Zambia: AFIDEP to co-facilitate consultations on the Demographic Dividend investment
Event Date: 14 - 15 Dec 2016
Event Location: Lusaka, Zambia

The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) will co-facilitate a two-day Demographic Dividend Investment Consultation with UNFPA and the Government of Zambia. The meeting is aimed at assessing national and sub-national prospects to enable Zambia to harness the demographic dividend (DD). Executive Director, Dr. Eliya Zulu and the Director, Science Communications and Evidence Uptake, Dr Rose Oronje will represent AFIDEP at the meeting. The meeting is taking place on December 14 – 15, 2016, in Lusaka, Zambia.

The meeting aims to achieve five main outcomes as follows: develop a clear and compelling use of geospatial diagnostics – illustrating locations and sectors where national and sub-national action/investments are needed in Zambia; develop a national policy guidance note that integrates national development planning and investments focused on key priorities and policy directions required to address persistent development challenges and/or shortfalls in Zambia; promote commitment from other participating countries to conduct similar consultations and processes for identifying priority investment areas; identify champions in all countries within private, public and civil society organisations who will advocate for select investments, in key sectors and the broader society; and seek commitments by major private and public sector agencies on specific actions that will address the priority investment areas.

Representatives from a number of African countries have been invited to the meeting to share experiences related to efforts they are making to harness the demographic dividend, including high-level political commitment, evidence generation and use and deliberate policy and programmatic investments. They include Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Uganda.

Also present at the meeting are collaborating institutions like the African Development Bank (AfDB), World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Coca Cola Foundation (TCCAF); as well as regional institutions including the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), STATS South Africa and the Ford Foundation.