13 March 2013: The Global Thematic Consultation on Population Dynamics culminated in a High-level Meeting (HLM) in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from 12-13 March 2013. The HLM, which was organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with support from the Governments of Bangladesh and Switzerland, resulted in the “Dhaka Declaration on the Global Leadership Meeting on Population Dynamics” in the context of the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

The meeting, which was attended by over 100 participants, focused on four mega-trends: high fertility and population growth; low fertility and population aging; migration and human mobility; and urbanization. Participants convened in six working sessions to identify public policy recommendations. Sessions on each of the mega-themes and on setting the scene and the way forward for national, regional and global level action were also held.

Participants reached convergence on a number of issues, including: putting humans at the center of the development agenda and the discussion on population dynamics; the need for public-private partnerships, and inter-ministerial and cross-sectoral collaboration; and support for rights-based and gender-responsive approaches to address the challenges and opportunities associated with population dynamics. They also called for integrating unfinished elements of the MDGs into the post-2015 development agenda, such as partnerships and participation, gender equity as impacted by migration, linkages to climate change and environmental factors, and universal access to health. They further recommended that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Areas of divergence also emerged, including on whether there should be a stand-alone goal on population dynamics or whether population should be addressed as a cross-cutting development issue, with implications for goals and indicators in a number of areas. Participants also debated referencing South-South and North-South concerns, with some stressing that population dynamics cut across these divides.

The Declaration, inter alia, reaffirms people at the center of the development agenda, recognizes population dynamics as integral to sustainable development and notes population mega-trends that are at the forefront of national and international development agendas. The Declaration will be used to engage with the High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (HLP), the Open Working Group (OWG) on SDGs and other key processes in preparation for the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Special Event on the MDGs in September 2013 and beyond. [IISD RS Meeting Coverage] [Consultation on Population Dynamics] [IOM Website on Consultation]