New Delhi, India — India is to host, PPD’s 11th International -inter ministerial conference on Population and Development, with the theme , “South-South Cooperation for investing for ‘demographic dividend’ in the post ICPD/ MDG Development frameworks”.
Dr. Joe Thomas, Executive Director of PPD with Honourable Chair of PPD H.E. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Government of India
Executive Director Dr. Joe Thomas, met with the Honourable Chair of PPD H.E. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Honourable Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Government of India in New Delhi, India on 14 July 2014. The Executive Director congratulated H.E. Dr Hars h Vardhan on taking up the responsibility of the chairman and briefly presented a general overview on the organization, its background, fundamental objectives and mandates, governance and management.
Dr. Joe Thomas sought the advice and guidance from the Honourable Chair’s vision on PPD’s strategic directions towards moving the organization forward in the global arena and establishing PPD as a key player in international population and development issues, particularly of the member states and other developing countries.
The following are some of the key issues on which Honourable Chair’s advice was sought:
- Indian contribution for Promoting South-South Cooperation (SSC) in the broader context of health and population diplomacy.
- In addition, possible areas of Government of India’s technical support to member countries on Reproductive Health Commodity Security and access to Generic Medicines, PPD member countries possible joint action for strengthening regulatory systems, exchange of experience and ideas on TRIPS exception among PPD member countries.
During the meeting, Honourable chair of PPD agreed to host the 11th International-Inter Ministerial Conference on Population and Development and related annual PPD governance events in Delhi. The PPD annual meeting is consisted of an Inter-Ministerial Conference on Population and Development, Meeting of the Program Planning and Development Committee and Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committees, Partners Country Coordinator’s Meeting, Executive Committee Meeting and Annual Governing Board Meeting. Heads of PPD partner institutions and the commissioners of PPD Global Commission on ageing is also expected to meet during the PPD annual meeting.
The goal of the 2014, PPD Inter-Ministerial conference is to provide a platform to share evidence with senior-tier level policy makers from 26 developing countries, development partners and other stakeholders for decision making on key strategic and urgent investments for initiating a youth and second demographic dividends.
The inter-ministerial conference will provide evidence and share the inter-linkage between population dynamics and demographic divided, highlight the developing countries particular challenges in achieving a demographic dividend, and call attention to the urgent need for investments in health, education, gender equity, economic policies that are needed to open and take advantage of the window of opportunity of accelerated economic growth that may result from a decline in a country’s mortality and fertility and subsequent age structure of the population.
The theme for the 11th international inter-ministerial conference is “South-South Cooperation for investing for demographic dividend in the post ICPD and MDG Development frameworks”. This was prioritized in view of the global policy makers, researchers and other stakeholders discussions as well as optimistic views that demographic transition and dividend is within grasp for developing countries, provided adequate investment is made on health, education, family planning sexual and reproductive services and rights of young people.