PSN plans to replicate Parliamentary Hearings process internationally

The Return of the Population Growth Factor, a Report published by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Population, Development and Reproductive Health in 2007 and updated in 2009, collates the findings of the series of Hearings at Westminster that examined the impact of population growth on the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals.

Initially proposed by PSN to the APPG, these hearings received written evidence from some 50  organisations across the world, including UNFPA, World Bank, World Health Organisation, governments, NGOs, PSN was represented on the steering group for the hearings, and has provided input to the promotion of the Report.

The APPG Report has been recognised internationally by policy makers, NGOs and academic specialists as playing a key role raising the profile of population among decision takers. Its findings show unequivocally that unless population growth is effectively addressed, especially in a range of poorer countries in sub Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia, the MDGs will be difficult or impossible to achieve. 

To read the Report please click here.

PSN is currently developing a series of major initiatives, including:

• Support for Hearings in individual African and Asian country parliaments and legislatures to examine the local impact of population increase
• Assessment of potential for using the Hearings format in the USA, following the Presidential elections, to promote the policy and  budget profile of population issues and help target resource allocation
• Opportunity for assessing the relationship of population growth with other sectors, hitherto little explored, including localised reviews of its impact on business performance.

Please contact us for further information.