At a virtual 25th Annual Board Meeting of the PPD, the Republic of South Africa, was unanimously elected to the Chairpersonship of the Board. South Africa, represented by the Minister of Social Development Ms Lindiwe Zulu, is to serve as PPD new Chairperson for a three-year term (2021-2023).

“The election of South Africa to chair the PPD Board, represented by the Department of Social Development, is a great step towards the advancement of the design and implementation of national population policies and programmes, particularly for developing nations. This gives South Africa a podium to further elaborate its advance on Gender-Based Violence on a bigger scale. As the NDA, we stand ready to give the Minister and the Department of Social Development all the support needed during this term of Chairpersonship of the PPD Board,” Mrs Mzobe said.

Partners in Population and Development or PPD as the organisation is known, is an inter-governmental organisation launched during the historic International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) that took place in Cairo, Egypt in 1994. It currently consists of 27 developing countries that collectively represent 60 percent of the world population, with the sole purpose to promote South-South Cooperation in the fields of reproductive health, population and development.

Say “No” to Gender Based Violence

PPD, which has its headquarters in Bangladesh’s capital city of Dhaka, enjoys a Permanent Observer Status at the United Nations, New York. The Government of South Africa is one of the leading member countries of PPD and the current Secretary of its Governing Board. PPD hosted its 34th Annual Executive Committee meeting on 14th October, followed by its 25th Board Meeting on 16th October 2020.

Mrs Mzobe said that it was encouraging that South Africa continues to produce the calibre of women leadership capable of not only leading within the borders of South Africa, but who can also undertake responsibilities and accountability at the global level.

ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

Media inquiries may be forwarded to Ms Makgodu Tsehloane on 072 801-5728/ makgodut@nda.org.z