Transcript Population Dynamics, Population Policies and the Reduction

Population Dynamics, Population
Policies and the Reduction of Poverty
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Presented
by
Paulette Bynoe, PhD
CARIBBEAN FORUM ON POPULATION,
MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA
9-10 JULY 2013
Aims of Presentation
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 To
emphasise the nexus between population
dynamics and the reduction of poverty;
 To
highlight some achievements (of Guyana) in
respect of the Cairo Programme of Action (1994);
and
 To make recommendations to bridge perceived gaps
in the process of policy-making.
Population Dynamics and Poverty Reduction: Emphasising the Nexus
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Growth rate
(Need for critical mass
to drive economy)
Distribution
(spatial; coast
land vs.
hinterland)
Mobility
(International, internal
migration, deportees)
Age Structure
(ageing;
expanding
working age
pop.)
Fertility, Maternal
Mortality &
Morbidity
(Teenage
pregnancies,
HIV/AIDs etc.)
Implications
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 Lack of formal education= lower paying jobs
=reinforcement of underground economy=limited capacity
to be mainstreamed into formal economy
 Remittances through informal means; delinquent labour
market efforts, especially among youths
 Deportees are not fully integrated into the society: this may
lead to establishment of new criminal enterprise ideas
Implications
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 Internal migration =population pressures for housing,
public services such as health, and education, and social
facilities; environmental stress.
 Brain drain/High human capital flight: limited skills for
research and development.
 Population structure: large working age population=
increased unemployment among youth (e.g. in Guyana in
2006:12% nationally; youth of working age =36%
 Increased number of adolescent mothers lack of
education and the impact on communities and nation.
Some Achievements of Guyana in Area of Poverty Reduction
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Poverty (Gendered)
Women’s Entrepreneurs Network that
advances
women
empowerment
in
Guyana and promote gender equality.
2008, Ministry of Labour, Human
Services
and
Social
Security,
in
collaboration
a
commercial
bank,
launched Women of Worth (WOW)
micro-credit scheme for single parents to
enable them to access low interest loans
and micro-credits facilities to undertaken
small business projects.
National Policy on Women and a National
Action Plan for Women
Spatial Distribution of Population
Provision of School Uniform Vouchers (PRSP)
Amerindian Development Fund (12 million
US$) as
component of the Low Carbon
Development Strategy
Some Achievements of Guyana in Area of Poverty Reduction
Age distribution: Elderly
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A geriatric
facility, free health services provided at
all government facilities including provision of
free eye care, hearing aids, and psycho-social
support to elderly
14% increase in old age pension in 2012, food
assistance, housing assistance, a reduction in land
rates and taxes, a reduction in water rates, and
subsidised electricity.
High Teenage Pregnancy
Adolescent Health Strategy; National Sexually
Transmissible Infection (STI) Strategy; HiVision 2020
(a plan to eliminate HIV transmission by 2020);
treatment incorporated in Family Planning and
Contraception Programme; National Health Plan (20032007)= new financial resources and re-allocation of
existing resources in a more equitable manner
= access at 5 levels: health posts, health centre; district
hospitals, regional hospitals; tertiary level with specialist
services.
Some Achievements of Guyana in Area of Poverty Reduction
High Teenage
(NGO efforts)
Mobility
Flight)
(High
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Pregnancies Women Across
Differences, with financial support
from UNFPA, works with adolescent and teen
mothers to reduce unplanned pregnancies through
empowerment programmes that focus on personal
development sessions, literacy, vocational, life and
income earning skills.
Human Capital Remigrant Scheme (administered by Ministry of Foreign
Affairs in conjunction with Guyana Revenue Authority.
Exemption from duty and Value Added Tax (VA T) are given
on the following:
(a) A reasonable quantity of personal effects.
(b) A reasonable quantity of household effects including
domestic and electrical
appliances
(c) A limited amount of tools of trade
(d) Motor Vehicles, Motor cycles and leisure boats
Recommendations to Bridge Gaps
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 Need
for a population policy to promote social
development. Human beings are at the centre of
sustainable development.
 Embrace a more participatory process of decision
making for genuine sustainable development (educate to
inform; then consult)
 Greater investment in human resource development
(knowledge and skills): re-tooling persons to respond
effectively to new and emerging challenges and to be
absorbed into local economy. Bridge the gap.
Recommendations to bridge Gaps
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 Further
reduce regional imbalances (skewed
development) associated with resource allocation to
stem the flow of migrants from rural to urban or
urban to urban areas for example through Regional
Investment Policy (e.g. infrastructure) to address
problems in lagging regions.
 Address issue of spatial location of population,
vulnerability to natural and human-induced hazards
in the context of poverty reduction, as a disaster
exacerbates poverty.
Recommendations to bridge Gaps
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 Greater
integrated planning among
institutions (horizontal and vertical)
sectors
and
 Integrate sustainability issues with development in
‘upstream’
decision
making,
using
Strategic
Environmental Assessments
to ensure harmonious
balance between environmental protection, social equity
and economic growth is maintained.
 Enforce policy regarding education to school drop outs
(boys and girls) due to teenage pregnancy etc. to combat
unemployment problem and to reduce problem of
underground economy
Recommendations to bridge Gaps
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 Create viable and attractive opportunities in rural
areas with the aim to re-directing educational
systems towards the needs of rural development.
 Policies should be informed by a comprehensive
situational analysis (evidence based) as well as a
multi-disciplinary and coherent approach.
We
cannot continue to operate in silos and ‘intellectual
compartments’.
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Thanks for listening!!!!!
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 592 -222- 4180