the board of trustees of the Higher Population Council discussed the general framework of the 2019 HPC work plan, third quarter achievements for 2018, as well as progress of programs, activities, opportunities and implementation challenges as per the strategic plan. The meeting was chaired by minister of planning and international cooperation, Dr. Mary Kawar, and attended by a number of ministers and representatives of the relevant national bodies.
HPC supports population issues and policies and tackles related challenges to create an appropriate policy environment to improve the social and economic conditions for members of society, realize and invest the demographic dividend, propose policies, mechanisms and procedures, raise awareness of population issues and make data and information in this area available.
The board was briefed on the activities and initiatives aimed at supporting population policies and advocating decision-makers and stressed the need for national institutions to cooperate with the HPC to serve population issues and policies and support the implementation of its projects and future aspirations.
The board emphasized the need to involve HPC in development planning by providing a demographic dimension to the process, especially important information on the size, composition and characteristics of the population to understand society, considering that the consequences of demographic changes do not only impact the social structure of society but also the state’s policies and related decisions.
The secretary general of the Higher Population Council, Dr. Abla Amawi, overviewed the Council's achievements for the third quarter, the progress of its programs and activities, the opportunities and challenges facing the implementation as per its strategic plan, the general framework of its 2019 work plan, which will include the implementation of programs involving the preparation of studies and policy briefs, capacity building programs, awareness campaigns, and advocacy for priority population issues so as to help integrate the population dimension into the development planning process, as well as focus on youth issues, women, migration and asylum to achieve and invest in the demographic dividend.
Amawi explained that the during the 18th meeting of heads of national population councils and committees in Arab countries held last year in Jordan Arab states supported the proposal of Jordan to establish an Arab Council for Population and Development under the Arab League and the proposal was approved at the recently-held 102 ordinary session of the Economic and Social Council of the Arab League. The proposal will help enhance, formalize and coordinate national and regional efforts aimed at achieving sustainable population development in the Arab region and strengthen cooperation in formulating regional and national policies, strategies and action plans to improve the welfare and demographic conditions in countries.
Amawi also stated that HPC has recently released the findings and policy brief on the “Entrepreneurial Attitudes of Young Labor Market Entrants and the Supporting Institutional Environment in Jordan” and has completed a study and policy brief which will be published soon on the demographic characteristics of Syrians in Jordan and means to address created by the refugee crisis in the labor market”.
Moreover, Amawi pointed out that in addition to participating in local and international activities and events in the field of population and development, HPC has several programs underway to build the capacity of partners in the field of integrating a demographic perspective in the development planning process, and enhancing the collaborative approach in evidence-based policy adoption, measuring population-related KPIs.
