by :
Prof. Dr. Haryono Suyono
Chairman, Damandiri Foundation, Jakarta
Professor at the University of Airlangga, Surabaya,

Keynote Address presented at the International Seminar on Population and Development
Asia Population and Development Association (APDA)
Jakarta, Indonesia, 2 May 2009


Honorable Mr. Yasuo Fukuda,
Chairman - Asia Population and Development Association (APDA),
Honorable Members of Parliaments,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

On this auspicious event I would like, first of all, to thank the APDA for the honor to deliver the keynote address to this most distinguished gathering. It is my duty to acknowledge the invaluable role and contribution of the Asia Population and Development Association (APDA) for its support to bring forth the prominence of population-development movement in this 20th century. The track record of this organization in participating and guiding parliamentarians the world over, particularly in Asia-Pacific, has brought many nations in these regions to become prioneers and champions in development, and more importantly, in positioning population as the central focus of development.

The role of APDA was most prominent since 1994, when world leaders and reknowned experts converged and brought forth the consensus on the erstwhile differring and often conflicting positions on population and development, mostly on the relationships between population growth and other elements of development. This consensus has created a most conducive atmosphere towards the success of numerous complex elements of development.

The successes of the population programs in this region, are all accruable to the strong political commitment of governments and the peoples, and the strong support by the parliamentarians, both in their official as well as their individual capacities. It was those successes that brought about the comprehensive resolutions emanating from the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo in 1994. At that paramount forum both the developed and the developing countries forged an inspiring and the long range plans of action, commonly called the Cairo Consensus, which integrated a wide range of population, development and human rights issues into one comprehensive package labelled as the “Blueprint for 20 years of Action”.

This year marks the 15 anniversary of that momentous and historical event, which actually would signify that the world has only 5 years remaining to attain the commitments of 15 years ago. Therefore, APDA’s initiative to host and organize this meeting is most commendable, with the particular aim to review past commitments and present achievements, and visions of the future, both in terms of accomplishing what we set out to do 20 years ago, as well as formulating new strategies to meet future challenges.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are all aware the Cairo Consensus positions individual populations as the focal point for development. As the ICPD was organized by UNFPA and other population-related world agencies, it reflects the dire needs for Family Planning and Reproductive Health services, and similarly for the needs for health services and education, which if all are fulfilling, that would signal that efforts towards the stable growth of the population are in place.

The Cairo Conference 15 years ago also culminated in the commitment to achieve all of the above through the provision of services for the people to meet their ideals in family size. The Conference also gave appreciation to the role of women in development. All of those were explicitly stated in the recognition of basic human rights for all, and clearly mentioned explicit concerns for efforts to empower women whose rights have often been relegated.

On the basis of that firm consensus, all concerned in population movement have worked very hard to achieve the 20 years target. Counttries in the Asia-Pacific region have become prioneers in FP and Health Movements, and have recorded significant strides in their demographic transitions. Many of these were adapted by countries in the African region and elsewhere. One would note that the developed nations required one-hundred to one-hundred-and-fifty years to achieve their demographic transition, appear to be the reason that they have given inadequate attention and concern to the plight of the large majority of developing nations.

In fact, countries which have experienced rapid demographic transitions, largely due to their successes in family planning and reproductive health programs, are actually facing greater challenges than just the mere increases in the number of deliveries and of infants. It is a fact that babies and infants, do not need much in terms of basic health and other needs fulfillment beyond the attention already given. What is daunting is actually the number of adolescents and youth who are uneducated and unemployed. They are the ones, if no firm actions are taken to remedy their conditions, who could pose the real threat to growth and stability. They are the ones who are so volatile and could explode and destroy all that have been done in terms of progress and development. Infant and child revolution can only encourage and motivate parents to take actions to raise them to become healthy youth, but revolution of the youth does not await parents to act. Revolution of the youth can be devastating and destroy all that they think could hamper their future. The youth demand that they are guaranteed of a better tomorrow; for them the past is best buried and be forgotten.

Countries which have achieved rapid transitions, yet have not adequately responded to those transitions, may find themselves with multiplied younger segments of their population, increased number of youth and the elderly, while on the other hand, are faced with adverse conditions of poverty and inadequate access to education, training, employment opportunities and the scarce capital fund. These countries may find themselves in a loosing race of their population growth against welfare interventions. The resultant is that many of those countries could not gain from the often said “population dividends”, and on the contrary beset by spiraling problems of poverty.
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is for the record that illuminated by the ICPD in Cairo, in the 1990’s the world saw that many other countries organized and hosted several other important foras. Among those were the International Conference on Women and Development in Beijing, China, and the International Conference on Social Development in Copenhagen, and various other international conferences. At approximately in the same time the world came to the realization on the importance of Human Rights and Human Development, which gave rise to the advent of the Human Development Index. All of those conferences and forums ultimately came to the concensus on development targets which in fact are mutually intertwined. The culmination of 1990’s development was the consensus reached in the year 2000 known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It goes without saying that the Cairo Consensus of 1994 was indeed an indispensible part of the MDGs of the year 2000.

It is with regret that one observes that the MDGs Consensus of 2000 was marred by the fact that UNFPA and several other population-related agencies, such as the USAID and others, have experienced declines in their programmes. It is also regretable that at almost the same period experts and officials within those agencies did not act decisive enough to maintain the prominence and importance of FP and Population Programs as the leading sector in the efforts to attain the MDGs targets. As a result, experts, officials and professionals became engrossed in various dialogues to underscore that the Cairo Consensus was not adequately accomodated in the new consensus of MDGs. They spent considerable time and efforts in demanding improvements to the MDGs consensus. This, in my opinion is where we have wasted 5 precious years in those dialogue and diatribes. The implication is that all we have achieved in placing the Cairo Consensus to the fore have declined throughout the world, and most notably in Asia and the Pacific. It is feared that if this is not adequately corrected, the population growth in these regions will cease to decline and may even revert to the increase.

In 2005 one observes a new development in the MDGs Consensus, i.e. the inclusion of the more prominent parts of the Cairo Consensus. Although some parts of the MDGs Consensus have been improved and adjusted, UNFPA’s programs and that of several other agencies, still explicitly focus on three major thrusts, i.e. Population and Development, Reproductive Health and Rights, and Gender Issues. If one were to link these programs with the MDGs, one would note that within the rubric of Population and Development many aspects could still be deliberated upon. Yet, from many Plans that we know of, the deliberations are scant, with reference devoted to a greater extend on reproductive topics, pregnancy and safe deliveries.

One would also find that the deliberations on reproductive health were also narrow in scope. Whereas actually MDGs addresses much on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases, one also finds that many population programs in this region do not adequately address the issues of other diseases which in fact could threaten the fruits of development, such as malaria and the avian influenza.

On the deliberations on gender issues one finds that the focus is limited to human rights, and more specifically to reproductive rights, and very scant – if at all – on the democratic rights to choose one’s path of life in terms of education, employment and other opportunities, to contribute and excel in one’s pursuit of welfare and happiness in accordance with one’s social beliefs and norms. Neither could one find deliberations on crime and violence in households and in families.

Further, one also finds scant deliberations on the ways and means to convince policy decision makers on measuring the impacts of development using population-based indicators which ultimately would result in establishing population-centered development policies and programs.

Encapsulated, the general impression of the deliberations in this category is the narrowing of thrusts and the statements on the depreciation of many population agencies in this region, which could arrive at the undesired result where attention and priorities are curtailed and limited. It also appears that the principles of interdependence and interrelations among the various elements in population and development were ignored or waived.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As resultant to the above, the Operational Principles as recently introduced by UNFPA, population and family planning agencies related programs in this region, were limited to only three major thrusts, i.e. the Human-Rights-based approaches, Gender Mainstreaming, and the Generally Sensitive approaches. It is observed that as the global agencies that have been the champion and stronger advocate of Human Resources Development, and which have produced significant numbers of FP and RH programs in the past, UNFPA and many population institutions around the world, appear to have ignored lessons learnt that those successes were not attributable to adherence to human rights or gender mainstreaming issues per se. Lessons have indicated that those successes were attributable to the hopes instilled upon FP and RH acceptors that their families will be able to enjoy enhanced welfare, improved health, and become more equipped to face future challenges. In fact, family welfare approaches has become the main feature in many international gatherings of the past, and many within their respective programs. Many have even debated which priority should be primary, whether it should be FP or Development.
Human Resources Development as put forth in the MDGs, commands the attention of policy decision makers as it deals explicitly with poverty alleviation, with health matters in general, with prevention of HIV/AIDS, with malaria and other diseases, such as the avian influenza, dengue fever; with child health, with education, with gender issues, with preservation of the environment, and linking all of the above with the broad base of international commitment and cooperation. Worth noting is that with poverty alleviation it is important to utilize Human Development Index and other indices of human quality, such as expectancy of life at birth, average years of schooling, literacy rates, and indices on decent standards of living.
It should be imperative if we were to mention all of the previously mentioned, such that population programs which we all have deliberated in all past international meetings, could remain current and consistent. It is also important to make all efforts in human resources development to be parallel with the overall development efforts, and to be consistent with MDGs and HDI ideals.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Whereas it is generally accepted that within the context of reproductive health and gender issues we should give emphasis on mainstreaming young people’s concerns, on the emergencies and in humanitarian assistance, and on the special attention to marginalized and excluded population, the sad fact remains that scant attention is given to to the plight of children of the poor, whose parents have adopted family planning ideals, and have raised them to survive to school-going ages, yet are unable to support them to school. It is also of serious concern to see the scant attention, if at all, of empowering the younger segment of the population who have survived to join the youth and the adolescents, yet remaining poor and unable to enjoy proper education and training, and thus would remain unemployed and underprivileged..
It would be desirable if we put more concerns, that within the context of establishing harmonious family life, to make tangible efforts to equip the younger generations for a better tomorrow. One would think of this as paramount considering the possibilities of having a “lost generation” in the midst of progress and development; a cohort of young people with no access to adequate health services, who are uneducated due to the poverty of their parents, and who are unemployed, and hence a burden to the society in general.
One should also consider the possible phenomenon of change in the rural areas where one would find an abundance of young people, having survived childhood maladies such as infant and child diseases, enter the already overloaded agricultural work force. They would become a significant segment of the population who could threaten to “nurture” poverty. It is in this realm that the need is direly felt to give emphasis to empowering the communities based upon local potentials.
Ladies and gentlemen,

Despite the criticism about the lack of expedience, one should give appreciation to the UNFPA who gives greater authority to its country offices, although such breakthrough is not enough. Agencies such as UNFPA, USAID and the like, who to date operate in the population area, would need to put greater concern to the need of Asian countries who have made great progress in FP and Health programs, and who have to date recorded rapid demographic transition. Those countries are in urgent need for assistance such that their achievements could be brought to the attention of the politicians, the leaders of the executive and legislative branches. They need to be socialized in the new approaches of development, placing family empowerment and the population as their main programs. Family and Population Empowerment should be the nucleus to convert MDGs targets into just and equitable welfare in their respective countries.

The UNFPA, US AID and other population and family planning offices could become effective triggers and stimulators in establishing and strengthening operational networks at the local and field levels. Due to limited funds, ussualy these international offices become the source of funds and resources to plan and develop “models”, rather than concentrating on “final impact” projects. Model projects are generally small and can have little impact to large countries such as Indonesia. These models and pioneering activities will ultimately need to be further replicated, multiplied and expanded using local community and government resources. It should be emphasized therefore that UNFPA and other international donors could facilitate the mobilization of complementary and supplementary resources from other international agencies, such that by-and-large all programs and projects could be implemented with global standards, yet fulfilling local needs.

In many undertakings, donor agencies such as UNFPA and others prefer to work with government agencies. They ussually put emphasis on the development of a network involving and inclusive of the central government, provincial governments and local district governments. It is reminded in this context that a viable network should not be mainly built on partnering with government agencies which are known to be lacking in stability, especially with the oft and periodic changes in government structures and administration. Emphasis therefore, is submitted to consider socio cultural approaches to strengthen the confidence, and giving greater empowerment to the civil society.

With specific regards to network building and bridging partnerships with non-governmental and civil organizations, permit me to submit a vivid illustration of what some NGOs, the one I am leading being one of those. Our intensive and sustained advocacy on new approaches and a new paradigm for family and community development, especially targetted to government officials at all levels, have swung away their bureaucratic visions to a more innovative views adapting our approaches into their public policies. This is the partnership we want to institutionalize all over, considering that our vision and approach is on empowering the peoples and their families, rather than dictating what the government wants to see done.

It is further emphasized that organizational and institutional development should not be solely based on knowledge-based considerations, rather it should also include the population-based premises. Project and program locations serving larger numbers of population and clientele, should be given higher priority for capacity building and capacity enhancement with the ultimate aim of creating self-sufficiency and self-confidence.

The scope of advocacy should be placed on people as the focus of development. People should come forth as the potential and the strength for inviting investments in human resources, promising multiple returns and dividends. These human resources investments should be made so attractive, not only to the government circles but the public in general.

It is further submitted, as briefly stated above, that in the Indonesian program, empowering the family as the smallest unit of the society, especially at the grass roots, is indeed of utmost strategic value. It is therefore recommended that enhancing the quality and value of the family be placed high on the priority list. Indonesia is convinced, and have experienced that only through this priority can development efforts be tangibly felt by the people and the beneficiaries, and be sustained through time and surmount future challenges.

Nurturing the enhancement of family welfare is to be done within the context of local and incumbent socio cultural norms and values. It is proved that by heeding to these confines, that absorption of newly developed change values can be nurtured and institutionalized. Again using the Indonesian experience, it is submitted that those socio cultural norms and values dictate eight functions of the Indonesian families, which would guarantee the success of all development endeavors. Those eight functions are (1) believe in the Almighty God, (2) the cultural function, (3) nurturing affection and care, (4) sanctuary for all members of the family, (5) the reproductive function, (6) the education function, (7) the economic function, and (8) preservation of the environment.

It is further submitted that in the Indonesian program, the most recent approach to empower the family and all members of the family is best done through the establishment of POSDAYA, i.e. local village posts for the empowerment of all members of the family. This is a regular forum of families and community members to deliberate, decide and plan all community and family activities for the benefit of all members of the family. These posts can be community based, or faith based, or even functional based. The activities of the POSDAYA are centered on the four broad elements of MDGs, i.e. health, education, economic activities and the environment.

The POSDAYA has become institutionalized and inculcated in the daily fabric of social life, especially of rural life in all villages. The POSDAYA are led by local village leaders with strong support of the ulamas (religious circles), and the commitment of all local community prominents. This forum also becomes the nucleus of social and community movement based on the eight functions of the family as mentioned above.

The forum also guarantees the democratic rights of individuals to choose their respective paths of life towards attaining their respective welfare ideals, both in terms of their physical and spiritual need fulfillment. It is these fora which have strengthened the validity of population-centered indicators, which when appropriately applied will at the same time attain the MGDs, which indeed are parallel with UNFPA’s vision.

It is important to note that all the thoughts presented are based on the premise that our efforts to achieve Cairo Consensus should not only giving heavier emphasis to developing countries who have not yet gone far, or have not yet embarked, in FP and RH programs. One would take this opportunity to encourage donor communities to also take side with countries who have taken significant strides in successfully implementing the program. To the latter countries, donors’contribution would be more on encouraging those countries to make more tangible and significant investments in their human resources in its widest possible scope. Successes in human resources investments, will certainly guarantee long-term dividends, and will bring those countries to a higher plane of perpetual propelling development.

I thank you Honorable Chairman.
PDF….