UNFPA Partners With UCLG to Advance the ICPD Agenda at the Local Level

UNFPA is partnering with United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) to scale up local-level action addressing the challenges of population and development in rural and urban communities across 175 countries. As the global population grows and development gains unravel, this two-year partnership is critical for accelerating delivery of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development that places individual dignity and human rights at the centre of development.
 
Diene Keita, UNFPA’s Deputy Executive Director describes the partnership as a “first step to see what we can do differently and how we can innovate at the ground level to move forward our agenda for men and women.”
 
Working with mayors and local government leaders representing 5 billion people and 70 per cent of the world’s population, UCLG and UNFPA will strengthen policies and services to advance the ICPD vision of inclusive, equitable and sustainable development. This includes joint advocacy and activities to ensure progress on key ICPD issues such as urbanization, demographic diversity and universal access to family planning. The partnership will also support local governments and service providers to better understand the impact of population and development on the future of cities.
 
“This partnership is a historic moment for local authorities and for our organization. We can assure you of our commitment to the well-being of women and girls; 2030 is around the corner,” said Fatimetou Abdel Malick, the UCLG Co-President, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two organizations.
 
ICPD champions, selected from UCLG’s membership of mayors and local leaders, will be charged with growing local commitment to translate the ICPD agenda into action. Through this partnership, local government perspectives will also be gathered and integrated into the 30-year review of the ICPD. As ICPD’s 30-year anniversary approaches, UNFPA is facilitating the review process to take stock of progress and to reflect on the current status and the future of ICPD implementation. Through dedicated ICPD30 events, local leaders will celebrate key achievements, recommit to the ICPD agenda and position critical issues for the post-2030 population agenda.