I. Zimbabwe has been implementing the Programme of Action (PoA) of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) which was adopted by 179 countries in 1994, in Cairo. Periodic reviews have been conducted since then to assess progress, identify gaps and challenges, and to advocate for policy changes in order to achieve national development goals and priorities in line with the principles and commitments reflected in the ICPD PoA.
II. In November 2019, the international community commemorated 25 years of implementation of the ICPD PoA in Nairobi Kenya. The Governments of Kenya, Denmark and UNFPA co-convened the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 to mobilize the political will and financial commitments for the full implementation of the ICPD PoA. Countries made specific commitments aligned with the 12 global commitments on the following five themes:
- Universal Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in the context of universal health coverage
- Creating financing momentum
- Demographic diversity and sustainable development
- Gender Based violence and Harmful Practices against women and girls
- Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights in humanitarian and fragile contexts
III. Zimbabwe made country specific commitments in line with the 12 global commitments, which were outlined in the “Nairobi Statement on ICPD25: Acceleration of the Promise” endorsed at the Summit. The commitments were based on the 2018 review on the implementation of the Addis Ababa Declaration on Population and Development (AADPD), and other relevant national and sectoral policy documents.
IV. Post the Nairobi Summit (2019), a multisectoral National ICPD Taskforce was put in place to coordinate and periodically review implementation of the 12 Commitments made by the Government of Zimbabwe to accelerate towards achievements of the ICPD PoA goals and objectives.
V. The Government of Zimbabwe successfully hosted the 20th International Inter-Ministerial Conference (IIMC) on South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) in Population and Development in October 2023 in Victoria Falls. This was a High-Level Consultative Meeting which was officially opened by His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the republic of Zimbabwe which adopted the Victoria Falls Declaration.
VI. Coordinated by the ICPD Taskforce, Zimbabwe successfully produced the AADPD@10 National Report which, at the 2023 Lusaka Conference, contributed to the AADPD Continental Report.
VII. In preparation of the 57th Session of the Commission on Population and Development on ICPD30 scheduled from 29 April to 3 May, 2024 in New York, the ICPD Taskforce coordinated a review of progress on the implementation of Zimbabwe’s ICPD Commitments and produced a National Report, covering the period 2022 to 2023 when data collection and reporting started.
The key highlights of the report are contained in this abridged report.
