South-South Cooperation is a growing means to empower the new generation and realize the demographic dividend

Partners in Population and Development (PPD) partnering with UNFPA organized a side event on “SSC to empower the new generation and realizing the demographic dividend” at BAPA+40, Buenos Aires, Argentina; on 20 March 2019. Executive director of PPD, Mr. Adnene Ben Haj Aissa; on behalf of PPD board  bring intervention during the BAPA+40 which is the Second UN High-level Conference on South-South Cooperation.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA; in her speech she stated that UNFPA and PPD are working together to address issues related to unfinished ICPD agenda including SRHR for young people. She emphasized the role of UNFPA in empowering adolescents in developing countries through building their capacities and involve them in planning their future.

The Panel was moderated by Mrs. Gabriela Agosto, Executive Secretary, National Council for Social Policy Coordination of Argentina who gave a brief introduction on the Argentinian experience in addressing SRHR for youth and adolescents.

As a high-level panelist PPD executive director Mr. Adnene Ben Haj Aissa highlighted the importance of South South Cooperation on the accession of celebration 40 years of BAPA a guiding blue print of south-south cooperation and 25 years of ICPD as well as 25 years of PPD. He continued to say that, “We are here in this august gathering to know what we have achieved through South-South Cooperation and what we could do further to empower new generation realizing the demographic dividend in order to achieve ICPD and SDGs”,

In his conclusion Mr. Adnene recommended increasing investment in adolescents and youth for life skills and family education, health, employment, rights and entitlements and engaging them in the planning and implementation of policies and programs. He focused on strengthening south-south cooperation through PPD for more documentation of best practices and sharing them across countries; exchange scholarships and visits; increase technical cooperation and commodity exchange.

Mr. Nofrijal, Principal Secretary of BKKBN and PCC of Indonesia and Dr. Carlos Echarri, Secretary General of CONAPO and PPD Board member of Mexico presented their country’s experiences respectively and progress made in the field of SRHR for adolescents and young people and efforts made for empowering new generation for harnessing demographic dividend.