This year marks the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, where 179 governments adopted a landmark Programme of Action which set out to empower women and girls for their sake, and for the benefit of
their families, communities and nations.

We have made incredible gains since then, but too many people are still being left behind. And too many nations have not been able to fully reap the demographic dividend because young people and other groups still lack agency, education and access to critical health services.

Increasing the pressure is the deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. We cannot do that if we don’t also reach the goals laid out in the ICPD Programme of Action.

From 12-14 November, the governments of Kenya and Denmark and UNFPA are co-convening the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, a high-level conference to mobilize the political will and financial commitments we urgently need to finally and fully implement the ICPD Programme of Action. These commitments will be centred around achieving zero unmet need for family planning information and services, zero preventable maternal deaths, and zero sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls.

The Summit aims to bring everyone together: heads of state, ministers, parliamentarians, thought-leaders, technical experts, civil society organizations, grassroots organizations, young people, business and community leaders, faith-based organizations, indigenous peoples, international financial institutions, people with disabilities, academics and many others interested in the pursuit of sexual and reproductive health and rights.

What will the summit cover?

The Summit will take an integrated approach, covering five themes and highlighting the power of gender equality, youth leadership, political and community leadership, innovation and data, and partnerships to accelerate progress throughout.

Universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights as a part of universal health coverage.
Financing required to complete the ICPD. Programme of Action, and to sustain the gains made.
Drawing on demographic diversity to drive economic growth and achieve sustainable development.
Ending gender-based violence and harmful practices.
Upholding the right to sexual and reproductive health care even in humanitarian and fragile contexts.

The Nairobi Summit will reenergize the global community, breathe new life into the ICPD agenda and sustain and amplify gains made since 1994. It will be a springboard for governments and other organizations to announce voluntary, global commitments—including financial ones—that will accelerate progress. Innovative financial models and far more resources—from governments, international financial institutions and even private sector partners—are required to finish the ICPD agenda by 2030.

The Youth Cafe and ICPD25

The Youth corner

Welcome to the Youth Corner. All that you need to know as a youth participant of the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 is here.

With the Nairobi Summit just around the corner, use this Checklist for Youth Participants to make sure you have all you need before leaving for Nairobi. The checklist will give you tips on:

Preparation and safeguarding
Connecting to others and social media
Getting ready for your advocacy
Logistics and packing

Preparation materials

Take a look at the Youth Prep Guide to learn more about the Summit and the programme and access tips and materials for getting ready.

If you missed the preparation webinars, you can access the materials here:

Recording and Presentation Webinar No.4 (Update, 5 November) — All that you need to know about last-minute preparations and what to expect at the Summit: Check out therecording and presentation from the last preparation webinar on the Road to Nairobi.
Recording and Presentation Webinar No.3 (Update, 31 October) — Would you like to learn more about how you can communicate effectively for your advocacy? Check out therecording and presentation from the third preparation webinar, co-hosted with the Population Reference Bureau.
Recording and Presentation Webinar No.2 (Update, 25 October) — Would you like to learn more about how you can navigate international conferences as a youth advocate? Check out the recording and presentation from the second preparation webinar, co-hosted with Plan International.
Recording and Presentation Webinar No.1 (Update, 18 October) — Check out the recordingand presentation from the webinar focusing on “Organizing and Mobilizing on the Road to Nairobi,'' co-hosted by The Youth Cafe MGCY and Restless Development.

Safeguarding

We want to make sure your participation in the Summit is meaningful, enjoyable and safe. Before travelling to Nairobi, please read the Safeguarding Guidelines for Youth Participantswhich explain what you can expect from us, what is expected of you, and how to report any concerns.

You can also take a look at the recording and presentation from the Webinar on Safeguarding to learn more about the measures in place.

Engage and mobilize

Whether or not you are joining us at Nairobi, check out the official ICPD25 Youth Engagement Toolkit to learn about how you can mobilize around ICPD25. This toolkit will help all youth advocates interested in ICPD issues to learn more about the ICPD, organize satellite events and join the conversation through social media.

Signature sessions at ICPD25

Featured

Women and Girls in Humanitarian Crises

Women and Girls in Humanitarian Crises: Of the 143 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, one in four are women and adolescent girls of reproductive age. Their rights, safety, health and dignity are undermined by the collapse of health and justice systems. No matter the kind of crisis – whether natural hazard, violent conflict, or disease outbreak – affected women and girls have little to no access to sexual and reproductive health services and are at increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence. This session will call for renewed efforts to amplify the voice and reaffirm the agency of women and adolescent girls in all phases of a humanitarian emergency, from preparation efforts before a crisis through the response and recovery.

Harnessing the Power of Cities | Urbanization and Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health

Harnessing the Power of Cities: Urbanization and Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health: Sustainable development cannot be achieved without ensuring safe and sustainable cities. There are many powerful urban leaders and actors raising the bar for smart cities, women-friendly cities, youth-friendly cities and environmentally friendly cities. Today’s urban areas are engines for experimentation, transformation and development. This session will bring together mayors, city activists, local leaders and thought leaders from around the world to discuss the power and potential of urban action.

Democratizing Data As A Public Good

Democratizing Data As A Public Good: Without dependable population data, whole communities of people remain invisible and their needs and rights ignored. In order to leave no one behind, high-quality disaggregated data are required at national and local levels. Meeting the growing data needs of decentralized governance is critical. Population trends will shape national development and investments effectively only when population and household data are widely accessible and utilized as a public good, while safeguarding the rights of respondents to privacy. This session focuses on making data a public good in order to guarantee zero invisibility and to leave no one behind.

Innovative Partnerships | Harnessing Creative Industries to Tackle Stigma and Taboo

Innovative Partnerships: Harnessing Creative Industries to Tackle Stigma and Taboo: Many in the private sector are pioneering ethical and sustainable modes of production. Some are using their reach and influence to promote reproductive rights and address social norms to uncover how partnerships in multibillion-dollar industries can help tear down taboos and promote women’s health and empowerment.

Ending Harmful Practices | Making Commitments Real

Ending Harmful Practices: Making Commitments Real: On average, more than 33,000 girls are forced into child marriage every day. Every year, more than 4 million girls are subjected to female genital mutilation. Son preference, gender-biased sex selection, and other harmful practices cause gender imbalances that negatively impact the fabric of societies. This session will dispel the myths that perpetuate these practices and their staggering toll. The global target of eliminating harmful practices by 2030 will be achieved only if efforts to address these problems are dramatically intensified.

Ensuring Safe Pregnancy and Childbirth for All Women and Newborns

Ensuring Safe Pregnancy and Childbirth for All Women and Newborns: Today, an estimated 830 women die every single day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, and many more experience acute or chronic morbidity. With the Sustainable Development Goals, the global community has committed to reducing global maternal mortality to less than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births. The task of saving women's lives and protecting their health requires strong capacity in the health system to address the full range of direct causes of maternal mortality and morbidity. This session will focus on evidence-based strategies for accelerating progress by improving quality, coverage and equity in maternity care through an effective, well-functioning primary health care system, including safe abortion. It will also discuss the need for increased attention to preventing and treating maternal morbidities, and how to ensure that maternity care respects women’s rights and is free of violence and discrimination.

Our Bodies, Our Lives, Our World: 1.8 Billion Reasons

Our Bodies, Our Lives, Our World: 1.8 Billion Reasons: This youth-led signature session will focus on the more than 1.8 billion young people in the world today between the ages of 10 and 24. How the sexual and reproductive health needs and aspirations of adolescents and youth are met defines young people today and will define our common future. This signature session will discuss the challenges and opportunities of young people from around the world in realizing the ICPD agenda. It will focus on the barriers adolescents and youth face in realizing their sexual and reproductive health and rights. The session puts the young people in the driver's seat and provides a platform for young adolescents and youth to share their ideas for solutions based on their expertise and experience, and share how they are holding governments accountable to their promises.

A Feminist Approach to Humanitarian Action

A Feminist Approach to Humanitarian Action: Two billion people live in countries affected by conflict and fragility – and a large proportion of them are women and young people. They are not simply vulnerable to humanitarian crises, they are also key to finding durable solutions. Foreseeing humanitarian trends, including the impact of crises on women, young people, people with disabilities, displaced persons, refugees and migrants, this session will call on participants to make concrete policy, operational and financial commitments that will reduce their vulnerability and address their needs.

South-South and Triangular Partnerships to Accelerate the ICPD Promise

South-South and Triangular Partnerships to Accelerate the ICPD Promise: South-South and Triangular Cooperation is increasingly important as the new way of mobilizing knowledge and resources for global development. This session will capitalize on successes in population and reproductive health programing, which are expanded through South-South and Triangular Cooperation commitments. It will bring in experts to explore how new opportunities can be leveraged to deliver Agenda 2030 and accelerate the implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action.

Demographic Dividend and Diversity | Building Inclusive Societies

Demographic Dividend and Diversity: Building Inclusive Societies: Today’s world is more demographically diverse than ever before, bringing new challenges and creating opportunities. This signature session will delve into changing demographics as a driver for sustainable growth, poverty reduction, and human capital development. The session will investigate how countries can seize these opportunities and respond to their inhabitant’s needs by making the right investments in health, family planning, youth empowerment, education, and employment opportunities, all while safe guarding human rights and pursuing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Participants from young and ageing societies will share experiences and lessons learned from harnessing the demographic dividend.

Important resources

Frequently Asked Questions

ICPD 25 Commitments

ICPD 25 Governance

Lead-up to the Nairobi Summit

The Nairobi Summit On ICPD25 | Accelerating The Promise | The Youth Cafe