. All eleven member States of the SRDC-SA attended the first meeting while eight attended the second meeting. The Executive Director of UNFPA, Dr. Nafis Sadik, attended both meetings. Highlights on these follow.

(a) The First SAMCPD

3. The Conference discussed a number of issues including: population policy; the implications of the ICPD for population policy formulation, review and implementation; prerequisites for successful implementation of population policies; population and poverty; gender equality and equity; reproductive health; population research: identifying priority areas for population research in the region; capacity-building for managing and implementing population policy activities; population information, education and communication (IEC); resource mobilization: cooperating partners and their role in the subregion; and establishing a formalised structure for cooperation in the field of population.

4. On each of the above, the Conference made conclusions and recommendations. Countries in Southern Africa committed themselves to the objectives, goals and recommendations of the ICPD-PA. They accepted the principle of setting quantitative policy objectives against time frames to enable assessment of progress. Countries without population policies were encouraged to give priority to formulation or finalization of such policies while those countries which were reviewing their population policies were encouraged to complete the process and formulate action plans. A summary on some of the issues follows.

5. Population and poverty issues received considerable attention. It was necessary to establish the linkages between demographic parameters, poverty and inequity in the region as well as integrating poverty alleviation programmes and population programmes. It was also important to harmonise economic growth and population growth rates to contribute to poverty alleviation in Southern Africa. Gender issues were viewed as crucial to sustainable development. Countries in the region were called upon to consider means to ensure that gender issues were integrated into population policies as well as into sustainable development policies, plans and programmes. Regarding reproductive health, the Conference recommendations emphasized: improving and expanding service delivery; intensifying of advocacy and IEC on reproductive health issues; continuous improvements in quality of reproductive health services.

6. Resource mobilization for regional and national implementation of the ICPD was stated to be necessary. Consequently there was need in the region for a formalised structure within the SADC framework to facilitate the mobilization of resources from cooperating partners. Resources from partners would be sought to complement national resources on the implementation of the ICPD-PA. Countries were encouraged to collaborate with the private sector and NGOs in resource mobilization and implementation of the ICPD-PA.

7. The Conference recommended the institutionalization of population issues within the SADC structures. It was also recommended that Southern African Forum for Population and Development (SAFPAD) would continue operating as an informal structure pending the establishment of a formal structure on population and development. The Conference urged all member States of SADC to submit progress reports on the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action on a continuous basis.

(b) The Second SAMCPD

8. The Second SAMCPD took place in Gaborone in 1997 and reviewed action taken on the implementation of its first conference that was held in Pretoria in 1996. Country reports were presented on Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland, South Africa, Zambia, and Angola, and Tanzania. The status of the review is shown in the Annex 1 with updated data wherever possible, since the meeting.

9. The review showed that some countries which had adopted their policies before the ICPD in 1994 were or had reviewed the policies to reflect emerging issues from the ICPD-PA while others intend to review their policies soon. The Conference called for an integrated approach for dealing with population issues in development plans and strategies. It called for the convening of a regional workshop to create an understanding of the mechanisms for the integration of population issues into development plans and strategies.

10. Most countries were taking action to address population and poverty issues. However, these efforts were not satisfactorily implemented and there was need to strengthen mechanism for implementation of poverty alleviation programmes. Gender issues needed to be given further attention at both national and regional level in view of the SADC Declaration on Gender. The Southern Africa Forum on Population and Development (SAFPAD) needed to liaise with the SADC Secretariat to create a common framework for main-streaming gender issues in the strategies for the integration of population and development. On reproductive health, further efforts were required in the implementation of reproductive health recommendations. Other issues which required continued efforts for the implementation of population and development policies included capacity building; IEC on which little had been done to facilitate cooperation and sharing of population IEC materials at regional level; resource mobilization in cooperation with partners.

1. The Conference reiterated its previous recommendation for the establishment of an institutional framework to deal with population and development in the SADC structure. Such a formal population structure is expected to liaise with other institutions including the African Population Commission.

(c) Activities carried out by the SRDC-SA towards the implementation of the Dakar/Ngor Declaration and ICPD-PA

12. The SRDC-SA activities towards the implementation of the DND and ICPD-PA are in relation with the convening of (i) A High Level Policy Seminar on Gender Equity, Social and Empowerment of Women held in Lusaka from 6-8 April, 1998 and (ii) An Ad-hoc Expert Group Meeting on Managing Nexus Issues of Population, Food Security and Environment in Southern Africa: A Regional Policy Framework.

(i) High Level Policy Seminar on Gender Equity, Social and Economic Empowerment of Women

13. The Seminar was held in Lusaka, Zambia from 6-8 April, 1998. It was organized in partnership with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). Its objective was to provide a forum for policy makers and main stakeholders to address gender equity, social and economic empowerment of women under the theme "Women's Access to and Control of Productive Resources". In addition, it sought to build alliances and partnerships and establish gender networking among the national machineries responsible for gender issues. The outcome of the Seminar was a report with a number of recommendations that need to be followed up. The Report was an input into the International Conference on "African Women and Economic Development: Investing in Our Future" which was held in at ECA headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 28 April to 1 May, 1998.

(ii) Ad hoc Expert Group Meeting on Managing Nexus Issues of Population, Food Security and Environment in Southern Africa: A Regional Policy Framework

14. The meeting was held from 7-10 September, 1998 in Lusaka, Zambia. Its objective was to develop a policy framework on nexus issues for use by member States. The meeting was attended by 16 experts drawn from countries in the subregion. Participants from United Nations Organizations were from the UNFPA/CST for Southern Africa, FAO Subregional office for Southern and Eastern Africa and UNEP Africa Regional Office.

15. The outcome of the meeting was a proposed policy framework on nexus issues. This has been reported on under a separate agenda item . The framework components focus on: Demographic transition to ease pressure on food needs and the environment in order to ensure sustainable development; agricultural transition to attain food production requirements and increased agricultural productivity in general without destroying the environment; and environmental management for sustainable development. In view of priority given to poverty reduction in the region, implementation strategies and measures of the framework have to address poverty reduction as of central focus toward the attainment of sustainable development.

III. Outcome of the Third Meeting of the Follow-up Committee on the Implementation of the DND and ICPD-PA, 23 - 25 September, 1998 Addis Ababa

16. A Follow-up Committee was established in 1993 by the ECA Conference of Ministers responsible for Economic Planning and Social Development to follow up on the implementation of the Dakar Ngor Declaration on Population, Family and Sustainable Development. It was later extended to follow up on the implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD-PA) on regional level. The First Meeting of the Follow up Committee met in 1994, the Second in 1997 and the Third met from 23 to 25 September 1998. The outcome of the last meeting is reported below.

17. The objective of the Third Meeting of the Follow-up Committee was to review progress towards the implementation of the DND and ICPD-PA with particular emphasis on achievements, best practices, constraints and recommendations for further implementation of the two population and development frameworks.

18. The Third Meeting of the Follow-up Committee was part of a process of preparatory activities that will lead to a review of the ICPD-PA by the United Nations General Assembly from 30 June to 2 July, 1999. Prior to the General Assembly review of the ICPD-PA, the International Forum on ICPD-PA implementation will be convened in The Hague in February 1999.

19. The report of the Committee will also be submitted to the ECA Committee on Sustainable Development in January 1999 and to the Third General Assembly of the African Population Commission to be held in Abuja in April 1999. A statement on the implementation of the DND and ICPD-PA will be submitted to the OAU Summit of Heads of State in June 1999 for them to give appropriate guidance on further implementation of the DND and ICPD-PA.

20. Twenty-one member States (including Botswana, Mauritius, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe from Southern Africa) attended the Follow-up Committee which is an open-ended Committee with core members of the Bureau of the Third African Population Conference consisting of:

Senegal - Chairperson

Egypt - First Vice-Chairperson

Kenya - Second Vice-Chairperson

Rwanda - First Rapporteur

Namibia - Second Rapporteur

21. The meeting was opened by the Mr. K.Y. Amoako, Under Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the ECA. Ms. Virginia Ofosu-Amaah, Director of the African Division at UNFPA headquarters in New York also addressed the meeting. Other opening remarks were made by the representatives of the African Population Commission, the OAU, the African Development Bank, and the Chairperson of the Follow-up Committee.

22. The meeting discussed the progress made towards achievements of the goals and targets without analysis of targets due to the short time frame in the implementation of the DND and ICPD-PA. It was felt that in the future, analysis of achievement of quantitative targets should be attempted. To do that, relevant data should be collected from the 2000 round of censuses as well as from surveys.

23. The outcome of the meeting was a set of recommendations for further implementation of the DND and ICPD-PA. The recommendations are addressed to member States, the civil society organizations, NGOs, the private sector, donors and the international community. These recommendations are reproduced as Annex II. All concerned are called upon to implement them for the achievement of the goals and objectives of the DND and ICPD-PA.

24. Member States in Southern Africa are making attempts to implement the DND and ICPD-PA. Policies were adopted in Malawi in 1994, Namibia 1997, South Africa 1998, Zimbabwe 1998. In Mauritius, the latest population policy was reported to have been formulated in 1992. Some of the countries which had adopted policies before the ICPD have, or are currently updating their policies. For example, Zambia has revised its policy to reflect emerging issues while Lesotho has indicated that it is going to review its policy to reflect concerns in the ICPD-PA. Similarly, Swaziland is in the process of formulating its policy, while draft policies have already been formulated in Angola and Mozambique. Efforts by the SAMCPD in Southern Africa with regard to the implementation of the DND and ICPD-PA are commendable and reflect commitment on population and development issues.

25. Member States in Southern Africa need to be supported financially and technically in their efforts in the implementation of their national population and development programmes and policies. Addressing population and development problems is essential towards attainment of the objectives of improving the living standards of the people and sustainable development.

26. The proposed policy framework on nexus issues need to receive attention as it is intended to facilitate the implementation of programmes on issues that are among the priorities for development in the region to combat poverty, and to attain sustainable development. Thus, resource mobilization for programme implementation, capacity building, institutional arrangements for policy and programme formulation as well as implementation and monitoring need to be given priority in further implementation of the DND and ICPD-PA. Governments commitment on population and development policies and programmes need to be translated into concrete actions. The international organizations, donor governments, the private sector and NGOs all need to redouble their efforts to provide assistance to African countries.

27. Member States, NGOs, the private sector, the civil society, the communities, the international organizations and donors should make every effort to implement recommendations by the Third Meeting of the Follow-up Committee on the DND and ICPD-PA.

Implementation of the recommendations on selected issues of the First SAMCPD as reported by the Second SAMCPD by

country in the SRDC-SA with some update since then wherever possible

Annex II

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE WAY FORWARD IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DND AND ICPD-PA, AS ADOPTED BY THE THIRD MEETING OF THE

FOLLOW-UP

Reproductive Health (RH) and Reproductive Rights (RR)

1. Further advocacy campaigns aimed at governments and the private sector should be undertaken in order to obtain more resources for RH. Cost recovery was also mentioned as a partial solution. However, the limited purchasing power of the majority of the population in most countries was noted; it was recommended that service fees should not constitute an obstacle to obtaining services for the poorer population.

2. All possible modalities to extend accessibility to RH services should be employed. Depending on national circumstances, this may include deployment of mobile service units, use of community-based agents and the construction of new health units, where possible, particularly in under-served areas. Existing facilities should be improved and/or enhanced.

3. An incremental approach to developing integrated RH/FP/SH services should be adopted which implies starting with those elements most responsive to national health priorities such as the HIV/AIDS prevention in order to eventually integrate all components of RH in the primary health care system.

4. Quality reproductive health services should be made accessible, including through the private sector. This would reduce the "patient load" burden on the public sector.

5. Parliamentarians, women's groups, other professional societies and NGOs should publicize and promote reproductive rights.

6. In the integration of RH services, HIV prevention and related services such as treatment of sexually transmitted infections should be prioritized. However, each country would

need to make its own decisions about the distribution of relatively scarce financial/human resources among such RH components as HIV prevention, STI treatment, FP, safe motherhood interventions, etc.

7. Priority should be given to programmes aimed at reaching children and adolescents with the information and services necessary to avoid infection. Approaches to reach the young, both in and outside schools should be emphasized.

8. In addition to funding for HIV prevention, donors should continue to invest in the search for effective vaccines and cures.

9. Accessibility to counselling and safe abortion, where legal should be improved and treatment for abortion complications provided.

Family, Youth and Adolescents

10. Promotion and implementation of socio-cultural research agenda that will lead to the formulation of appropriate policies and the design of effective and targeted interventions should be intensified.

11. Databases should be established to be used in classifying the different needs of children, youth and adolescent and designing appropriate research to address the gap.

12. Research should be expanded to identify the needs of parents, the sources of information of the youth and positive cultural values.

13. Parents, programme implementors, teachers and young people should be targeted for training in gender issues that will ensure effective and sustainable gender equality and equity.

14. IEC/Advocacy messages should be expressed in the context of health and developmental issues taking into account positive socio-cultural values.

15. IEC/Advocacy programmes should be linked to service delivery systems that are accessible and responsive to adolescent needs.

16. Inter-generational communication skills should be developed for the sensitization, education and/or training of parents to address the needs of adolescents.

17. HIV/AIDS education, fertility and family planning education should be effectively linked.

18. Life skills education should be incorporated in the IEC programmes in order to ensure positive behavioural change among the youth.

19. Adolescent RH programmes should be linked with income generation and employment schemes.

20. A body/forum should be created in countries to address various personal problems of adolescents. In addition, programmes addressing post crisis situation of adolescents should be designed and effectively implemented.

21. Country-level mechanisms should be created which will ensure the enforcement of various policies related to adolescents.

22. Life-enhancing family stability in which all members of the family (children, the aged and the disabled) have opportunities in life should be promoted.

23. The issues of the aged with respect to poverty should be addressed, particularly, on how this group is affected by HIV/AIDS when they take on the roles of the deceased members of the family.

24. The impact of political instability on the family, i.e. the refugee situation and internal displacement should be assessed.

25. All public and private health facilities should be made adolescent friendly and better able to meet the special RH needs of this age group.

26. Youth involvement in formulating, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes should be actively promoted to ensure the successful achievement of adolescent and development.

Gender, Equity, Empowerment of Women and Male Involvement

27. Countries which have not done so, are urged to ratify and implement the CEDAW Convention. Those that have already ratified, should ensure effective implementation of the Convention.

28. The role of the family in inculcating new gender values should be promoted and strengthened.

29. Studies should be commissioned into the current state of the family in African society taking into account the various transformations it has undergone in order to ensure family stability and other life-enhancing strategies.

30. More research studies should be commissioned on gender issues such as the image of women portrayed in the media and school curricula; violence in the family; discrimination against girls education; socio-cultural barrier to women's employment.

31. Mechanisms should be established and programmes developed for strengthening positive socio-cultural practices and eliminating negative and harmful practices.

32. Countries should give priority to the special needs and requirements of rural women in gender programmes.

33. Countries should ensure that the school curriculum and materials are made gender sensitive.

34. Countries should constantly exchange experience on all aspects of gender programmes; and

35. Countries should raise the level of formal education of females and males, where necessary, as a means and an end to tackle gender concerns.

Role of NGOs, the Private Sector and the Civil Society in Programme Implementation

36. National dialogues should be organized on the roles of NGOs and on their obligation to take account of national priorities, policies and sensitivities.

37. The legal, fiscal and regulatory frameworks in which NGOs implement programmes should be clarified on the basis of open and thorough discussions.

38. Country-level coordination mechanisms should be developed which are acceptable both to Governments and to NGOs.

39. Governments and NGOs should take advantage of their potential complementarity with respect to mobilizing resources-both domestically and internationally.

40. Agreement should be reached among the parties concerned on the roles of the private sector in strengthening population policies and programmes.

41. In order to encourage private enterprises and health care providers to contribute to implementations of population policies and programmes, clear and conducive legal fiscal and regulatory frameworks should be established.

42. There is need to draw attention to examples of private sector contributions to population programmes as these would indicate the scope in many countries for the private sector to complement activities implemented by Government.

43. The private sector, civil society and Government should collaborate in order to develop and implement new approaches to the mobilization of resources for population programmes, including the full range of reproductive health activities.

44. Transparency should involve not only finance but also programme concerns. It should be understood as an issue of cost effectiveness.

45. In order to ensure transparency and accountability, communities should be empowered to participate in monitoring NGO programmes.

46. National capacity building should include NGOs and the private sector.

47. Sustainability of programmes run by NGOs should be borne in mind. Hence, counterparts should always be sought before starting such programmes, particularly with regard to those run by International NGOs.

48. Governments and key elements of civil society should consult regularly - not only on special occasions.

49. Information and points of view regarding population policies and programmes should be exchanged on a regular basis between Governments on the one hand and elements of civil society on the other.

50. A wide range of contacts between Government and diverse elements of civil society should be encouraged. These should take place at different levels of Government, involve different technical specialities and take different forms.

51. Participation of civil society in population matters should not be limited to discussions of broad principles but should extend to considerations of population policies and programmes.

Population Policy and Development Strategies/Institutional Mechanisms/Subregional Institutions

52. Policies adopted should have clearly defined objectives and strategies in order to be effectively implemented. Those member States that have not adopted population policies are urged to do so.

53. Integrated approach to population, environment, agriculture, technology, etc., should be promoted in order to realize sustainable development.

54. The commitment of all actors in a society, the strengthening of the legislative action in population and development, strengthening of the institutional mechanisms and availability of services should be considered important factors for the successful implementation of population and development programmes.

55. Full involvement of the population at grassroots level and the NGO sector, including women's groups should be promoted at all levels of policy formulation and programme implementation.

56. Population policies should pay sufficient attention to the emerging demographic threats such as HIV/AIDS, impacts of wars and civil strife, etc.; the emerging reformed planning systems should be taken into account when integrating population factors into development plans; emphasis should also be given to capacity building at all levels and ways should be sought in order to minimize the problems of high turnover of staff; required population data as well as other socio-economic indicators should be made available routinely and timely.

57. With a view to developing long-term vision and perspective on development issues, member States are urged to undertake appropriate analysis and research. Based on the results of such analysis and research they are further urged to integrate population and other relevant variables into over-arching development strategies. Full use of national expertise and greater reliance on national resources are also strongly recommended.

58. Member States should ensure that coordination mechanisms have the authority and resources they require in order to carry out satisfactory their mandates.

59. The modalities of South-South Cooperation should be encouraged and promoted in the context of greater exchange of information, research and training between and among the countries of the region. Institutional mechanisms such as, Partners in Population and Development should be given all possible support in this context.

Institutional Mechanism for Implementation, Monitoring, Evaluation and Coordination

60. The recommendations suggested for eliminating constraints on these include:

National, Subregional and Regional Institutions

61. Regional Training Institutions should (i) continuously update training curricula to incorporate emerging issues and needs of member States; (ii) endeavour to reinforce closer collaboration between themselves and national training institutions to transfer skills and experience; and, (iii) diversify their funding sources and market their products in order to ensure their sustainability.

62. Member States should define training orientations for national, subregional and regional levels. Moreover, training in population should be assessed on the basis of projected personnel requirements and in light of the specific priorities and circumstances of the countries concerned.

63. The roles of national, subregional and regional training institutions should be determined in light of their comparative advantages and with a view to realizing the best possible synergy between these institutions. This would ensure collaboration and avoid competition. Further attention should be given to articulating a comprehensive and integrated network of regional training centres.

64. In order to ensure sustainability of subregional and regional institutions, member States are urged to fulfil their financial obligations on a regular and continuous basis.

Advocacy and IEC Strategies

65. Broad-based partnerships and pro-active consultation between government and NGOs, NGOs and NGOs, Donors and NGOs, and Government and Donors should be developed.

66. Resources from pubic, private-sector, civil society and donors should be mobilized for sustainability of advocacy and IEC programmes.

67. Conceptually, the future IEC/Advocacy strategies should emphasize logical step by step process, namely: Needs assessment through organized research, design, development including pretesting, development of implementation strategy, programme implementation, evaluation, expansion and replication.

68. Evaluation mechanisms to measure IEC and advocacy outcome and impact should be established.

69. Qualitative and quantitative data for development of indicators for IEC and advocacy should be collected, processed and disseminated timely.

70. International Organizations should support capacity building in the area of evaluation of communication programmes and activities.

71. Government should ensure that advocacy and IEC support the paradigm shift as outlined in the Programme of Action to go beyond reproductive health and include other development and environmental issues.

72. Network of communicators in Africa region through which there will be increased sharing of information and support materials should be established.

73. Subregional and Regional Institutions should include advocacy and gender dimensions in their training and research programmes.

74. Those concerned with IEC/Advocacy programmes are urged to ensure that appropriate research is undertaken for the development of IEC/Advocacy messages, with the full involvement and participation of all stakeholders and adequate attention to their social and cultural sensitivities.

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