In observance of  World Population Day on 11 July, UNFPA in partnership with the Ministry of Planning convened a gathering  the event at an of civil society and government representatives  to reflect on "30 years of the ICPD Programme of Action in the year of the Census in Angola".

In her speech, Hege Wagan, Acting Representative of UNFPA, highlighted the progress made and the existing challenges in areas such as gender equality, sexual and reproductive health, education and poverty reduction. 

"As custodian of the ICPD Programme of Action, UNFPA has been at the forefront of advocating and implementing policies and programmes that defend the rights and well-being of individuals and communities", she emphasised.

The Acting Representative reaffirmed UNFPA's commitment to the ICPD principles, emphasizing that this commitment must remain steadfast as we strive to fulfill the promises made to women, girls, and young people.

“In this context”, she continued, “the importance of accurate, timely, and disaggregated data cannot be overstated. This information is the cornerstone for formulating evidence-based policies and programs that ensure everyone is included in progress and development, “leaving no one behind”’.

(Hege Wagan, Acting Representative of UNFPA Angola)

Luís Epalanga, Secretary of State for Planning, stated that the Ministry of Planning and UNFPA had defined a Joint Action Plan to facilitate the development of the National Plan for Harnessing the Demographic Dividend in Angola. This plan will be based on the results of the 2024 General Population and Housing Census and the Multiple Health Indicator Survey. 

In this regard, he emphasised: "With the National Plan for Harnessing the Demographic Dividend in Angola, we are convinced that the country will strengthen the policy measures needed to face the challenges arising from a growing and mostly young population".

(Luís Epalanga, Secretary of State for Planning)

Academic José Ribeiro, delivered a keynote address, providing a comprehensive overview of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). He highlighted key advancements and presented UNFPA's reflections on the future of the ICPD agenda.

José Ribeiro also provided a historical background of Angola involvement in the ICPD Programme of Action, addressing the commitments, progress and challenges. 

(Academic José Ribeiro)

The Population Day celebration concluded with a panel discussion that brought together experts from diverse sectors to assess Angola's progress in fulfilling its ICPD commitments. The panel provided valuable insights into the successes and challenges experienced over the past three decades in implementing the ICPD Programme of Action in Angola. The panelists emphasized the importance of using the lessons learned over the past 30 years to inform future strategies and policies, ensuring continued progress. They also reaffirmed the centrality of data in identifying areas of progress, gaps, and disparities, and in informing targeted interventions to address specific needs.

Text and photo: Dorivaldo Caetano, Social Media Associate