Africa
Reproductive health
Population and development strategies
Advocacy
...............................................
Arab States
Central and Eastern Europe
Asia and the Pacific
Latin America and the Caribbean
Interregional Programmes
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Mothers waiting with children to visit a clinic in
Bamako, Mali. Such visits provide good opportunities for family planning counselling.
The implementation of population programmes in sub-Saharan Africa continued to progress
during the year, inter alia, as a result of increased awareness and commitment among
policy makers, and traditional and religious leaders. By the end of 1997, 23 African
countries had officially adopted population policies and 11 others were in the process of
doing so. Several countries are revising their population policies to include the goals
and recommendations of the ICPD Programme of Action. Throughout the region, efforts are
under way to increase partnerships among Government, local NGOs, women’s groups,
youth groups and local communities in the design and implementation of population
activities. Also visible is an increase in the technical expertise available at the
country level. In this regard, UNFPA Country Support Teams (CSTs) have continued to help
build national capacity for population and development programme implementation. However,
despite these noticeable advances, political and social instabilities in the region have
contributed to a slowing down in the momentum of programme implementation and expenditure
levels.
Fifteen Programme Review and Strategy Development (PRSD) exercises were undertaken in the
Africa region during 1997 and were characterized by greater participation of nationals,
both governmental and non-governmental. This helped to generate a shared sense of
ownership and commitment to programme planning and implementation. In addition to four
subregional meetings for UNFPA country representatives, a regional meeting was organized
in Harare, Zimbabwe, in November, to review progress in implementing the ICPD Programme of
Action.
The Fund continued its assistance to the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which,
together with the African Population Commission, organized a meeting to review issues such
as population and conflict in Africa, the implementation of the Dakar-Ngor Declaration and
the ICPD Programme of Action and to prepare for the ICPD+5 review and appraisal.
Representatives from 42 countries in Africa participated in the meeting. At a technical
meeting to review progress in the implementation of the Special Initiative on Africa,
UNFPA led a session focusing on mainstreaming population and gender in the context of the
Special Initiative. The Fund also engaged in strengthening its collaboration in the region
with, inter alia, UNICEF, UNHCR, WHO and the World Bank.
A key highlight of the year was the African Forum on Adolescent Reproductive Health, held
in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January, and organized by UNFPA in collaboration with the
Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA). The meeting brought together
approximately 500 participants, including some 200 youth from 48 countries. The Forum,
which provided opportunities to strengthen youth networks and stimulate youth involvement
in population activities, focused on such themes as the impact of religion, culture and
society on adolescent reproductive health; policy and legislation on adolescent
reproductive health; and reaching adolescents through family life education and
information, education and communication (IEC) strategies. The recommendations and
resolutions emerging from the Forum have been presented to the OAU Council of Ministers.
AFRICA (SUB-SAHARAN)
| |
|
In thousand
of US dollars |
Percentage of
total programme |
| |
By major section |
1996 |
1997 |
1996 |
1997 |
| |
Reproductive health / family
planning |
41,538 |
70,789 |
63.2 |
59.4 |
| |
Population and development
strategies |
20,966 |
42,728 |
31.9 |
35.8 |
| |
Advocacy |
3,220 |
5,755 |
4.9 |
4.8 |
| |
Total |
65,724 |
119,272 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
Country
Activities by Group
|
| |
A |
54,893 |
100,084 |
89.4 |
90.2 |
| |
B |
5,969 |
10,234 |
9.7 |
9.2 |
| |
C |
283 |
334 |
0.5 |
0.3 |
| |
Other countries |
274 |
280 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
| |
Total country activities |
61,419 |
110,932 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Country activities |
61,419 |
110,932 |
93.4 |
93.0 |
| |
Regional activities |
4,305 |
8,340 |
6.6 |
7.0 |
| |
Total Region |
65,724 |
119,272 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
Figures and percentages
may not add up to the totals given due to rounding. Figures for 1996 are for
expenditures; figures for 1997 are for allocations.
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