REPORT ON THE REVIEW AND APPRAISAL OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DAKAR/NGOR DECLARATION AND THE ICPD PROGRAMME OF ACTION.

Fourth Meeting of the Follow-up Committee on the implementation of the DND and the ICPD-PA Yaounde, Cameroon 28-31 January 2002

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA
JOINT ECA/OAU/ADB SECRETARIAT IN COLLABORATION WITH UNFPA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION

II. FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DND/ICPD

III. EXPECTED OUTCOMES FROM THE FOURTH MEETING OF THE FOLLOW-UP COMMITTEE

I. INTRODUCTION

1. Since the last meeting of the Follow-up Committee (23-25 September 1998, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) many activities have been undertaken at the national, regional and global level towards reviewing the implementation of the recommendations of the Dakar/Ngor Declaration (DND) and the ICPD Programme of Action.

2. The paper will attempt to review these follow-up activities and summarise the main findings and recommendations from the ICPD+5 review process, including proposals for the preparation of the ten-year review and appraisal of the ICPD i.e. ICPD+10.

II. FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DND/ICPD

2.1 The First Meeting of the ECA Committee on Sustainable Development endorsed the Africa regional report on ICPD+5

3. The ECA secretariat, in close collaboration with major stakeholders, notably OAU, ADB and UNFPA, took the lead in the overall co-ordination and preparation of the in-depth assessment of African experiences on the implementation of the Dakar/Ngor Declaration and the Programme of action of the International Conference on Population and Development (document FSSDD/ICPD/FC.3/99/6).

4. As agreed at the third Meeting of the Follow-up Committee, the African regional report on ICPD+5 is a synthesis of assessments by the sub-regional population and development institutions, completed questionnaires received from 41 countries, sub-regional reports provided by the UNFPA-Country Support Teams (CSTs) and reports of two ECA-sponsored field missions to twelve African countries1.

5. The report was extensively reviewed and endorsed, during a special session devoted to ICPD+5 event, by representatives of African Governments who attended the First Meeting of the ECA Committee on Sustainable Development held in Addis Ababa, in January 1999. Following the review, the meeting also made recommendations for the way forward.

6. The regional report documents experiences, particularly the main achievements including policy changes that have occurred since ICDP, constraints encountered and success stories in the following key programme areas: (i) Institutional mechanisms for co-ordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of population programmes; (ii) Reproductive health including family planning and sexual health, reproductive rights, HIV/AIDS; (iii) Gender equality, equity, empowerment of women and male involvement; (iv) Advocacy and IEC strategies; (v) Forging partnerships with the NGOs, civil society and private sector.

7. In charting the way forward on population and development in Africa in the 21st Century, the assessment argues that the most important policy issues for the region were related to strengthening support for policy development and programming of HIV/AIDS prevention and related services. Governments and the international community should, therefore, make HIV/AIDS prevention and control in the region a priority at the highest political level.

8. The Africa regional report further recommended that the centrality of achieving family values should be the basis for development. In this regard, given the extreme poverty which face many families in Africa, women and adolescents should be provided with income-generating opportunities so they can cope with poverty and hence be empowered to address sexual and reproductive health issues. Appropriate population and development policies should be formulated and adopted and effective and targeted interventions intensified in regard to adolescents and youth in all aspects of reproductive health programming. Moreover, the issue of conflicts and political instability in the region should be given more prominence in analyzing the various transformations the African families have undergone.

9. Also the assessment recommended that the role of NGOs, civil society and the private sector should be better recognized and increased in addressing population concerns. Accordingly, Governments, as well as NGOS, civil society and the private sector, should increase IEC/advocacy activities that mobilize support for integrated RH, women's empowerment and economic, environmental and other social welfare programmes. Appropriate research should, therefore, be undertaken for the development of IEC/Advocacy messages with the full involvement and participation of all stakeholders.

10. Governments and their partners in the development process (bilateral and multilateral donors, international organizations, NGOs, civil society and the private sector) are also urged to help in allocating the level of resources required for the full implementation of the DND and ICPD recommendations.

2.2 The Hague Forum undertook the operational review and appraisal of the implementation of the ICPD recommendations

11. Towards an input into the ICPD+5 review, UNFPA organized an International Forum for the operational review and appraisal of the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action. The Forum, hosted by the Government of the Netherlands, took place in The Hague, from 8 to 12 February 1999. The Hague Forum was preceded by three other international gatherings on ICPD also held in The Hague: the Parliamentarians' Forum (4-6 February), the NGO Forum and the Youth Forum (6-7 February). These meetings have included many stakeholders - government officials, parliamentarians, non-governmental organizations, youth and private foundations - and have led to a sharing of the lessons learned during the five years of experience in implementing the ICPD Programme of Action.

12. The Forum was attended by Ministers and high officials from 177 countries and territories, experts in population and development and representatives of international organizations, United Nations organizations, specialized agencies, treaty bodies, regional commissions, parliamentary groups, non-governmental organizations, youth groups and foundations.

13. The document prepared by UNFPA served as a background document to aid the discussions on the implementation of the ICPD recommendations i.e. successes, lessons and constraints. It is a compilation of the information obtained throughout the process of the five-year review, from round tables, technical meetings, United Nations Regional Commissions reviews, field inquiry and other studies from both Governments and NGOs.

14. The document focuses on the following five substantive themes that were considered in the Main Committee during the Forum: (i) creating an enabling environment for further implementation of the ICPD-PA; (ii) reproductive health, including family planning and sexual health and reproductive rights; (iii) gender equality, equity and empowerment of women; (iv) strengthening partnerships and, (v) resource flows and financing for implementation of the ICPD-PA.

15. Recurring themes during the Forum included the need for a multi-sectoral approach to population issues, financial constraints that have hampered developing country capacity to implement the ICPD-PA, and the need for donor countries and organizations to increase their level of support.

2.3 The United Nations General Assembly special session on ICPD+5 adopted key actions for the further implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action

16 The United Nations General Assembly special session (UNGASS) on ICPD+5was convened on 30 June-02 July 1999 in New York to analyze the operational experience at the country level and determine progress made and constraints faced in the implementation of the Programme of Action. The review process involved all partners in the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action, including programme countries, donor countries, the United Nations System, representatives of civil society, NGOs and the private sector. The 177 Member States participating in the special session adopted by consensus the final document on proposals for --Key actions for the further implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development - (document A/S-21/5/Add.1).

17. The comprehensive document adopted at the UNGASS affirms that the Programme articulated a comprehensive approach to issues of population and development and identified demographic and social goals to be achieved over a 20-year period. It also reflected the view that an early stabilization of the world population would make a crucial contribution to realizing the objective of sustainable development.

18. It states that the five-year review of progress showed that the implementation of the Conference's recommendations had had positive results. Many countries have taken steps to integrate population concerns into their development strategies. In addition, many civil society organizations are contributing to the formulation and implementation of policies, programmes and projects on their own or in partnerships with governmental and intergovernmental organizations, as well as with the private sector.

19. However, the document shows that, in some countries and regions, including Africa, progress has been limited. Some of the major limitations findings of the review process include the following: financial constraints; lack of access to appropriate information and services for young people; weak political commitment to adolescents' rights and to reproductive health; worsening of the HIV/AIDS situation; persistence of unsafe abortion.

20. Based on the main findings of the review process, the final document adopted by

the UNGASS outlines key future actions needed to achieve the goals and objectives agreed to at the ICPD in the following five substantive sections: (i) population and development concerns; (ii) gender equality, equity and empowerment of women; (iii) reproductive rights and reproductive health; (iv) partnerships and collaboration; (v) mobilizing resources.

21. In the area of population and development, the final document requests Governments to create, in cooperation with the international community, enabling conditions that will enable developing countries to achieve sustained economic growth and to establish the means for managing resource flows. In this regard, developing countries should be helped to eradicate poverty by ensuring an open, equitable international trading system, by encouraging direct investments, by cutting debts, and by ensuring that structural adjustment programmes respond to social and environmental concerns.

22. Concerning resource mobilization, it was recommended that both donors and developing countries should fulfill their funding commitments. International population assistance was just over 38 per cent of the $5.7 billion target agreed on at the Conference as the international community's share in financing the Programme of Action by the year 2000. The lack of funding remains one of the chief constraints to the full implementation of the Programme of Action.

23. Governments are also requested to commit themselves, at the highest levels, to HIV/prevention, improve care for HIV-infected persons and work to mitigate the impact of the AIDS epidemic. They should also initiate urgent action against the HIV/AIDS epidemic and invest in prevention and treatment. Greater efforts should be made to combat sexual violence, which threatens girls' and women's human rights and put them at the risk from sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS.

24. In the area of gender equality and the empowerment of women, the final document recommends that a gender perspective should be incorporated in all development initiatives, and health sector reforms must accord priority to gender-sensitive reproductive health services. Actions should be taken to eliminate negative traditional, religious and cultural attitudes and practices that subjugate women and reinforce gender inequality. The impact on women of globalization of the economy and of the privatization of social and health sectors must be monitored, and specific mitigating measures adopted, especially for the poor;

25. In the area of youth and adolescents, it is agreed that national plans for investing in young people should be developed and implemented with the full involvement of adolescents. Such plans should include education, professional and vocational training, income-generating opportunities, and sexual and reproductive health information and services. Special attention should be given to gender equality and equity and to youth disadvantaged by poverty, race, ethnicity, residence or disability.

2.4 The Second Meeting of the Working Group for the follow-up to the DND/ICPD made proposals for ICPD+10 review in Africa region

26. At the Second Meeting of the Working Group for the follow-up to the DND and the ICPD Programme of Action (Dakar, Senegal, 14-16 June 2000), representatives from ECA, OUA, ADB, UNFPA and African sub-regional institutions and centres on population and development reviewed the main findings and recommendations from the ICPD+5 review process and made proposals for the ten-year-review and evaluation process in Africa.

27. These proposals are related to the themes to be covered by the ten-year review and evaluation of the implementation of ICPD in Africa, the issues to be addressed in each thematic area, the type of evaluation to be used and the partnership.

28. The meeting suggested that the ten-year review process in the Africa region should focus on the following five main thematic areas: (i) Poverty and demographic changes; (ii) HIV/AIDS; (iii) Youth; (iv) Migrations; (v) Gender. The following main issues should be addressed in each of the five thematic areas:

(i) Poverty and demographic changes :

(ii) HIV/AIDS :

(iii) Youth :

(iii) Migrations:

(iv) Gender :

29. As regard to the evaluation, the meeting recommended that both quantitative and qualitative aspects should be evaluated during the process. The quantitative evaluation should be based on the analysis of completed country questionnaires assessing progress made in country implementation of the DND and the recommendations contained in the final document on the key actions. The qualitative evaluation should use information contained in the country reports which will be prepared by country experts using guidelines provided by ECA /FSSDD.

30. Concerning partnership, the meeting recommended that the Joint Secretariat should involve NGOS, IGOs, sub-regional economic communities in the evaluation process and make use of existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between members of the Joint Secretariat and other institutions to complement different areas of intervention.

2.5 The Thirty-fourth session of the Commission on Population and Development reviewed the recommendations of the ICPD

31. The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) held its thirty-fourth regular session at UN Headquarters on 2-6 April 2001. During the session, the Commission's deliberations centred on the critical exploration of the linkages between population, environment and development. The Commission also reviewed the recommendations of the ICPD and discussed the possible options for ICPD+10 at the global level. In this regard, the Commission considered the following recommendations made by the Bureau at its inter-sessional meeting held at Nairobi on 27-28 September 20002 :

32. The Commission on Population and Development, however, could not agree neither on the draft resolution on the 10-year review of the ICPD in 2004 nor on the other resolution on financial resources for the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action. The main points of contention at the meeting were on the possible options for ICPD+10, the focus of the review and the increase of the level of funding from the private sector. It was decided to continue the consultations on the issue of the 10-year review in order to agree on the modalities for the review and appraisal in 2004 of the further implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action.

III. EXPECTED OUTCOMES FROM THE FOURTH MEETING OF THE

FOLLOW-UP COMMITEE

33. In order to update the work already done, ECA secretariat and major stakeholders including OAU,ADB and UNFPA, will continue to monitor country implementation of the recommendations of the DND/ICPD and the key actions adopted at the UNGASS. Although at the global level, the comprehensive 10-year review and appraisal of ICPD has yet to be formaly agreed upon, it is anticipated that it will soon be put on the international agenda, for implementation.

34. The fourth meeting of the Follow-up Committee is, therefore, invited to pay particular attention to issues and recommendations emanating from ICDP+5 review process in order to come out with guidelines and proposals for the further monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action in Africa region. Therefore, the meeting is, among others, expected to discuss and give orientations and guidelines on:

35. The meeting may also wish to deliberate and decide on the relevance of the Dakar/Ngor Declaration for the coming decade. The Declaration was adopted in 1992 at the Third African Population Conference as the African common position at the ICPD. Accordingly, the DND was conceived as Africa region input into the ICPD and Africa's concerns on population and development issues were indeed taken into account in the Programme of Action adopted in Cairo in 1994. Given the fact that the ICPD Programme of Action identified demographic and social goals to be achieved over a much longer period than in the DND and the recently adopted key actions for the further implementation of the Programme of Action, future reference to the DND may be questionable.

36. Moreover, given the theme of the meeting, the Committee is also expected to discuss the population perspectives in the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) in order to provide guidance that would facilitate the preparation of an explicit and well defined population and development component for submission to the consideration of the NEPAD Secretariat.

1 Uganda, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, Lesotho, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Senegal

2 Report of the Bureau of the Commission on Population and Development on its inter-sessional meeting, held at Nairobi on 27 and 28 September 2000, E/CN.9/2001/CRP.1