The Board Member warmly welcomed the Executive Director and reaffirmed Uganda’s strong commitment to PPD and the Africa Regional Office. He emphasized the centrality of the African region in global population and development challenges and the importance of equipping ARO with greater capacity and support to sustain regional leadership.

Discussions highlighted key areas for collaboration, including governance reforms, increased membership contribution regularity, resource mobilization, staff structures, and strategic program expansion. Prof. Adelegan pledged to leverage his global expertise and networks to strengthen financial and programmatic delivery for PPD.

At the National Planning Authority offices, the Uganda PCC praised ARO’s productivity and reiterated ongoing country support while calling for enhanced Secretariat backing to expand continental impact. He committed to pursuing national processes to ensure Annual Membership Contributions are secured and arrears cleared.

The mission reinforced Uganda’s leadership role within PPD and generated momentum for governance, financing, and program development ahead of upcoming Executive Committee meetings.

The visit aimed to strengthen coordination between the PPD Secretariat and its Africa hub, review ongoing regional programs, and reinforce operational alignment with PPD’s governance and policy frameworks.

During the engagement, the Acting Regional Director, Mr. Patrick Mugirwa, briefed the Executive Director on ARO’s program activities, achievements, resource challenges, staffing needs, and partnerships within the continent. Flagship platforms such as NEAPACOH, EARHN, Regional Collaborative Platform (RCP), and the network of African PCCs were discussed as critical continental assets for advancing South–South Cooperation.

Professor Adelegan commended the team for sustaining high-impact work despite limited resources and reaffirmed PPD’s commitment to strengthening operational systems, policy adherence, communication pathways, digital visibility, and Secretariat–ARO structural integration. He also supported proposals for staff grade alignment and career progression to match PPD organizational frameworks.

The mission concluded with agreements to enhance reporting efficiency, streamline policy compliance, expand fundraising capacity, and improve Secretariat–ARO coordination, ensuring “PPD operates as one global organization with one voice.”

Professor Adelegan delivered Opening Remarks, Welcome Remarks, and a Keynote Presentation, reflecting PPD’s global leadership in advancing South–South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) in population, reproductive health, demographic resilience, and sustainable development across Member States.

Highlights of ED Interventions

Opening Remarks:

He emphasized the transformative demographic shifts shaping Africa and Asia, the importance of rights-based sexual and reproductive health (SRH), and the need for investment in universal health coverage and youth empowerment.

–  Click here read the Opening Remarks

Welcome Remarks:

Professor Adelegan underscored PPD’s role as the only intergovernmental alliance dedicated to promoting South–South cooperation in population and development, while highlighting the centrality of PPD Dhaka as the global coordination hub.

–  Click here read the Welcome Remarks

Keynote Presentation:

He presented strategies for unlocking demographic dividends in PPD Member Countries through innovative financing, catalytic investment, integrated SRH, capacity strengthening, and demographic intelligence systems.

–  Click here see the presentation

Strengthening Africa–China Cooperation

The event brought together ministers, senior government officials, researchers, development organizations and multilaterals to discuss shared frameworks for:

• Harnessing demographic transitions for development
• Strengthening health systems and Universal Health Coverage
• Linking labour market transitions to the demographic dividend
• Expanding evidence-based policy and data-driven programming
• Advancing South–South and Triangular Cooperation

PPD congratulates all partners for a successful convening and reaffirms its commitment to working with China, Kenya, and other Member States to deepen collaboration, accelerate policy reforms, and drive measurable impact for population and health outcomes globally.

Mr. Zambuko’s commitment to advancing South-South Cooperation in population and development have left a lasting impact on the PPD family and all who had the privilege of working with him.

During his tenure, he upheld the values and vision of PPD. His contributions will always be remembered with the highest respect.

We extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Zambuko’s family, colleagues, and loved ones during this difficult time.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Partners in Population and Development (PPD)
Dhaka, Bangladesh

It was the first Executive Committee Meeting organized by PPD’s new Executive Director, Professor Joseph Akinkugbe Adelegan, who assumed office in early October 2025. It was also the first formal gathering of the newly elected Executive Committee members, symbolizing a renewed phase of leadership, collaboration, and strategic direction for PPD.

The meeting was chaired by Professor Mohamed Douagi, Chair of the PPD Board from Tunisia. In his opening remarks, he emphasized the importance of unity among member countries, a renewed commitment to South-South Cooperation, and the need for innovative solutions to address reproductive health, family planning, and population development challenges across PPD’s membership.

The following Executive Committee Members or their representatives participated in the meeting:

• Mohamed Douagi, Chair, PPD Board; President Director General, National Board for Family and Population, Ministry of Health, Tunisia
• E. Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, Vice-Chair, PPD Board; Honourable Minister of Health and Child Care, Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe
• Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh, Secretary, PPD Board; Federal Secretary Health, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Government of Pakistan
• Mohamed A. Sheikh, Board and Executive Committee Member, PPD; Director General, National Council for Population and Development (NCPD), Kenya
• M. Ahsanul Aziz, Joint Secretary and Head, Budget Wing, Medical Education and Family Welfare Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
• Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Board Member, PPD; Honourable Minister of Health, Government of the Republic of The Gambia
• Hamis Mugendawala, Senior Manager, Population and Social Development Planning Department, National Planning Authority (NPA), Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Government of the Republic of Uganda; PCC of Uganda
• Tran Thi Quynh Mai, Officer, International Cooperation Division, VNPA, Ministry of Health, Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
• Joseph Akinkugbe Adelegan, Executive Director, Partners in Population and Development (PPD)

During the meeting, the Chair commended members for their active engagement and reaffirmed the collective commitment to advancing PPD’s mission and vision. The Vice-Chair expressed appreciation to the Executive Committee Members in a concluding vote of thanks, acknowledging their dedication to strengthening South-South Cooperation and promoting shared development priorities.

The event concluded with a group photograph, symbolizing unity, renewed leadership, and a shared commitment to accelerating progress in reproductive health, family planning, and population development across PPD member countries.

The delegation was led by PPD’s Executive Director, Professor Joseph Akinkugbe Adelegan, alongside PPD Executive Committee Members:

• Professor Mohamed Douagi, Chair of the PPD Board and President Director General, National Board for Family and Population, Tunisia
• H.E. Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, Vice-Chair of the PPD Board and Minister of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe
• Mr. Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh, Secretary of the PPD Board and Federal Secretary of Health, Pakistan
• Dr. Mohamed A. Sheikh, Treasurer of the PPD Board and Director General, National Council for Population and Development (NCPD), Kenya
• Dr. Ayman Abdelmohsen, Chief of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Branch, UNFPA

In his opening remarks, Professor Mohamed Douagi expressed profound appreciation for UNFPA’s continuous support and emphasized the importance of further strengthening the alliance to enhance visibility, drive innovation, and deepen member countries’ engagement. He underscored the need to translate strategic commitments into impactful actions that advance reproductive health, family planning, and population development goals.

Professor Joseph Adelegan, the Executive Director of PPD, reaffirmed his commitment to revitalizing the organization’s mandate in South-South Cooperation. He highlighted the importance of action-oriented programming and close alignment with UNFPA’s global priorities to maximize collective impact.

UNFPA Executive Director Ms. Diene Keita congratulated Professor Adelegan on his appointment and reiterated UNFPA’s strong commitment to enhancing collaboration with PPD. She emphasized the centrality of population and development in the mandates of both organizations and called for renewed political commitment, deeper cultural understanding, and strategic planning to advance shared objectives.

Ms. Keita also stressed the importance of developing a joint roadmap focusing on sustainable financing for women’s health, knowledge exchange among member states, and strengthening national and regional capacities through South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

Both organizations reaffirmed their shared vision to enhance solidarity among member states and accelerate progress toward the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to scale up collaborative initiatives and further leverage South-South Cooperation to address global population and development challenges.

The meeting focused on two major agenda items:

1. Appointment of the new Executive Director of PPD

2. Election of the new Executive Committee Members

These decisions mark a significant step forward in PPD’s governance and strategic direction, strengthening its role in advancing South-South Cooperation in population and development.

[Click here to see the newly elected Executive Committee Members]

As part of the data collection phase, PPD is currently working in the Kingdom of Morocco in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection. The study aims to assess existing national health strategies and identify opportunities to embed SSC principles for improved implementation and coordination.

Key objectives of the consultancy include:

• Assessing national health strategies to identify SSC integration opportunities;
• Identifying international best practices for integrating population data and SSC;
• Documenting successful models for institutionalizing SSC in health strategies;
• Developing a roadmap for SSC integration, including actionable steps, timelines, and responsible stakeholders;
• Providing technical support to strengthen institutional capacity for SSC implementation.

The initiative targets twelve PPD member countries: Bangladesh, Indonesia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Uganda, Nigeria, India, Morocco, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, and Kenya.

In Morocco, data collection is currently underway (18–25 May 2025) with the support of H.E. Mr. Amine TEHRAOUI, Minister of Health and Social Protection and PPD Board Member; Dr. Yahyane Abdel Hakim, Director of Population and PPD Partner Country Coordinator; and Dr. Abdellah Taleb, PPD Focal Person at the Ministry.

Mr. Fethi Ben Messaoud, serving as the consultant for this study, and Ms. Tahrima Khan, Senior Program Officer of PPD, are actively participating in the data collection process in Morocco.

PPD is engaging key stakeholders through interviews with national and international organizations, including JICA, the World Bank, UNFPA, WHO, UNICEF, the Moroccan Association for Family Planning, Ecole Nationale de Santé Publique, Islamic Development Bank, Maternité des Orangers, Institut Pasteur (virtual), and AMCI. A national-level workshop is also being organized to validate and enrich the findings.

This collaborative effort marks a significant step towards mainstreaming South-South Cooperation into health sector planning and implementation across PPD member countries.

Meeting with JICA Morocco Ms. Komazaki Marico, Representante Residente Adjointe, Ms. Chahir Samira, Program Officer, JICA

Meeting with World Bank, Ms. Ellen Van De Poel, Senior Economist, Middle East and North Africa Region

Meeting with IPPF, Pr. Abdellatif Maamri, Executive Director

Meeting with PCC, Dr. Abdelhakim Yahyane, Director of Population, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Morocco

Implemented in six Upazilas across Gazipur and Manikganj districts, the project—generously supported by China Aid—made a substantial impact on enhancing maternal health services. It contributed to building the capacity of frontline health professionals and improving care for pregnant mothers in Bangladesh.

The signing ceremony was attended by distinguished representatives including Mr. Song Yang, Counselor, and Mr. Shi Cheng, First Secretary of the Chinese Embassy; Mr. Md. Mahbub Alam, Additional Secretary, Medical Education & Family Welfare Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh, and Partner Country Coordinator (PCC) of PPD; Ms. Sainy Azeez, Senior Assistant Secretary of the same Division; and PPD staff members including Dr. Nazrul Islam, Acting Officer-in-Charge of PPD; Mr. Khandaker Humayun Kabir, IT Manager; Mr. Mrityunjoy Das, Senior Admin Officer; Ms. Tahrima Khan, Senior Program Officer and Project Manager; and Ms. Jerin Tasneem Jyoti, Executive Assistant. The certificate was formally signed between Mr. Song Yang and Dr. Nazrul Islam. Ms Tahrima Khan as Project Manager of this project has presented the project’s key achievements. In her presentation she mentioned that this project initiative made significant contributions through the development of a comprehensive training module, handbook, and multimedia courseware with support from NRIFP (China) and DGFP (Bangladesh); specialized training for 270 health professionals on PPH prevention and the use of misoprostol; and education of 300 pregnant women and their close relatives—an innovative approach that empowered communities. Approximately 61,000 boxes of misoprostol and 20,000 postnatal kits were distributed via the DGFP supply chain. Local government representatives, including Members of Parliament, participated in awareness sessions, while 50 senior administrators received their first orientation on PPH. Satellite-level training was conducted across 56 Unions, and advocacy/IEC materials—including a jointly developed drama-video—were adopted by the government for use in health facilities.

An independent evaluation study confirmed the intervention’s safety, effectiveness, and feasibility, citing a 25–47% reduction in PPH cases and a sharp increase in health worker knowledge, with post-training scores rising from 48.0 to 79.7. Following an external audit, the final report and financial closure were approved by China Aid and the Chinese Embassy. In recognition of its success, the Government of Bangladesh issued a certificate of appreciation to the Government of China and recommended the national scale-up of the intervention.

This successful project not only demonstrates the tangible impact of collaborative South-South efforts but also paves the way for future opportunities. It reaffirms PPD’s strategic role in fostering development cooperation among the Global South. With continued support from the Government of China, PPD is now well-positioned to expand its initiatives, scale successful interventions, and deepen partnerships for sustainable development and improved health outcomes worldwide.

Mr. Mahbub Alam, Additional Secretary, MoHFW referred that President Xi Jinping in his speech during the meeting with Bangladesh Interim Government Head and the Nobel Laurate Professor Dr. Mohammed Yunus said China maintains a high degree of stability and continuity in its good neighbor and friendly policy toward Bangladesh, and continues to be a trustworthy neighbor, friend and partner of Bangladesh which is an opportunity for us to collaborate each other to address critical challenges like reducing maternal mortality to 70 by 2030 as per SDGs goal 3. Mr Alam also said that the SSCAF project was successfully implemented in 6 Upazilas of 2 Districts: Manikganj (Manikganj Sadar, Saturia, Ghior, and Harrirampur) and Gazipur (Kaliganj and Kaliakair) in Bangladesh. As piloting of the project, PPD has succeed to make changes with impact in project areas and they have developed skilled, knowledge and experiences which they can utilize now to implement such project in other districts of Bangladesh and any other member countries of PPD. Mr. Alam strongly recommended as high-level government officials to expand the project activities from these 2 districts to other districts and PPD member countries.

Ms. Sainy Azeez, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Division stated that though Bangladesh is committed to reduce maternal mortality however, it has lack of capacity to address such a critical problem as approximately 14 mothers die each day in Bangladesh due to pregnancy complications. The main reasons for these deaths are hemorrhage, eclampsia, and obstructed or delayed deliveries. The Chinse project support directly benefited to pregnant mother health and the collogues from the Embassy of China in Dhaka may support PPD to expand the project in other districts as well as to other countries where similar problems existed.

In conclusion, on request of Bangladesh Government represented by Mr Mahbub Alam, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Counselor of China Embassy Mr. Song Yang agreed that PPD may submit the proposal endorsing from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to scaling-up the project in other Districts of Bangladesh. The Embassy will forward to the proposal to the China International Development Cooperation Agency which is the main responsible authority to approve the project. Mr. Song Yang also said that his government is committed to support people of Bangladesh.

• Project Completion Report – South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund Project – “Prevention of Postpartum Hemorrhage for Reducing Maternal Mortality in Bangladesh” – 2024

]]> http://www.partners-popdev.org/ppd-and-chinese-embassy-mark-sscaf-project-completion-with-certificate-signing-ceremony-on-22nd-april-2025/feed/ 0 http://www.partners-popdev.org/ministerial-level-side-event-on-population-health-and-environment-phe-held-by-ppd-ncpd-kenya-afidep-and-undesa-during-the-58th-session-of-the-commission-on-population-and-development-cpd58-u/ http://www.partners-popdev.org/ministerial-level-side-event-on-population-health-and-environment-phe-held-by-ppd-ncpd-kenya-afidep-and-undesa-during-the-58th-session-of-the-commission-on-population-and-development-cpd58-u/#comments Thu, 10 Apr 2025 10:33:15 +0000 http://www.partners-popdev.org/?p=5920 ...]]> The 58^th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD58) is being held from 7 to 11 April 2025 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, under the overarching theme: “Ensuring Healthy Lives and Promoting Well-being for All at All Ages.” In alignment with this year’s theme, Partners in Population and Development (PPD), in collaboration with the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD), Kenya, successfully co-organized a high-level side event on 8 April 2025 titled, “Integrating Population, Health and Environment (PHE): A Catalyst for Ensuring Healthy Lives and Well-being for All.” The event was also supported by UNDESA, the Centre for the Study of Adolescents (CSA) Kenya, and the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP).

The PHE approach is rooted in the principles of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action (PoA) which emphasizes the need to address the complex interplay between population, health, and sustainable development to improve quality of life for all. It advocates for universal access to sexual and reproductive health services, gender equality, and the sustainable management of natural resources to advance human well-being.

This side event was organized to showcase Country level PHE integration best practices and identify actionable strategies to promote this approach. It aimed to explore how best PHE programmes can contribute to ICPD agenda and strengthen global efforts to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all while conserving the environment to avert the effects of climate change.

The event brought together ministers, policymakers, technical experts, and development partners to explore integrated approaches that bridge the intersections of population dynamics, health systems, and environmental sustainability.

The side event featured a dynamic panel discussion of high-level leaders and technical experts representing The Gambia, Kenya, Bangladesh, Malawi, Mexico, UNDESA, and other partners.  The event officially opened by Dr. Mohamed Sheikh, Director General of NCPD Kenya and the honorable Executive Committee Member of the PPD Board.

The session highlighted inspiring country-level experiences from The Gambia, Bangladesh, Malawi, and Kenya, illustrating how integrated approaches to population, health, and environment (PHE) can drive progress toward inclusive and sustainable development. The panelists included Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Minister of Health of The Gambia; Mr. Shelton Kanyanda, Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Statistics for Malawi; Mr. John Wilmoth, Director of the Population Division at UN DESA; Dr. Md. Sarwar Bari, Secretary of the Medical Education and Family Welfare Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh; Dr. Humphres Evelia, Executive Director of the Centre for the Study of Adolescents (CSA), Kenya; and Mr. Ken Lwaki, Assistant Director of Population at NCPD Kenya and National Focal Point for PHE and ICPD Follow-up.

In addition to the panelists, the event was attended by several notable dignitaries, including Dr. Habibatu Drammeh, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education of The Gambia; Professor Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, Honarable Special Assistant, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh and Ambassador Yabesh, whose presence underscored the high-level political commitment to advancing the PHE agenda.

The side event has generated several impactful outcomes that have reaffirmed the value of integrated approaches in advancing global development priorities. Furthermore, the successful integration of PHE best practices from countries such as The Gambia, Bangladesh, Malawi, and Kenya has provided valuable insights to support Kenya’s ongoing efforts to establish a Centre of Excellence on Population and Development (CoE). This proposed CoE has aimed to serve as a regional hub for promoting knowledge exchange, innovation, and context-specific solutions to sustainable development challenges, grounded in the principles of South-South Cooperation. The initiative has contributed to building regional capacities and fostering partnerships that are responsive to diverse socio-economic and ecological realities.

This high-level engagement reaffirmed PPD’s continued commitment to supporting its member states and global partners in advancing inclusive, evidence-based, and people-centered policies that drive health, well-being, and sustainable development for all.

Delegates from Bangladesh, Kenya and the Gambia have come together with one umbrella commitment to address PPD’s current challenges urgently and ensure the sustainability of PPD for the vested interest of the people’s of the PPD countries.

Few moments from the event –

:: Download the Report