The African population programme

I ~ ,IIJ!

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA

First Conferenoe of Afrioan Demographers Acora, 20-22 December 1971

·'1

UNITED NATIONS

ECONOMIC and SOCIAL COUNCIL

Distr.

LIMITED

E!CN •14!CAD.1!2 26 November 1971 Original: ENGLISH

" I' 0,_,

TEE AFRICAN' POPULATION PROGRAMME Prepared by the seoretariat of the Economic Commission for Africa

Section P&1'¥raphll

I

II

III

IV

V

VI VII

VIII

IX

x

Ba.ckground

Functions of EGA Population Pro,o:ramme Centre Programme of Work

S~udy

of Inter-relations of Population Growth and Economic and Social Development

Training

African Population Conference

Reg'io~al

UN Inter-Agency Co-ordination Meeting' on Population

Regional Co-ordination and Collaboration with Non-UN Organizations Interested in Population Programmes ir. Africa

Programme cf Data Collection and Analysis

Conferenoe of African Demographers: New Standing Body on Population

1-16

17

18

19-21 22

23-28

29-30

31-33 34-39

40-.42

ANNEX

I Programme of Work 1971-1916.

M71-3l66

f"

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E/CN.14/CAD.l/2

1. ' BACKGROUND

1. The 'General Assembly, in its unanimously adopted resolution 2211(XXI), inter aLia, ,called upon the ;regional economic cpmmissions and other bodies to develop and strengthen regional and ,national facili ties "for training, research, information and advisory services in the field of population, bearing in mind the different character of population problems in each 'country' and, region and the needs arising therefrom". , The importance of stren'gthening population work at, the regional level was further

emphas+zedduring the 'discussions of the 43rdsession of the Economic and SooialCouncil in 1967 when the Seoretary-General informedth,e 'Counoil

"of the e,stablishment of a Trust Fund for .pcpul.a.td.on acti,vi tie" aimed. at expanding on a global scale the commitment of the United Nation" in respeotof,popl).lation'W'ork., The, Trust Fund (now caUe,d United Nations Fund"for Population Activities and administered by the United Nations Development Programme), as envisaged'in the Seoretary'-General's proposals, was to be largely devoted to the development of regional and national 'faoili ties. 'These proposals, i;ogether with jiJCOSOC resolutions 1279(XLIII)

and 1347(XLV) ,WhiCh urge all organizations within the United Nations system to make' every effort wi thin their competenoe to develop and render m'ore effective their programmes in the field of populatd on and"crillupon the regional economio oommissions to report on population aspects of eoonomio and sooial development, set the stage for afreshasSe1311ment of'individual regional population programmes.

2. Popl).latlon work at' the regional level began in 1961 and was reinforced in 1964'by the establis,hmentof a Demographic Section. ])J.rtherprogress

" was registered when towards the end of 19'66, an Afrioan Population Programme was developed. A further st ep vas taken in 1967 when proposals for

exp!IDding the work in population, including the organization of an

Afrio~ Population Con,ference" were endorsed.at the Fifth Conferenoe of Afrioan Sta,tistioians.

1/

In 1968 a Population Progra~mingMi"sionfor Africa was set up by the United Nations to advise the Secretary-General on the direotion.in which expandedaotivities oould best be _dev~loped

for the 'benefit of the oountries of tlie region. The reportof the nji,ssion

y

was discu;ssed at the ninth seesion ofjiJCA and the work prograninie for 1969""'1971,which took into account the mission's recommendations, was

also approved.

)j ,

Conferenoe 'ofAfricanStatistioians, 1967

Mission for Africa of the ECA, Pro ramme f Work and Priorities,

~",' . T tP

Ken

E/CN.14/CAIJ.l/2 Pao-e 2

3.

With these directives, the African Population Programme was

finalized in March-April 1969 in co-ordination with the United Nations

Head~uarters. Somewhat smaller in dimensions than its Asian counterpart, it came into operation on 1 September 1969, when financial resources were allotted from the UN Fund for Population Acti vi,ties. Later that , year a t' the sixth Conference of' African Statisticians, specific areas

o:f population studies were suggest,ed and it was recommended that a Di vision responsible to the Ex:ecutive Secretary should be set up at the ECA secretariat tc implement the programme.

J.!" ' , , '

'4.

As from 1 January 1970, a .Popul ataon Programe Centre was estab-

lished at the secretariat, directly responsible to the Ex:eoutive Secretary.

Opening 'the First-session of the ECA Technical Committee of Ex:perts, 10':'14 February ,1970, the Ex:ecutive Secretary described the pr-es ent fUnctions and responsibility of the Centre as follows: "The tasks of this ,Centre seem to me at this initial stage to comprise creating aware- ness of the population situation in Africa; helping governments to set up offices for handling population problems, training personnel for such offioes and assisting governl)lents, at thElir re~uElst, in the formulation ofpppulation policies."

5.

The Technical Commi ttee, r ecogna.aang "the imm'ense responsibility' for the _~l1ality of humanllife in future generations" (in the words of the Secretary General of the United Nations) in all its aspects, gave further thrust to the African Population Programme by identifying specific areas of research,and action.

1/

6. The Committee at its second meeting in February 1972 reviewed the 'work programme ,and made certain recommendatipns. It 'noted that the 'Africari Pcpulation Programme had b,egun much later than those in the

other regions, which ,were alsc in a better position with regard to national facilities for researoh, ,training, and operational aotivities;' It ag1'eed that a rapid ~pansionofthe Afrioan 'programme was called for, to 'enable it t'O reaoh a level comparablewith,thOseof the other regions and also provide 'the Af!.'io,an countries with _servio~s in those fields where the needs were most immediate and acute."

l.! "

, 7.

After therev;iew by the aecond rri~",ting of the TechnicalCommi ttee of Ex:perts, the Tenth Session of ,the Economic Commission for Africa (First Conference of Ministers) d.is9ussed the d.anographic levels and trends of the region, endorsed the population' prpgramme of the secretariat as reviewed by the Technioal Committee of Ex:perts and adopted for th6 first time in the region a resolution (230(X)) on population which _re~uested the Ex:eeutive Secretary as part of the Commission's work programme

"to carry .out a study of population levels>, and trends in relation to economic and. soCial' development.

"",In

resppnse to' this, resolution the programme is being oriented to meet this need. i ,

,..~·c ,.,"::-r

if

R':;'rt of bhe Sixth Conference ottliliaol\:f'ereno<'! of,

Airrc~t1:M~a:ns,

" 1967 (E/CN.14/4?4)" • . -. '.', .,; , '" . ." .,. , \

gf.

Report of the F~rst Meet~ng fo the Teohn~cal Comm~ttee of,ExpElrts·

(m/

CN. l 4/ 41 4

l!

Report of the Second MEleting of the Teohnioal Committee of ExpElrts

(E/CN.14/5l2/Rev.l, para. 215). . '

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•

E/ON.14/0.AJl.l!2 Pap'e 3

8.

.Intere~t i.n

populatiohproblems ah.ong African Governments is of very recent date. During ,the late5.ds and, 'cae early 60s, nation-wide population surveys were taken 'in all but two African c'ountries; but even so, the r,egistration of vi tal, statistios continues to be deficient. Al though in the early stages ,demograph;i.c statistics were developed .ill most.African countriescb,j' eXpatriate ,staff and UN. regional .and : oountry , experts, a,

reGent mosil'lw.e1come developmeht has been .tb.e emergence of national experts;

however~,prqperstudies ofpcpu.1ation st ructur-e and 'trends al1dtheir"

implicationsf.oTecon:.omica~d social development still remain to be· oomp- leted in most countrd ss , A recent hopeful feature in the region has been

the adoption of national population programmes in six countries and the fact" that a large number of other Governments Parmi t non-governmental organizations to carry out family planning ac ta vi ti es and in some .cas es prqvidefacili:ties; the population .of these countries represents over two-thirds ,of the total population of Afric,!-.

9. The problems relating .'l;q the ge):!eral inadequacy of the public infrastructures. to meet the growil')gneeds of the population in urban areas a1!d;fOr education 'anti employment have received attention in a numPerofAi'rican deve16pment Plans such ali' those in Kenya, Tunisia,

Mauritius,MProcco, Ghana, Madagascar, Congo (Kinshasa), Congo (Brazzaville), Ivory Coa'st, Gabon ,Sudan ,Dahqmey, Upper Volta, Cen tral African, Repuplic, Togo, and Uganda. '

10.

In, ,View ,of a),1 .theseconsidera.t;i.ons, therefore, the United Nations . African Population Programme

is,

being geared to meet the direct ne,Eldir of

the countries of the region with respect todElinographic anal,j'sis, the study of the relationship between population trends and economic and social development, studies of population policius which arise from these trends and the training of personnel. for the count:ries.

11. Noting that theUni ted Nations Population Programme in Africa began mtichl:a.ter-than -tl;tCiSe in other: ~egions and that most..governments,'lack.

na tional facili ti es for research,,' training, and operational activities', the African programme outlined here should, therefore be viewed as a

minimum :work' programme:' if more funds 'and staff resources becom.. avad.La.hLe

i~ should beposs:1ble to undertake additional projects in the region.

12. The EGA secretariat has worked in the desig!2ated population fields of studies, training, technical, meetings,and assistance 'GO Governments, but because of Lack of staff, much of the work has beenoi' an ~

£2£.

nature, rather than planned on a long-term basisc ' 13. The programme outlined here is :regional; it is not poas i.bl e, d:

oourse, to 'formulate .specifio 'country project proposa.Ls , Suggestions have been made, however, by the United Nations Population Programming Mission for Africa, and requests are beginning to come from Governmonts

for experts and other assistance for their population programmes. It is anticipated that the EGA prpgramme, particularly regional advisory

services and technioal meetings, in close collaboration with the work

EjCN.14jCAD.!2 P~l':e

4;

of the Popclatj.on P:',ogre.c;:r:e f)ff',c'i3!'S, win help count ra es both to be better informed a.bout the Uni.t~dNations resources directly available . to them from' the UN Fund for Population Activi'ties 'and to avail themselves of these resouroes1h ,a more effioient manner.

14: .'ro'operate the African Po pula tl on Programme, the Popul.a.td.on .Programme Centre comprd s es nOw three s'Ubstantiveseotions bn"General· Demography",

"Fertility Studies"; and "Programme Co-ordinati'on. and Policies",the

last including tile Ihf?rI!Iation Service and'ClearingHouse Unit. The Centre basreo,m:t1y had the be\1efit· of '"he advice 'of.thElUnit'ed"Nations

Adm:i.nistrative Mimagemen t Survey Review Team inc. the organization of its administrative operations"

15.

Through the generous as.sistahce of the United Nati.ons FUnd .f.or Population Activities, which now provides .tiha bulk of the funds. for population ,mrk at the ECAsecretari",t, ·thePoplilation Programme Centre has, as on Jan~ry

1970,

an establishment of

9

professional secretariat staff imppcirted.'by3 research a!?sistan tsand 2' regional a.dvisers.

Al though this is a .cone i.dar-ab'Ia i,mproveliJent over the staffirtg situation prior to the eatablishm"nt of the Centre, there is' still art urgent· need fora.n increase in s'Gaffto carry out all the projects outlined in·the 'work pI'ogramme,;it is expected that this need will be fUlfilled shortly and the UNFPA has agreed f.n principle to the required expan·s·ibn. -For

1972

the proposal is for

17

professional posts

(14

secretariat,and "

3 regional advisers) ^{0 .}

16. All related; IJrCA s'Gaff services, includ,ingthe regional advisers on social development and public administration will be used irtilnplementing thepropor'od oxpand.ad p:cogralllme~

II^o FlJ1'ICTIObTS OF' EeA POPULATIObT PROGRAMME CI!!'!TRE .

17.

The Population Programme Centre of theECA Secretariat .hopes to.

in tensify the following functions wi thin the framework of· the African Population .P~ogramme~

(a) Preparation of studies an~ reports on pop'Ulation si~e 6~mposi­

tion and trends as well as on demo'graphic aspects of economic 'arid social development required by the Economic Commission for Africa.

•

the and

(b) Collaboration wi.th and assistance to theva:i'iousbranchea qf ECA socretarlat i.n providing information. reCJ.l.lired onpopp.lationtrends inter-relationships be'tween populationartd economic and'so05,al :factors;.

.\ c) / provision of advisory services 'through.

~egioMl.adv.i..s~rsELnd

^the

demographic staff, a"" the request of Government~, ina1:\. ;field.s of Popul.a tncn , .

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E/CN .14/CAD.l/2' Pap'e

5

(d) As sLstanc e to Governm8"!lt~, on request; 'in organizing training, research and operational programmes in all 'fiddsDf 'popul.a td on ;

(e) Provision of informatiol:l on population and

~reparatiQn

^of

manuals and o~her publications for use of member Goverrikent~ ^and ans ta tutions;

(f)' Pr-omotLon of training and research through region\"l or

sub-reg~onal c~tres;

'(g) Initiation of co--ordination and collaboration on population questions with, the specialized agencies oonoern sd arid 1ilith inter...,

nationally 0:riented gcvernmental and non-gbvernmental organizations at;

the regional level; and

(h) Organization of regional conferenoes, seminars, _~~pert groups and s t,-!dy-tours, on populatr.on ,

III, PROGRAMME OFVlORK

18.

The programme of work for

1971-73

with projections upto

1976

are gi venin the AnnexL Thi's programme wiH be reVised ,according to the wishes of the recommendatory, standing, and legislative bodies of the ECA.Some detail isgivel1 below of 'Ghe study of the inter-relations' of popul",tion growth and sconomi.c and social development" oalled upon by the ECA ResolutiOn

230(X),'

and of other prograumea.

'IV. STUDX

of

INTER-RELATIONS OF, POI'OLATION GRmlTH AND FJJONbMl,C AND sOCt4L DEVELOPMEflTT

19.IlJ.

its

preVi~us studies.~he

seoretariat had brought out in global

11

terms the effects of population growth on eoonomic and sooial development.

It, is known thati.lnder African conditions, WJth the present rate of growth of popul.at.ion 2!aper cent Per year, it would require about 8 per oent of the nati.mal inoometo be re~investedannually in order to maintain the same level of liVing Per head, , Ho';"ever, it had been a.ppz-acd a ted for, some ti21e past, that as such overall figures of

"demographio investment" do not spell out ill detail th"required infrastructure for the grOWing population, theY do _n~t create the necessary Lmpao f on policy makers in a l5i venvcountry situation"

jJ

"Recent demographic levels and trends in Africa", Economic Bulletin forAfrica, Volu','1e V, January

1965,

Economio Commission for Afr~

Addis Ababa and Uni ted Natd.on s , New Xork; ~mo,.g!aphio_Handbookfor Afrioa., United Nations EcollomicCommission for Africa, 'Maroh

1968;

"Demographic content of African 'development ple,ns", Seminar on

ApplicatiQl1 of Demographic Data and Analysis to Development PIanni!+g , Eoonomic Cbmmission for Afrioa, Addis Ababa, 2-9 June

1969

(E/CN • 14/POP

!5),

T

E/CN. 14/CAD. 1/2

PaD'e 6

I t has been thought advisable to deal with the concrete situation of popur a td on dynamics and economic and social developments in individual African countries. The approach is at present two-fold. First,

macro-studies woUldbe prepared for the country, where, as a standard, the UN popul a'ta on projections under the "high", "mediwn" and "low"

aaaumptu.ons ,rill be adopted; for sectoral pro:jections, the rural-urban projections by the UN, the labour force projections of the 110, and the agricUltural popUlation projections of the FAO MoUld be used.

The macro-studies will start with a brief economic survey of the past and dur-Ing the second development decade, the experience relating to increase in national income, savings and investment, rural structures and transformation of tradi1<ional rural economies, determinants and constraints of development aItsing from demographic trends. The soci~l

survey will include past and~ecent experiences relating to employment, unemployment, housing, pubIic health, maternal and chiLd health (effects of high parities onj.nfant, early childhood and maternal mortality),

education, marriage PS:'tterns, and social and urban tensions as well as other constraints arising from demographic trends. The demographic survey-will include a study of the size of the population and its structure, generally high fertility and declining mortality, urbaniza- tion,internal and international migration. A review of the deve.l opmenv plan of ,the country would then .10 made which will examine the assumptions of teohnological advancement in reiation to _agricul ture and -industries, shortage of skilled manpower and pr-ovisLcn of infrastructures for the growing popUlation. These reviews would lead to a study of implications separately of the demographic projections under high, mediwn and low assumptions on requirements of food, employment, education, housing, publ I,c heal';h,. urban development, aeden.tarization ^0.' nomadic populations, etc.- all these to be studied both in terms of numbers and costs -

involved; also the effect of economio development on social growth and population grow"Gh; the importance of telescoping demographio transi tio'n w~thins narrow time horiz(:>n; and.a cost-benefit' analysis of popul at Lon programmes^.0

20. Second, a nuniber of micro-studies are proposed at the level of the individual- the mother, the children, and members of the family.

These are aimed at studying the effects of amall and large numbers

pi

children on the welfare of individual families. The effects of high parities on the health of mothers and children - grave pelvic disorders and high maternal mortality on the one hand and relatively high infant and early childhood' mortality on the other; extent and effects of induced abortion,,!.; habits of breast feeding and weaning; diet and mal-nutrition;, envirorjMiirr!t-"ou<ii tions; educational opportunities; per capi ta Lncomej accommoda"j;ion,andavailable food supply for the family; patterns of inves:t~'en'L'Theseshould also include the family size values and preferenc~s, the family bUilding habits and their cultural background' as ~e,ll,as theconstraj.nts on the evolution of small family ,building

habit8~ On ~hemedico-social side, additional information would be required on. food consumption and calory intake, medical consultation

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E/CN •14/CAD. 1/2 Pa'!e 7

and hospitalization, baby weight, height, and growth, social and vertical mobility of ,family members as seen in occupational placement and

incom~

earned. '

21. A number>of case studies are now under preparation and it is hoped tha.t'for themaoro":studies all Afrioan countries and for the

micro-~tudiesa

large number of countries could beooveredinabout four ;rea.:rs'time. The first set ofthe' studies will, be presented to the African Population Conference, Accra, 9-18 December 1971, and the First Session of theConf"renceof African Demo/;traphers; Accra,,2o-?2 Decemperl971; thereat of the studies will be presented to the

subsequent sessions of the Conference of African Demographers'ando!

African Planners.

V.TRAINING

22. The, re'gi0nal centre for demographictraininl'i and research in Cairo, United Arab Republic, has been providing training and research facilities mainly for the Arabic-speakin'! oountries of North Africa and the Middle "

East since 1963. Agreement has already been reache,d with the '!overnm<;mts of Cameroon and Ghana for the establishment of two new UN sponsored.

regiona.l '1nstitutesfor population studies at Yaounde andAccrarespect-' ively tiJserve the French':" and En,<;lish-'speaking Afrioancountries. These two new centres are to become operational late in 1971 or early in 1972, and a

_~umberof

applications for fellowship (15 for the Accra Institute and 19 for the 'Yaounde Institute) have already been received. The EGA Population Programme Centre hasa.lso been providing assistance in

teachi~of

demo,<;rapby at national and international 'training oentres in the ",Eigfon.,

VI. AFRICAN POPULATION CONFERENCE

23. In accordance with the programme Of work and prio:r-ities approved by the Ninth and Tenth Sessions of the EConomic Commission for Africa and the reo,umlllendations Of the FiI'st, and Second Meetingsl'lf the

Preparat,orYCommitt"ef,or the 'Conference, the African'Population:

Conference will be

_h~ld

ill Accra on 9-18p"cember 1971.

24. 'The Conference' is beillgsportsored jointly by the EConomio Commission for Africa and the

tnternation~l

Union for the

Soie~tifio

Study of

Population, wi th ,the co-operation' of the InteI'national' 'Planned Parenthcod Federation. It will be the 'first Conference of its kind in Africa. ' 25. The Conference will deal sQ;LentifiQally with all aspects of

population trends in the reg;Lonand their implications for 'economic and !;loclal development. The general theme of the Conference is , ,

"Population in African Development". There will be twelve maill plenary

sessions on popUlation prospects in Africa;

Demo'!raphic'da~a

collection,

Analysis and presentation of

d,emo~raJlhic

da

t

a for the use, of planners

,

^.

E/CIi.14/CAD.l/2 Pa ..e

8

.\

anQ aQministrators; Applioation of Qemography in planning for social anQ economic Qevelopment; Population polioy and programmes; and Demographiotrain,ing and resear.0h. jl,rrangeIllents have also been made for special meetings on Metho.ds of population projeotions; TeohniC).ues of family planning and evaluation; Methods of analysis of limited anQ defeotiv

13

data; Methods. of manpower calotihtions,and da-ta proc3ssitig.

26. Participan'ts' in tt.e Conf'er-en ce will inolMerepresentatiyes of African Gove:r,nlllen;ts and ~s13ooiate menib er States of the ECA, as .'!ell as representatives of )ihe Uni ted Nations famil;votorgan'izationsand:

other interested oountries.and institutions dealing with population;

the ECA is responsible for arranging their representation. ~h€

IUSSP is invi ting individual experts, mostly from the Afrioan ooun tries, and the IPPF is inviting representatives of looal as socd.ata.ons , In "

all" i t is expected that there will be about 250-3(,0 participants.

27. In order to make sure that as many people as possibleconneoteQ with sconomi c and social development and the wen-being of the . indi vi Qual in Africa can partioipate in the Conference,a large _nlli~ber of exp.;rtsfrom the f iel.d of population, economics, s ta tis tics, medioine, planning and, .o thar- relate<'i. 'a;!.'e.;Ls. are 'being sncour-agsd to att snd the .

meeting. ' . '. , . ' . . .

28. The main ob jective

qf

the CorifeJ;'enoe is to give an opportunity to various experts, Plann

13rs

and policy makers iriAfrioa to disouss

scientifically the d.emographf.c ~ituation ^ill African countries and its implications for the economio development. In other words' the main' aim is to further the ECA in its efforts to create awareness within the region to the demographio situation and pr-ob.Lema ,

VII. RlJGIONAL UN INTER'"'-AGENCY CO-0RDINATION ON POPULATION

29. The crucial importance of co.-ordination of population programmes is well recognized. The co-ordination between the United Nations organs is being effected through ~he Sub-co~~itteeon Population of the UniteQ Nations Administrative Committee on CO-Qrdination and the Inter-Agency

Consultative Committee of the United Nations Fund for Population

ActiVities. Such co-ordination at the regional level is being crganized in persuance of Resolution 187(IX) of the Urri t.ed Natiolls Economic

Commission for Africawhioh reC).uesteQthe Ex:ecuti ve Secretary, as a special feature of the activities for the seoonQ UniteQ Nations Developmen t IlecaQe, inter alia, "to take specifi,c measures to ensure the co-operation of t4e United 'Nations system of s pacda'l.Ls ed agencies in the implementation of the work programmes approved by the Commis13ion and , towards this end, to seek as far as possible, to have joini;work programmes with indiviQual agencies in their respective areas of competence", and also as a fcllow""Up to the Sessions of the ACC Sub- Committee on Population.

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E/CN. 14/CAD. 1/2

Pa~e

9 /

30.

The first regional UN Inter-Agency Meeting on Population was held in January

1971.

Itrevlewed theactivities in the'·di:fferent aSPl3ctsof population programmes such as research and studies

(inc+v.dilfgdemosraphicproj~ctions),informationserVio.es, teohnical co-:operatipn, training, and conferences • . The _~eeting conaddered ways and means by which

thi3

UN 'family of'or.g8l:l~!latiorisooU:ld;cpresenta"} co-ordinatedapproaohto population workinAfrica. It is hoped: that reoognizing the competence oftlle Uni tedWations agencieS', in 'their 'respectiV:e ftel(;1s, ,t.heprocedureof (l0-ordination that has b een so.

. e:t'fecti ve at Headquarters level would ",Iso operate in this region ' thro;"~h the arrangemen ts. reache<f at the. meeting.' .1\;13 a result-of the' meeting" a list ofECA p:i:'ojects on population has been drawn to

indi Qat e the interest of the agencies inspeoifi6 projects, including jOintSPClnSOrship•. The meeting will be organized annual Ly',

vIII. REGIONAL CO-ORDINATIONANDCbL'LAllORATION WITH NON-UN ORGANIZATIONS Il'ITERESTED IN POPrJLATION PROGRAMMES IN AFRICA·

31.

A numberofinter~g6v'ernmentalorganizations in Africa .and outside, non-Af;rican,gov:ernments ",nd non-governmental organizations are also ilfterested in population programmes intlie region, and there ·hasbeen a growing recognition. of theimportaJ:1ce of collaboration among these organi;qations.Th~ECA cannot claim to ~o-ordinatetheseactiVi ties but i t oouldprovj,de a fOrum :for them to exchange inform",tiori on their wQr~-prograIl\mesin popUlation and related fields, in order to evol'Ve.

a

,method of ooll'l-boration whioh will make fora more rational uS,e of reso1J.rQes Il.vailable for work in these fields within the region;'

32.

There is no doubt that Afr::.cacould use all the available aid it can obtain to help in researoh as well as action programmes in >the' field of populll.tign. Such aid would be indispensable in implementing country programmes and could most valuably supplement the regionalprogramaies

.of

theVni ted Nations , ,WhiCh are y\ecessarily limited. The< the same time, i t is also'importanttoensurethatthesebenefits,evenin'a nuoleus form, are spread over asniahy African countries' as possible;

and not cCl):lce')t;rated only in '" fewoount:ries, especially as the'

"demonstration effect "doesnot always permeate through national

boundaries in the population Ueld. \

}}•. IJ:1pursuanceof these aims, the EcA organized th'e first meeting . of1'l0n,..1JN _Organ~zations in tei'ested in popu'l a'td.on program-mes in A:t'rioa

in January

1971,

immediatelyafterthe :first RegionalInte~-Agency Co-ordination Meeting on Population. At this 'meeting the'drganizations

;r13]?resentedexchanged information on their activities and agreed on measures whichwouid make for more efficient use of aid in Africa.. The .meetip.g also agreed to' meet ann~a1:LYir:itheircontinued sear<lh for

co1l'a.boration among ali organiZations wo'rking in the fieldofpopulatior:i in Af';rica.

j } ' . '. " ' , , . ".

jJ

Report of the Meetin of'. Non-1JN O.r aniza.tions Interested in Po ula.tion Programmes in Africa E

CN.14 523

E/CN. 14/CAD.1/2 Pa.<76 10

. . , .

IX. PROClRAMME OF DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

34. At tbe regional, level, the :ECA Population Pr0"1'rarnme Centre, in

oollaborat~onwith the EGA Statisti~s Division, is also co-ordinatin"1' the African Census,Pro~rarnme, whicl1 is a comprehensive system of demoR:raphi;' dat", colleoticnand analysis in the African countries, includip"1" the, proyi,sion of the required assa s tance to them. '

'35. TheSemipa:r on PqIJulatioU:' Pro,gorammes' in Afriba poted in 1962 that

"it would be a mistake to postpone research until' a veryhi,goh level Ln tbe,basic<statistics bad been achf.eved, On the cC'ntrary; the

deveLopraent oftbe research should, "1'0 hand in hand. with, tbe develbpmimt of basic statis,tios".

11

The development of demographic statistics,:

ipcludi"", population censuses sample surveys and civil re"1'istration,-' has, ,been, tbe responsibility of tbe J!X)A Statistics Divisiop wi tb its re,goional advisory services and secretariat work.

3:6;.,;; :I:t,bad,beenobserved for some tim,,_ tbat some countz-Les found it difficcu;Lt tqparticipate in tbe 19/0 round of population censuses 'arid others' are anxious to obtainmoredeta:Lled and aocurate information onpQpuJ,.ation than is currently available in tbeir, censuses. - It was' in -ord"r',to mitil"ate this ,probleIllthat the secretariat recently arrall!1:ed :~OonSllltative Groupllieeting from which emerged a comprehensive African , a,ep,sus Px:o,gorarnme. This:prci~ramme ,would provide information pot only

onth" size and structure of population in respect of sex, age, rUral and u:r:ban residents, etc. ,but alsc on population trends' and dYriamic's as regards fertility, mortality, and migratioh. Suchinformationis 'required for formula tin!", implem"nting, and evaluating the population

policy and programmes of individual countries at their request.

, 37. ", The African CepsusPro!"ramme was reported to the Sec end 'Meetin,go of the EGA ,Technical Committee of EXperts, TUnis 1-6 February '1971, ' when'member States were requested to inform the secretariat of their needs in assistance.

38. The EXecutive Secretary has recently invited the member States to inform him of the re~uirements of assistance in this field. The needs of each country will be examined on an individual basis, and proje~ts

pegotiated ,with the Governments copcerned. Obviously, country programmes ,capnot be fully financed by United NatioPsresources. It is therefore

assumed that counterpart servioes will be prOVided, tl1e dimepsiop of suoh services beipg subject to i~dividual consideratiops.

39, A Pumber of requests for assistance have already been received at the secretariat and it is hoped th~t~he project-would be started very sooP ip, collaboration with the UN Headcluarters and the EGA Statistic!!!

Division and with funds from the UNFPA.- Feasibility missiopshave 'already beep organized in a pumber of countries and missions to the other oountries 'areproposed'to be mOunted early in 1972.

•

i7

Report of the Seminar on Population Problems in Africa (E/CN.14/186, para. 27 ).

•

;

E/CN.14/CADol/2 Pa".e 11

X. CONFERENCE OF AFRICAN DEMOGRAPHERS: NEW STANDING BODY ON POPULATION 40. On the question of a standing technical committee en pcpulation

the third meeting of the ECA Executive Ccmmittee held in May 1970 recommended the estabHshment of a n.ew standing body of the ECA _ the Conference of African Demographers - which vculc,DlGet, bionlliaXly and review the work programme of the secretariat in population. The Commi ttes also recommended that this Co~.\ference should not limit itself solely to demographic matters but should also oonsider matters relating to population, training, manpower and employment

(B,!?l!.9..

_{r t ,}

E/CN.14/479, para. i8). .

41. In pursuance of this recommendation, approved by the T81th Session of the ECA (the First Conference of Ministers), the Conference of

African Demographers composed of representatives of African Governments will hold iti'l first session in December 1971,immediately after the African Population Conference, and biennially thereafter. The

Conference will among its work consider the discussion a'c the African Po pul.a td.on Conference and make appropriate recommendations to the African Governments, the UN and the jjJCA. Such a biennial standing body on po pu l a tion is the fi:rst of its kind among the regional economic,commissions.,

I

42. Finally, it has 0een noted with gratification that theECA secretariat io being considered as the focal point for channelling assistal'loe in popula,tion to the African countries by strengthmimg its popu'Lat.Lon programmes.

..'0

By 'participatinitand assisting inhational seminars technical, meeting'S on ,various

a~pects

of population

•

E/CN.l4/CAD.l/2 Annex

ANNEX

PROGAAMJYIE OF WORK J.971-J.976

A. BROAD ISSUES AND TECHNIQUES RELATING TO DEVELOPMENT

l5A~l

Development trends and prOjections of development requirements and

possip~li

ties

Origin:

(}€lneral ASSembly resolutions,2211 (XXI), 2626(XXV.), 2683(XXV);

ECOSOC resolutions 1347 (XLV), 1487 (XLVIII); Ninth and Tenth session of the, Commission (Reports); First and second meetings tJf ECA'I'echnidal Committee of EXperts (Reports); ECA resolution 230(X).

project aim:

To assist g'overnmerits of the region to'improve their i,nformation services on population questions and tbgivedue recoanition to

the inter--relationship between populatioucl'yriamics and economic and soc

f

al. ",rowth;

Priority A Worl<; content:

(/;l»

As;sistance to governments:

(i) In'definin,O: the interrelation between population trends and socio-economic development;

. ' . , . . . ,

(J.i),

In eval.uatinl!' and adjusting data, preparinp studies, and conducting research for the region as a whole, especially countries that do net have requisite personnel;

(iii) and ether problems

(iv) In implementing' the activities of the, World Population year

.and

the World Population Conference, 1974.

(b) Studies:

(i) data for (ii) (iii)

Survey and evaluation of census and other demOgraphic selected countries, including

c<is~benefit

analysis;

Age reportinp and methods of adjustment of age data;

Sectoral population projections;

,.~",---_"""_"""""'_--_"""

__

""'''''''''''---~

ElcN,

l4!CAP':L!,2 . Annex'" "

Page 2

,,"',

(iv) Comparative studies on relationship between population Rrowth and food supply,labourforce and empl oyment , e duc atLcn , health, housing, investments, etc,;

(v)

Trend.sin miRration and urbanization in the reRion and their economic and sociaL implications;

. (vi) Demo",raphio aspeots

~f

manpower and emploJ'lIlent;

(vii) Comparative studies of eduoational attainments 'andt4ei;r' interrelationships with fertility, mortality and mi",ration;

(viti) Studies. of mortality levels, trends, anda.iH~rentials in the Afr.;i,ca regiono .

. (ii)

Demdk:raph;i,C aspects ofYJ,omad;i,c and refUf\ee populations, (c) Collection and dissemination of information:

(i) Preparation of a oompendium of population dat~, estimates and projections, demoR:raphiosurveys, researohworkand studies on . population trendsaiidtheir impl~cationson the aoci.c--economfc

development of countries in the reR:ion, throu".hissues.of Demo,graph;i,c Handbook for Africa, and African Population Studi.es. Ser.i€;!:!.;

preparation and publication of techniGal mamialswith concepts and definitions suitable for African countries;

(ti) Preparation and pubLac ati.on of information on population"

and stimulating contact among workers on African Demography through issues of African Population Newsletter, African Directory of

~emogr8phers, ana. assistance in bringing out an African POp'ulation Journal;

(iii) P1?ovision of

selectived.ocument~tion

on demog'raphic and related data 'and research and studies on various aspects ~f

population problems.

(d) Conferences,.meetings, seminars and expert working ".roups:

•

(i)

(ii).

(iii)

meetin,,!,s

African,Population Conference (1971);

Conference of AfriCan Demo",raphers (biennial from 1971);

ReQ:ional

1J1'I

inter--agency co-ordination on pc pu.La td on (annual) ;

(iv) Meetin,,!, of non-UN organizations interested inpopu1ation work in Africa (annual);

"".;< ,.' .,' i',' ' . ' .

,(v.)

,Seminar .on statistics and studies of miWation and urbanization (1972);

·.CO·

(Vi) Expert Group on techniques. cf eValuation of basic demographic data (1972);

•

•

'. ;·1

E/CN• 14/CAlY. i/2.

Annex Pas-e 3.

(vii) .Sami,;tElOll,;,on.po,p~l,a t:i,ol).,,<;1a~a "E\:n<;1 ,use qf ,cbmput,erswi th .:

special refaJ?a,ncet,opopuh:l;iqn:r:ess/l:rc,h ,(:VC>.r]rencl;i.-Iilpeak~n", countries) (1972);

(viii )',YI'Qrkin/1l ,;t:!";ro,up,:pn,_;:st~t:L.. ti9'ljl am]. stu.4ias e:n"nomadic

population '(1913

h, ,: .

(ix) Working Group on l\at;:l.ona~-andsulJ-,na.t:j.onalpopu.l'atLon projections (lS/;7;4),;, : '. ' :,' ': ' t "

. (x ) Working Group or! nfo'P'tali'1;y'sur'Veys

'and

studies in Afrioa (1974);

(xi) Working Group en Demographic aspects of manpower and employment (:1;975); ;

(xii) Workine: Group on demogrsphic'aspeots' ofeduoational' plannini', (19715 ).; , ' .

Related proe:rammes' ,

'.;,i .,:' ._ ,.,J:;~'<. .'c'" ~.. \ , . '

1 '

There will be olose oollaboration between' the' Centre,' ,the

UN HEiaclqllartEp.'I'l" ;t];l¢Ji,el,ev'i<U.j; UN,Iioe:e.n0ies, inter.-governmental, and non-governmental orpanizations and the ECA substantive ,divisions•

._~ :"

..

15A,2 Policies and programminR

General AsS€mb:),J';.r,esolu,i{ion:;;2.2ll(XXI), 2626

(XXV)

,2683

(XXV);,

ECOSOCr~S"lt;ttion 1347 (XIN), 1487 (XLVIII); Ninth and Tenth' , sessiori<\f _t'h~'Com'mission '(Reports); 'First and sEicond:meetings.: . of EGA Technioal

'aCirliirt:Lt-tee

'of Experta (Reports); EOA- resolUtion

230 (X).

Projeota:i,m,

'..':

To create inb~~a§ed'awareness'of'the shbrt~ and Idn~tEirm problems relatin,Q' to different aspeots of population and assist the;:Afric'i;iil"

I"ove;rnments'to resolv".t,he problemsthroue:hthe formulati,on and implementation ,of ..effeotive,popul,E\:tion polio:Les.: '. ,

Priority A Work c on ten'ts. . '.

(a) As sz stance to ,governments..

, (1).

Informu~atinl":'

implem"ntinl", and evaluating nationaf population poliCies and.pro~ramines'~nd,,?ond1.l.Qtin~pertinent methodolo~ioal studi~s;

I

E.

CN.14/CAD~i'J'l.!"

^{\,'" .}

Anriex Pa".e

4

c - ::'-"',1

•

f~i

(iii) By participatinp and assistinp in national

m0eti~s

on population policies and, various, aapecta of population proprammeso' , , : , " " ' , , , . : ; " " J " \"< ",'.,',:1'.,',' , .

(ii

j",

:In 4esi,o:nin"" executi,J;ll:(, and ",naJ,ysinl:( surveys en fertility, infant mor";ality, and, evaluation of population pro"rammes;

(av ) Inimplementin,o: the activities of the World Population Year and the WorldPopula·tion Conference,

1974.

(b) Studies:.

(i) Comparative studies of fertility levels; trends and differeritials iri African countries; ., ' ,

(ii) Study of marria",e patterns and their relation to

fertil i ty; '.~

(iii) Study of socio-economic factors of low fertility in specific popul;:>.t:ion/Zr0u.ps; , ,

.(iv) Study,of::Policies .andpr"~amme~ onJ1.q'ba¢,2latiolfl",nd :,.,....

population distribution;

(v ) Studies of methods and techniquel;l·in,fertili:ty an~lysis (includin", use of comJluters);

'(vi) Extent, orl"anization, and methodolo!,:y of Jlopulation programl)les inA.fricaj

(v~

^r);,Study 'of

:adl)lini~tr~

^{tion of}

.p~pulatien'~;ogJ,'~II\Ets;:

(viii)'Conlpa:l:'at:i.ve studies cifcommuriicati6riteehri:Lques tieed.'

,-.,- "'., '. ',.• " ,- .' ',',' , ' , ' , , ' _' ..,_~ . - '. ' . .' . • ,_, .' _,: " , '_ : .• c• .'_~, , .. _, .'_ " ,

by Afi'icari'countries 'in their pbJltilation Jlroi(raJilllies; : (c) Collection and dissemination of information:

. "(:i,);,G?~J?tl~t:i,on a,:d 4issemination. of selective documentation on data, )J'ess'arc'hand studiEia on pOpulation policies' a n d · : · prb#:t>~~~_e·~f~~:~.

..

_{_~l.t} ^',. . " . - . " , .' ,- ;~,^...._ ~,^{,. .:} r,~^,...

(ii) 00nducting,pilot studies on fertility,infant,mor,ta.l~ty and evaluation of JlopulationJlroR:ranliues in selected African ' ..' obuntries with a view to evolvin", suitable method~l0R:Yo

.~..^{( ,}

(d) Conferences, meetinR:s, seminars, andexJlert working groups:

(i) Working Group on fertility

l~~els

^and

diffe;~ntials:~nd:

the Jlrospects for the future

(1972);,

(ii) . Expert' Gruup ohnationalpopulation polioiesincltiding urbanization and pOJlulation distribution

(1973);

E/CN.14/CAD,1/2 Annex

Pa",e 5

•

(iii} Working Group on communication aspects of family planning pro",rammes (1974};

Expert Group on administration of :F,pulatiq<l,progralllme s

.- ,,". ", .. , ' , .' ., .. ,t::' -,,-'

(av ) (1975) ;

,,'(Y}:;Wq;r;k:i,p,~ClroU:p dneffeotiveness

Of

family planning progranl)ne:i:l'(197'Q}( ,

. ,~ ," " ,.,"....,'.',- ..^:,-

(vi} Study-tour onpopulatio~ pro~;ammes.

Re~ated

programmes,

There will be close

collaborati~n

between the Centre,

_~he

UN Headquarters, the relevant UN agenoies, inter-governmental anJ non-gOvernmental or,o:anizations and the EGA substantive divisions, 15A:3 Regional training and research

Origin:

General Assembly resolutions 2211 (XXI}, 2626 (XXV}; ECOSOC resolution 1347 (XLV); Ninth and Tenth Session, of the Commission

(Reports); First and second meetings of ECA Teohnical Committee of Experts (Reports); ECA resolution 230 (X}.

Projeot aim:

To assist African governments in meeting the need for trained

demo~raphio

personnel by providing facilities on all aspects of demographic training and research to trainees and researoh workers.

(a) Assistance to governments:

(i} Provision of assistance

to

African gcvernments and institutions in demographic training at national institutions;

(ii) Est.ablishment and maintenance of regional demographio training and research centres at Accra (for English-speaking countries) and Yaounde (for Frenah-speaking countries);

(d} Conferences, meetin",s, seminars, expert working groups:

on

_traini~

in

_dem{~raphy

and population Meetings of Direotors of UN Demographic Training and Centres (biennial from 197 2);

Trainill/l: programme on Census Tabulation System (CENTS) (ii )

(19?2}i

(iii) Meetin"s programmes (1973).

(i}

Research