African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) Receives 2023 United Nations Population Award
AFIDEP awarded UN Population Award for institutional work.
New York, US - The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) has been announced as the laureate of the 2023 United Nations Population Award in the institutional category, writes Tionge Hara.
The United Nations Selection Committee, in its announcement, praised AFIDEP's evidence-based approach and collaboration with governments, civil society organizations, and international partners, which have resulted in impactful programming and positive outcomes in areas such as family planning, maternal health, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and African population dynamics.
AFIDEP's work has played a vital role in shaping policies and programmes that promote sustainable population growth in Africa.
"It is with great honour and immense gratitude that I accept the 2023 U.N. Population Award on behalf of the African Institute for Development Policy, AFIDEP. This accolade validates the significance of our work and serves as a catalyst for further growth and progress in our mission towards a better and more prosperous future for all Africans," said Dr. Eliya Zulu, Founder and Executive Director of AFIDEP.
Dr. Zulu acknowledged the collective effort behind AFIDEP's success.
"Through the founding Directors' vision, the Board of Directors' strategic leadership, hardworking staff, resource partners, partnerships with UNFPA, other U.N. agencies and non-governmental organizations, and supportive policymakers, AFIDEP triumphed many start-up challenges," he said.
Dr. Thomas Munthali, Director General of the National Planning Commission in Malawi, praised AFIDEP's contributions.
"AFIDEP has remained one of NPC's leading partners in research and policy analysis and advisory that has informed the formulation and implementation of the Malawi 2063 national vision. The quality of their input demonstrated their pedigree in offering solutions to various challenges affecting countries around the globe. Congratulations to team AFIDEP on the Award," he said.
AFIDEP has been at the forefront of promoting the demographic dividend as a crucial development paradigm in Africa.
Driven by collaboration with national governments, regional intergovernmental entities, the African Union, development partners, philanthropies, and civil society, AFIDEP has worked across more than 20 African countries on the demographic dividend paradigm.
They have directly supported 15 African governments in developing Demographic Dividend intelligence, resulting in ten countries incorporating the principles of the demographic dividend into their medium and long-term development strategies.
"Even as we celebrate, we acknowledge that progress is uneven, and most countries are likely to fall short of their human development SDGs by 2030. We, therefore, call on U.N. Member States to ensure that boys and girls stay in school at least up to the secondary level. Governments should increase domestic financing to counter the effects of the debt burden, COVID-19, climate change, and local and global conflicts," said Dr. Zulu.
The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) is an African-led, regional non-profit policy think tank established in 2010 to help bridge the gaps between research, policy, and practise in African development efforts.
They analyze, synthesise, and translate evidence (i.e., data and analysis) and use it to generate or strengthen political commitment, inform resource allocation, programme design, and implementation.