You are here

Twenty-five years ago, the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) put people’s rights at the heart of development and emphasized that empowering women and girls as a key to ensuring the well-being of individuals, families, nations and our world. The world has witnessed significant progress in implementing the ICPD Programme of Action since 1994. Despite the impressive gains, additional efforts are still needed to reach those who have been left behind. Full and effective implementation of the ICPD agenda remains essential to achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This report represents an attempt to promote a people-centred sustainable development agenda in the Arab region through a tool quantifying and tracking achievements made by Arab states towards the ICPD and related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from a population dynamics lens. It is founded on the principle that individuals are the centre of SDG implementation, and that any success towards the SDGs must be evidenced by a positive change in the lives of people, while ensuring that “no one is left behind”. The report introduces a Composite Index for ICPD-based SDG dimensions called “Population Development Composite Index-PDCI”. It is based on the five themes (pillars) stipulated in the United Nations General Assembly resolution 65/234 on the review of the implementation of the Programme of Action of the ICPD, namely; dignity and human rights, health, place and mobility, governance and accountability; and sustainability. Development of the index had gone through extensive literature review, detailed investigation and holding various consultations to select and reach consensus on the relevant indicators as explained in the methodology chapter. Expert opinions, and key UNFPA strategic documents were consulted while constructing different scenarios of the composite index. Finally, relevant statistical and validity tests were conducted to confirm and validate the “final” list of indicators. The scientific research work contained in the report, however should be considered a pilot phase. We expect to improve and fine tune indicators and data sources as well as calculation of weights and aggregation as we move forward.