Dar es Salaam - Government Officials, civil society partners, young people, academia, development partners, and representatives of the United Nations gathered today to reflect on opportunities, challenges and innovative solutions in advancing rights and choices in the context of population growth and climate change in the United Republic of Tanzania.
The event, co-hosted by the Royal Embassy of Denmark in Tanzania and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), featured a soft launch of the State of World Population report 2023, UNFPA’s annual flagship publication, titled: 8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities: the case for rights and choices.
Recognizing that the world population surpassed 8 billion people, and that the global population is living longer and enjoying healthier lives, the report notes widespread anxiety around population trends. The report illuminates that rather than aiming to affect fertility rates, population and development programming must focus on empowerment through the provision of rights and choices for all. The pertinent question is not about figures, but if individuals are able to make their own reproductive choices, recognizing the positive economic and social benefits of sexual and reproductive health and rights.
The inter-active dialogue held at the Residence of the Ambassador of Denmark, took place during Nordic Week (29 May-1 June), a series of events hosted by Nordic country embassies focusing on cooperation between Tanzania, Nordic countries and development partners under the theme “Friends in Tackling Climate Change.”
“As women and girls, men and boys prosper, when they are empowered with sexual and reproductive health rights and choices, so do their families and societies, enhancing resilience to challenges, including climate change,” said Ambassador of Denmark Mette Nørgaard Dissing-Spandet.
The launch event included a panel discussion, exhibition, and artistic performances. Themes focused on the challenges of population growth, and the role played by young people, and older generations’ accountability, to face forthcoming challenges with creative solutions to address the consequences of population growth, especially considering climate change. Four young innovators showcased their ideas on means to address future challenges faced by young people, including around climate change, education and sexual and reproductive health and rights.
“Sexual and reproductive health and rights are key to population wellbeing,” said UNFPA Representative, Mark Bryan Schreiner. “UNFPA is committed to enhance partnerships to support innovation and solutions together with the Government of Tanzania, and younger and older generations, to address population needs.”
Event speakers recognized that Tanzania has a young population structure and that Tanzanians are living longer and healthier lives. The potential of the dynamic youth population in Tanzania was highlighted, together with the need to empower youth. The aim to achieve a demographic dividend was emphasized, through expanded investment in employment, education and health, especially reproductive health and rights, in order to seize the opportunity for socio-economic growth.
The UNFPA State of World Population report 8 Billion Lives, Infinite Possibilities: the case for rights and choices can be accessed at: www.unfpa.org/swp2023
All Nordic countries are valued partners at core to UNFPA programming around the world. In Tanzania, UNFPA receives support from all Nordic countries to advance the UNFPA mission: to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.
For further information, please contact:
Warren Bright, UNFPA Tanzania Communications Analyst, Mobile: +255 764 43 44 45, Email: bwarren@unfpa.org
