Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, December 14th 2013 – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in collaboration with UNFPA, convened a regional consultative meeting of Member States and Partner Institutions on the implementation status of the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD). The two-day meeting was opened by Mr. Elsadig Abdalla, Director of Economic Cooperation and Social Development of IGAD. On behalf of the IGAD Executive Secretary Amb(Eng) Mahboub M. Maalim.

The objective of the meeting, according to Ms. Fathia Alwan, Programme Manager of the Health and Social Development Section of IGAD, include to (a) establish a common understanding on the ICPD PoA and on the need for a harmonized regional approach to Population and Development issues in the IGAD Region; (b) take stock of achievements, identify critical challenges and outline key priority action points for ICPD beyond 2014 at both regional and national levels in the IGAD Region; (c) to strengthen partnership to address unresolved issues in population and development in the region, especially pastoralist and cross-border mobile populations.

The meeting is expected to adopt the IGAD ICPD 2013 Report that was prepared and presented to the meeting by a team of consultants who conducted the study and prepared the draft report.

The IGAD Member States and Partners represented developed and agreed on selected actions on Population and Development.

For further information please contact:

Fatuma Adan

Reproductive Health Coordinator

E-mail: fatuma.adan@igad.int

Fathia Alwan

Programme Manager of Health and Social Development

E-mail: fathia.alwan@igad.int