Reviving Africa’s Promise: Dr. Rashid Pelpuo Leads Parliamentarians in Kigali Dialogue
In a gathering of distinguished parliamentarians and esteemed international partners in Kigali, Rwanda, a powerful call to action resounded as Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, President of the African Parliamentarians Forum on Population and Development (APFPD), addressed the audience.
At the heart of his speech was a resounding reminder of the critical mission at hand: the urgent need to reverse the detrimental trends impacting the African continent.
With unwavering conviction, Dr. Pelpuo emphasized that, as parliamentarians, they were both children of the solution and the key agents of change.
This bold declaration set the tone for the African and Asian Parliamentarians’ Dialogue, a conference of paramount importance held from October 24 to 26, 2023, which aimed to address the profound challenges facing Africa and set forth a course of action towards ICPD30 and AADPD10.
Drawing on a powerful analogy, he recounted a story of a man who had liberated his people from oppression but struggled to manage the newfound wealth and resources, leading to suffering and discontent.
Dr. Pelpuo emphasized the need for African Parliamentarians to take responsibility for their nations’ development and reverse unfavorable trends.
Regarding the financial support of the APFPD, Dr. Pelpuo acknowledged that the forum was not self-sustaining, despite the wealth within their countries.
He reported that partnerships with organizations such as the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) had enabled various activities, including the finalization of the forum’s constitution and strategic plan.
Dr. Pelpuo then listed key activities that the APFPD had undertaken with the support of its partners. These activities included meetings in Dar Es Salaam to review the constitution and strategic plan, a virtual meeting via Zoom to discuss countries’ progress and challenges in population and development policies, and participation in the GCPPD Meeting in Japan, which focused on the ICPD25 commitments and the 2030 Agenda in a post-COVID world.
He also expressed appreciation for members who had championed the Population Agenda in their respective parliamentary activities.
Dr. Pelpuo emphasized that these accomplishments were made possible through the support of partners such as the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Eastern and Southern Africa Office (ESARO).
In conclusion, Dr. Rashid Pelpuo outlined several tasks projected for the future, including the establishment of the forum’s secretariat in Ghana, the hiring of a coordinator and Director of Finance, the completion of the strategic plan, and plans for a study visit to Uganda. These efforts are aimed at further strengthening the APFPD’s resource base and expanding its capacity for population interventions.
The speech delivered by Dr. Rashid Pelpuo at the African and Asian Parliamentarians’ Dialogue emphasized the importance of collective action and partnerships in advancing the population and development agenda in Africa.
