The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) together with the Ministry of Economy and Planning led a roundtable discussion on Population and Development on the 17th October, in Luanda, to reflect on the progress, challenges, and opportunities in the area of population and development.
The objective of the roundtable was to review the implementation of the Angola's population and development agenda and to identify commitments for the upcoming International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD Summit) which will take place in Nairobi from 12-14 November, to mark the 25th anniversary in Cairo.
Entities from the Ministry of Economy and Planning (MEP), Ministry of Social Action, Family and Women's Promotion (MASFAMU), Ministry of Youth and Sports (MINJUD), National Institute of Statistics (INE), National Directorate of Public Health (DNSP), Agostinho Neto University, as well as other various sectors of civil society actively participated in the roundtable discussion.
The Population and Development Roundtable was the third roundtable discussion held to support the development of the national commitments, after the 1st Gender Equality and Women Empowerment roundtable on 11th September and the 2nd Roundtable on Adolescents and Youth, on 25 September.
According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), Angola’s population is projected to reach 30 million by 2019 and the population growth rate is estimated at 3.1 per cent. At this population growth rate, Angola’s population is projected to double in twenty years. The participants of the roundtable recommended that such consultations are often to regard the engagements from the different stakeholders.
According to the UNFPA Representative in Angola, Dr. Florbela Fernandes: “In Nairobi, countries will take the opportunity to both renew and reinvigorate their national commitments to the ICPD agenda. Thus, the national commitments should trickle down to local commitments and actions".
Jesus Ramos, a journalist linked to ANASO (Angolan Network of Non-Governmental Organizations to Fight HIV/AIDS), Emércio dos Santos, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) activist of IRIS Association of Angola and Yolanda Miguel of the National Youth Council, also participated in the Roundtable discussion and will be attending the Nairobi Conference, representing Angola.
