Laila Baker, UNFPA Regional Director for Arab States, discussed the opportunities that population dynamics bring, in her address at the Global Congress on Population, Health and Human Development on October 21.

In a session titled, “Mainstreaming Human Development: Unpacking “capabilities” and expanding human agency,” Baker addressed different ways population dynamics significantly influence sustainable human development.

Baker highlighted the importance of planning and resource allocation for equitable and sustainable growth, the importance of eliminating inequality and the gender gap, as well as the importance of social protection programs, “where healthcare, including sexual and reproductive healthcare and family planning, is integrated not preferably but centrally in that discussion.”

Baker said that while a growing population can lead to great anxiety, it can also lead to a larger workforce.

“Job creation, if it is keeping pace with that population growth, can lead to enormous productivity not just in GDP but also in terms of closing the gender gap,” she said.

She continued to explain that globally and regionally, while women and girls are the backbone of their communities and the heroes that have held the families together, “yet too often their voices have been silenced and their potential untapped, their rights denied or stymied, and health and prosperity curtailed.”

This, she said, is a cause that goes beyond boundaries, cultures and prejudices. “This is a cause that speaks to the essence of our very humanity; and that is the right to life, dignity and opportunity to freedom and fulfillment.”

In her concluding statement, Baker urged participants to continue working as partners for a future where every individual has that opportunity to thrive regardless of their demographic background.

“Let us make this world the one that we have aspired to for the last 30 years,” she said.

In the same session, UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, Elena Panova, explained that high level political commitment is critical in mainstreaming human development in the decision-making.

She explained that this is because it requires adjustments to government structures and a shift in the mindset of decision and policy makers, in order to ensure they have the capacity to design, deliver and measure human-centered policies.

Panova drew parallels between mainstreaming human development and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).

“Experience from the SDGs gives us guidance with regard to how to mainstream human development because they have multidimensional principles and indicators,” she explained.

“Approaches to mainstreaming human development share elements with approaches to implementing the SDGs and mainstreaming them across policies, because of cross sectoral planning, budgeting and monitoring, and prioritizing people-centered governance,” Panova said.

Finally, Panova underlined that advancing the population, health and human development agenda demands international and national collective action rooted in solidarity equity and meaningful participation.