Jakarta, 15 April 2015. The United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) Executive Director, Prof. Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, will visit Jakarta from April 19-21 to participate in the World Economic Forum on East Asia Summit and meet with several key ministers to underline how Indonesia can capitalize on its demographic dividend.
Dr. Osotimehin, Nigeria’s former Minister of Health and UNFPA’s Executive Director since 2011, will highlight the importance of the link between population changes and the UNFPA’s development priorities when he meets with high-level Government officials in the capital, as well as representatives from the private sector, media, civil society organizations, youth networks and development partners.
As the world’s fourth most populous country enters the early stages of the demographic transition – a period where average lifespans increase due to a decline in death rates – Indonesia has the potential to reap a demographic dividend. There are currently 65 million young people in Indonesia – the largest generation of young people that Indonesia has ever seen.
“Investments in the rights and well-being of adolescents and youth, now and throughout their lives, will unleash a demographic dividend of inclusive, sustainable economic growth in many countries, as they see larger numbers of young working age people relative to children and older persons,” said Dr. Osotimehin, who holds the rank of Under-Secretary General of the United Nations.
With the country’s demographic window of opportunity open until 2030 – the projected date from BPS Statistics Indonesia, the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) and UNFPA – the next 15 years will be a critical time where the ratio of people at a working age to those of a non-working age will peak. Projected estimates from the UN Population Division revealed that while the population aged 15-64 will continue to grow until 2050, the number of people aged 65 and above will rise considerably during the century, so that by around 2060-70 there will, for the first time ever in Indonesia, be more people over 65 than children under 15.
As the Chairperson of the World Economic Forum’s Global Council on Demographic Dividend, Dr. Osotimehin is also committed to bring Africa and Asia together on the demographic dividend agenda, leveraging the best practices of Asian economies through the South-South cooperation with those in Africa, who are also focused on reaping the social and economic benefits of the dividend.
“In our interconnected and globalized world, this dividend will pay off for all. Realizing this potential requires a powerful commitment to health, and in particular to ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights throughout the life course,” Dr. Osotimehin said in a speech during the 48th session of the Commission on Population and Development in New York on Monday, April 13.
Along with Dr. Osotimehin’s participation at the regional 24th World Economic Forum, at a session addressing health needs in Asia, his visit will also be an opportunity to meet with the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) and to take part in a discussion with Indonesia’s FP2020 country committee – a global movement aimed at expanding access to comprehensive and rights-based family planning information, services and supplies to 120 million more women and girls in 69 of the world’s poorest and middle income countries by 2020.
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UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Samidjo, National Programme Officer for Advocacy, UNFPA Indonesia
+62 812 106 8328 or samidjo@unfpa.org
Ms. Sandra Siagian, Media and Communications Consultant, UNFPA Indonesia
+62 812 8512 5826 or ssiagian@unfpa.org
