THE NINTH SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF AFRICAN PLANNERS, STATISTICIANS, AND POPULATION AND INFORMATION SPECIALISTS MEETS IN ADDIS ABABA The Ninth Session of the Conference of African Planners, Statisticians, and Population and Information Specialists was held at ECA headquarters, Addis Ababa from 11-16 March 1996.

The conference was opened by Ms. Nancy Hafkin, Officer-in- charge of the Pan African Development Information System (PADIS), on behalf of Mr. K. Y. Amoako, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa. Attending the conference were representatives and observers from member states of the commission, from United Nations bodies and member states, the OAU, ECOWAS and UDEAC. Mr. Amoako introduced the major issues that the Conference was to address including energy development, the analytical framework for policy reform, addressing unabated population growth, implementation of regional and global population action programmes and challenges of the urban environment. Dakar/Ngor Declaration (DND) and the Cairo Programme of Action.

The secretariat presented a progress report on the implementation of the Dakar/Ngor Declaration and the Cairo Program of Action, explaining that the periodic reviews of the various Declarations on population and development planning call the attention of policy makers and programme implementers to the current status, trends, achievements, strategies and weaknesses in existing population programmes as well as the need to continue policy support to the programmes and to commit more resources to the efforts.

Given the limited time frame following the adoption of both development frameworks, the conference noted that, among other factors, the indicated attempts by member States at implementing the recommendations have been fostered by the challenge posed by high fertility together with increased commitment and positive perceptions of and attitudes towards population issues. However, such attempts have been hampered by the prevailing social and economic crisis and the associated declining budgetary provisions caused by structural adjustment programs and the continuing prevalence of socio-cultural attitudes and practices which impede effective implementation of population programs. Population Committee: A Study on Family Planning The paper entitled Perceptions on Family Planning in the Context of Socio-Economic and Cultural Values in Member States was discussed by the committee. It reviewed various factors that contributed to the general resistance to the acceptance of modern family planning in the 1960s and 1970s and the subsequent changing attitudes. It then discussed some of the obstacles to the implementation of family planning programmes and how these obstacles could be overcome. Assessment of Urban Environmental Problems and Policies in Selected ECA Member States The secretariat referred to the document entitled "An Assessment of Urban Environmental Problems and Policies in Selected ECA Member States .

The representative of the secretariat stated that the growth of urbanisation in African countries had profound consequences on the economies of African countries and the lives of city dwellers. He noted that the environmental problems at home, in the work place and neighbourhood included contaminated and inadequate quantities of water; inadequate provision for sanitary management and disposal of solid and liquid wastes and inadequate or prohibitive costs of health, educational and other social facilities.

Among the policies the secretariat discussed were those on institutions, management and demography. Population Activities The representative of the secretariat gave a brief account of the performance of ECA in population activities, the constraints faced and the prospects for the future. He announced the planned meeting of the Dakar/Ngor Follow-up Committee in co-ordination with the African Population Commission and explained the process of change taking place at ECA with the importance of Population stressed by the fact that its growth is seen to be driving a nexus that embodies also Environment, Food Security and Human Settlements. Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) Since its inception RIPS has operated within a University system, with regard to graduate studies, the character and standard of the syllabus, the standard of examination papers and other matters related to the awarding of degrees. Research has always played an important role in the training activities of RIPS: both staff and students undertake research activities.

Students have to satisfy all the M.A. degree requirements including submitting a dissertation of 20,000 words, while staff have carried out various researches in line with their own interests and expertise. Future activities of RIPS include the training of statisticians, demographers and population and development specialists to reorient their professional competence to the changing needs of member countries, the training at M.A. level of candidates from the new nations' such as Eritrea, Namibia and South Africa, and the continuation of collaboration between RIPS and the national training programmes. IFORD The director of IFORD reported on activities of the Institute. He indicated that its restructuring was completed in October 1994. Regarding training, IFORD has designed a new syllabus that went into implementation in October 1995, as a continuation of earlier changes, taking into account DND and ICPD.PA. It covers the MaŒtrise, the Dipl“me d'Etudes Specialis‚es, Dipl“me d'Etudes Approfondies and Doctorat. Most fellowships are now funded from national population programmes.

The last two batches of students comprised 23 and 29 students coming from 15 and 11 countries respectively. The secretariat, on behalf of the chairman of the Council, paid tribute to the former Directors of RIPS, Dr Patrick O.Ohadike and of IFORD, Dr Daniel M. Sala-Diakanda, respectively, for their management in leading the two institutes and for the scientific prestige gained by RIPS and IFORD. .

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