Inter-lInkages between PoPulatIon DynamIcs anD DeveloPment In ...

CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTIONThe inter-linkages between population dynamics - size, growth, age-sex composition, and distribution - anddevelopment, particularly economic growth and poverty reduction, need for public services, gender, sexualand reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and HIV/AIDS, have been a subject of considerable literature.However, the nature and quantum of linkage effects, although significant, remain difficult to quantify. Theyalso possibly depend upon the prevailing context.It is therefore, essential that development planning takes into account these inter-linkages and both respondto population dynamics as well as directly and indirectly influence them. These three country case studiescovering Bangladesh, India and Malaysia, is prepared to understand how plans of various development sectorstake into account these inter-linkages and identify some promising practices to address these inter-linkages.Documentation ProcessThe three country case studies 1 were prepared through review of policies and plans, and relevant secondaryliterature. Given the vast amount of literature available, the review is fractional rather than comprehensive.A checklist developed by ICOMP was used to assess how well the inter-linkages between population dynamicsand gender equality, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV/AIDS were incorporated into a country’sdevelopment plan. Whether population dynamics, gender equality, HIV/AIDS and SRH were taken into accountwhen planning for improving the quality of life, poverty reduction and sustainable development, and how wellit was taken into account were also gauged.For Bangladesh, based on the most recent country development plan - the National Strategy for AcceleratedPoverty Reduction, 2009-2011, which is the PRSP 2 - an assessment was made as to how well populationdynamics and gender equality, SRH and HIV/AIDS were incorporated in the development planning process, interms of indicators and programmes/interventions. For India and Malaysia, the Eleventh Five-year Plan(2007-2012) and the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010) were used, respectively.In addition, interviews were conducted with several key persons in the field. In Bangladesh, interviews withkey personnel from the Planning Commission of Bangladesh, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW),Department of Women’s Affairs, and UNFPA Bangladesh were carried out. In India, personnel from thePlanning Commission, Government of India were interviewed. In Malaysia, interviews were carried out withpersonnel from various sections of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Prime Minister’s Department of Malaysia.In Chapter 2, we take a brief look at the population and development dynamics; relevant policies related tothe inter-linkages between population dynamics and development; and addressing the inter-linkages betweenpopulation dynamics and development in the country development plan in each of the three countries. Thepromising practices and challenges are presented in Chapters 3 and 4, respectively. Chapter 5 concludeswith a discussion on recommendations for strengthening the inter-linkages between population dynamics anddevelopment.1The case study on India was developed by Jay Satia, and the case studies on Bangladesh and Malaysia were developed by Hwei MianLim for ICOMP with support from the Asia and the Pacific Regional Office of the United Nations Population Fund (APRO, UNFPA).1