Guidelines for Country Reports
Ten-year review and appraisal of the Dakar/Ngor Declaration and the ICPD Programme of Action
Introduction
1. The year 2004 will mark the tenth anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). As mandated by the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), will coordinate the preparation of the Africa regional evaluation report on ICPD+10 as Africa's input into the ICPD+10 global review. To this end, ECA convened the Fourth Meeting of the Follow-up Committee (Yaounde, 28-31 January 2002) and the Third Meeting of the Working Group (Dakar, 18-20 December 2002). These meetings made specific recommendations on the processes and modalities for the preparation of a Regional Evaluation Report (RER+10) which includes the completion of a country questionnaire and the preparation of a country report on the implementation of ICPD, by all African countries (ICPD+10).
2. As a follow-up to these recommendations, and in order to complement the UNFPA global questionnaire on ICPD+10, all African countries are invited to complete and return the ECA country questionnaire requesting information on the formulation, content and implementation of national population policies, for the appraisal of DND/ICPD. The ECA questionnaire thus complements the UNFPA Field Enquiry Questionnaire and seeks information on important issues and concerns included in the DND. In addition to this, country reports on the status of implementation of policies, programmes and legislation in the area of population and development in your country will be prepared for presentation by your representative at the ministerial level meeting on IDPD+10, scheduled for April 2004. Data and information contained in both the completed country questionnaires and the country reports will be used as input into RER+10, which is to be discussed at the Fifth Meeting of the Follow-up Committee that will also act as a technical preparatory meeting for the ministerial-level meeting.
3. The purpose of the country report is to review the population and development situation in the African countries based on the goals contained in the DND/ICPD and the ICPD+5 Key Actions. Moreover, it will examine country experiences, particularly the policy changes that have occurred since ICDP, document constraints encountered, success stories, priority issues and guide future directions for the further implementation of the DND/ICDP, in the following thematic areas identified by the Follow-up Committee and the Working Group:
- Poverty, population, environment and sustainable development;
- Gender equality, equity and empowerment of women;
- The family, its roles, rights, composition and structure;
- Children and youth;
- Reproductive rights and reproductive health;
- HIV/AIDS;
- Population distribution, urbanization, migration;
- Resource mobilization for the implementation of population policies and programmes.
4. For the sake of uniformity in scope and structure, the following outline and guidelines are suggested to member States for the preparation of their respective country report.
Executive summary (not exceeding 3 pages)
Section 1. Overview of the population and poverty situation and prospects
5. The section will briefly examine the demographic characteristics, review the prevailing socio-economic situation and describe the most important dimensions of poverty and the associated trends in the country. It will then highlight priority population issues relevant to the country in the context of alleviating poverty and improving the quality of life of the population.
6. Next, the section will underscore the efforts made to address the population factor in the process of development with a view to meeting the DND/ICPD and Millennium Development Goals which seek to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health and ensure environmental sustainability. The constraining factors will also be addressed. It will also discuss the efforts made by the country to promote a more equitable distribution of government resources and expenditures among various categories of the population. It will also examine measures taken to revive major economic activities.
7. Finally, the section will review the prospects for reductions in the components of population growth especially in relation to the determinants and impacts of such growth on the prospects for poverty reduction and sustainable development. It will conclude with policy and programme recommendations aimed at facilitating the socio-economic and demographic transition in the country.
Section 2. Gender equality, equity and development
8. The Section will discuss the actions taken to implement the numerous proposals made in the DND/ ICDP, Beijing Conference and ICPD+5 Key Actions which directly concern gender equality, equity and development. In particular, it will review the actions taken by the Government to empower women as both mothers and workers in all the economic sectors. Actions taken to improve women's status, as reflected in their legal rights, education, health, employment, position in the household and family decision-making power will be discussed and the importance of such actions as a prerequisite to a lasting decline in fertility and child and maternal mortality, will be emphasized.
9. Finally, the section will address the factors constraining progress in achieving the goals set in the area of gender equality, equity and development. In charting the way forward, the section will define the social strategies needed to (a) improve the status of women; (b) increase their independence; (c) assist women to generate income; (d) reduce inequalities and alleviate the various types of difficulties facing women; and, (e) encourage the participation of males in reproductive health in particular and in household activities.
Section 3. The family, its roles, rights, composition and structure
10. This section will review strategies, measures and actions taken to protect and support the families and their individual members, in the following three main areas:
(a) Demography: Measures and actions taken to influence marriage customs, desired family size, migrations strategies and to promote parent's responsibility to safeguard the health of their children; etc...
(b) Economy: Measures and actions taken to promote (a) traditional agricultural production; (b) informal sector comprising handicrafts and urban micro service enterprises where families are the main units of job creation; (c) training of youths to ensure their gainful employment; (d) creation of wealth and the distribution of goods among producers and non- producers; etc...
(c) Social sector: Measures and actions taken to ensure provision of (a) adequate social welfare system and health, housing, educational and administrative infrastructures; (b) efficient community structures; (c) more schools for children; (d) lucrative employment and improved access to health services; etc...
11. Finally the section will highlight current constraints and perceived opportunities in achieving the goals set by the DND/ICPD with respect to: (a) formulation of policies and laws that better support the family; (b) establishment of social security measures for reducing and alleviating various types of difficulties facing the families in childrearing; and, (c) promotion of equity and opportunity for family members, especially the rights of women ad children in the family,
Section 4. Children and youth
12. The section will: (a) underscore the efforts made by the Government to counteract the adverse effects of population growth and the economic crisis on children and adolescents; (b) report on the progress that have been achieved on measures taken to address the sexual and reproductive health needs and rights of adolescents and youths in the country; (c) discuss population education campaigns including sexual and health education, life skills education, inter-generational education, prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and other STDs ; and, (d) outline the progress made towards sex equality in all areas, particularly schooling and indicate measures taken to include population information in school curricula and to discourage, through appropriate information campaigns, early marriage of young girls, early sexual activity and childbearing among adolescents and youth.
13. The section will also discuss the difficulties and constraints that the country has faced in formulating and implementing special measures or programmes aimed at meeting the needs of adolescents and the youth. It will provide policy recommendations for addressing adequately these needs, including specific actions in favor of the youth, particularly groups such as: out-of-school urban youth, street children, fostered children, single young migrants girls in big cities.
14. Finally, the section it will identify approaches to involve adolescents and youth in programme planning and implementation and mechanisms to share best practices.
Section 5. Reproductive rights and reproductive health
15. The section will report on policies, strategies and actions taken at the national and district levels to implement the goal of the ICPD that all countries should, by the year 2015, make available universal access to a comprehensive reproductive health services including: (a) family planning information and services; (b) pre and post natal medical care; (c) prevention and management of complications of unsafe abortion and safe abortion services, where they are not against the law; (d) treatment of reproductive tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS; (e) active discouragement of harmful practices, (f) treatment for conditions of the reproductive system including breast and other cancers; (g) prevention and treatment of infertility and, (h) information and counselling on human sexuality, responsible parenthood and reproductive health.
16. Next, the section will review laws and procedures adopted and IEC/Advocacy strategies developed to promote reproductive rights, i.e., the right of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children, to have the information and means to do so, and the right to obtain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health care..
17. The section will finally address issues related to the integration of HIV/AIDS prevention programmes with reproductive health programmes, discuss the difficulties and constraints in addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents and youths, and provide policy recommendations for expanding and improving access to high quality reproductive health services.
Section 6. Demographic, economic and social impact of HIV/AIDS
18. The section will describe the HIV/AIDS situation in the country and address the demographic and socio-economic aspects of the pandemic. Issues to be addressed will include the following: impact of the disease on the health delivery systems and services; effects of very high mortality levels among certain categories of the population; the consequences of the weakening of the active segment of the population in certain countries, etc...
19. The section will also report on policy interventions and accomplishments in fighting against the HIV/AIDS pandemic in line with the commitments made in this respect at various fora including the African Summit on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases (Abuja, Nigeria, April 2001) and UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS (New York, June 2001). Specifically, the section will identify the strategies and programmes implemented successfully in the country, which can be used as best practices for: (i) decentralizing the fight against HIV/AIDS to involve traditional and community leaders at all levels including religious leaders; (b) designing and implementing information campaigns, education and communication for the population at risk, particularly adolescents; and, (e) providing social support for those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, especially the elderly and AIDS orphans
20. Finally, the section will address issues related to the integration of HIV/AIDS prevention programmes with reproductive health programmes. It will also specify the main challenges/difficulties/constraints being experienced by the country in pursuing a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS response so as to achieve the many targets set in the international initiatives against HIV/AIDS in Africa relating to prevention, care, support, treatment and impact alleviation, etc...
Section 7. Population distribution, urbanization and migration
21. The section will begin with a discussion on the pattern of urban transition, focusing on the growth and changing distribution of populations in the hierarchy of urban settlements. In this context, the section will discuss the impact of rapid rural-to-urban migration on urban infrastructures, such as meeting the needs of "floating" and homeless populations, internally displaced persons, disadvantaged groups, including women and children.
22. Next, the section will address issues related to international migration flows, particularly on the living conditions of migrants and refugees in receiving countries. Furthermore, it will discuss ways to mitigate the negative consequences of migration..
23. The section will also highlight possible future trends regarding urbanization and migration. Finally, drawing upon the various approaches that have been adopted to manage migration and population distribution, the section will make specific recommendations to the African countries.
Section 8. Resource mobilization for the implementation of population policies and programmes
24. The section will review and discuss the current situation and requirements for future financial assistance in the population field.
25. The section will also underscore the efforts made to mobilize resources and strengthen partnerships with NGOs, civil society and the private sector. It will then discuss the constraining factors and formulate policy recommendations on the way forward as regards mobilizing adequate levels and types of resources for the implementation of population and development policies and programmes.
How to send the report
26. The country report (one hard copy and a Word file on diskette) together with any accompanying relevant documents should be sent to the UNFPA Country Director, no latter than 30 June 2003, for onward transmission to:
THE DIRECTOR
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
ECA, P.O. BOX 3001
ADDIS-ABABA (ETHIOPIA)
FAX: 251-1- 510350/514416
27. Thank you for your co-operation.