Panel on Strengthening Demographic Training in Francophone Africa

There is a pressing need for training to improve population research and policy dialogue in sub-Saharan Africa. This need arises for several reasons. First many countries in the region are in early stages of a demographic transition that are expected to shape their prospects for socioeconomic developments. Second, some are witnessing demographic pressures in the form of urban congestion, food riots, crowded educational and health systems, or graduate unemployment. Third, they are striving to reach “Millenium” development goals, most of which ---notably in mortality, schooling, or poverty reduction—have strong demographic underpinnings.
In this context, and working through the IUSSP panel system, we plan to improve population research and policy communication in the sub-region. This general objective will be carried out through a focused set of activities over the next two years (2010-2011). After an inventory of relevant needs, opportunities, and advances for the francophone African region, the panel will

1. Develop a communication strategy that will include a newsletter and webpage on the IUSSP website where the networks activities, findings and other relevant information can be communicated to students, population scholars and policy makers working in the region.
2. Conduct training activities to address the training needs identified in the inventory. These will include (a) a production of on-line training materials by experts in the relevant area, (b) the organization of short courses/workshops to be held at one of the participating institutions, (c) support to faculty teaching methods course, with the goal of enhancing their syllabi, (d) individual follow-up (after the short courses) of individual research projects, and finally (e) policy communication opportunities with the region’s policy makers and mass media. In conducting these various activities, the panel plans to leverage the expertise of leading researchers and policy-makers in the population field.