The 17th International Inter-Ministerial Conference on South-South Cooperation in Population and Development titled “Nairobi Commitments and the 2030 Agenda: Taking stock and looking ahead to post COVID-19 Crisis” was concluded on Tuesday, 8 December 2020 with the Ministerial Session on “Promoting South-South Cooperation for Attaining Nairobi Commitments and the Agenda 2030”. The first Technical Sessions was “Implementation of the Nairobi Commitments Through South-South Cooperation in the post-COVID-19 Era” held on 19 November 2020” and the Second Technical Session was “Youth Engagement through South-South Cooperation in Advocacy and Innovative Programming” held on 27 November 2020.
The Ministerial Session was addressed by a range of internationally acclaimed and outstanding leaders in health, population and development.
Following the brief Introductory Welcome Remarks made by PPD Executive Director Mr. Ben Haj Aissa Adnene, the session was moderated by H.E. Ms. Lindiwe Zulu, MP, Hon. South African Minister of Social Development. Minister Zulu began moderation of the Session after delivering her own statement reiterating South Africa’s Commitment to the Nairobi Commitments and 2030 Agenda including the Three Zeros. The Opening Remarks was delivered by H.E. Dr. Yu Xuejun, Vice Minister, National Health Commission, representing PPD Chair Dr. Lin Bin, Hon. Secretary General and Vice Chairwoman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. The Opening Remarks was followed by a very inspirational statement made by the Vice President and PPD Board Member of the Republic of The Gambia H.E. Dr. Issatou Touray. The highly encouraging Keynote Address was delivered by none other than the United Nations Undersecretary General and UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem.
The Keynote Speech was followed by the statements delivered by very highly respected global leaders and Ministers such as H.E. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Vice-Chair, PPD Board and Honorable Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India; Prof. Dr. Habib Ghedira, President, Director-General and Treasurer of PPD Board, National Board for Family and Population, Ministry of Health, Government of Tunisia; Ms. Gabriela Rodríguez Ramírez, PPD Board and Executive Committee Member and Secretary-General, Consejo Nacional de Población (CONAPO, Mexico), Dr. Mohamed A. Sheikh, Hon. PPD Board Member and Director General of National Council for Population and Development (NCPD), Government of Kenya.
The Ministerial Session and the Conference was concluded with the adoption of the Call for Action constituted reflecting the most salient features emerged from the outcomes of the deliberations made at all the Conference Sessions. On behalf of the Drafting Committee, Dr. Hu Hongtao, Senior Advisor to PPD presented the Call for Action. The Session was chaired by H. E. Dr. Faisal Sultan, The Federal Minister of the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination of the Government of Pakistan. Minister Dr. Faisal Sultan concluded the Conference by delivering his Closing Remarks making and pleading for the reinvigorated commitments to the accelerated implementation of the Nairobi Commitments, 2030 Agenda and Three Zeros within the framework of South-South Cooperation.