Partners
in Population and Development (PPD) is an intergovernmental alliance of 24
developing countries, created to promote and improve transfer of knowledge,
experience and skills in the area of Population and Reproductive Health through
South-South cooperation. To this end, PPD undertook in 2005 an in-depth study of
experiences and perspectives of its member countries in implementing the
International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Program of Action
and pursuing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). As a follow up to the
recommendations made, PPD conducted a survey among selected Partner Institutions
(PIs) to review on-going training and research related activities, and how they
can contribute to the achievement of MDGs and ICPD goals, as well as to assess
their capabilities to build capacities on Population, Development and
Reproductive Health. As a follow up action to the study, in 2007, a set of four
generic modules was developed, under the supervision of PPD Secretariat. They
are as follows: 1. Population and Poverty, 2. Gender, 3. Reproductive
Health, and 4. Historical Perspective on Population, ICPD goals and MDGs.
The PIs were asked to integrate these modules in the their respective training
programmes, and set up networks.
Pape Syr Diagne was the Director of CAFS from 1996 to 2003. He devoted his professional life to the development of African institutions and individuals, and the betterment of the populations and health of the Continent. During his time at CAFS, he re-engineered the institution into an autonomous, market-oriented international NGO. CAFS widened its partnership base with major institutions, donors and networks through international bids. His dream for CAFS was to be a Centre of Excellence leading the African Reproductive Health Agenda. To achieve this, he felt that CAFS needed to build a complex with a training centre and regional networking facilities. This would enable CAFS to subsidize its programmes through earnings from rental income and would ensure CAFS permanence as an institution serving the needs of Africa’s people. Under his leadership, CAFS acquired a prime piece of land to make the dream come true. Pape Syr did not see the office building constructed in 2006 as Phase 1 of his building project. The Pape Syr Diagne Memorial Building is one testimony of his legacy. 23 June 2009 is the sixth anniversary of his demise. The CAFS family remembers him on this day.
Prof.
Hastings W. O. Okoth-Ogendo, a former Director of CAFS, died in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
on 24 April 2009 during a consultancy assignment
with the Economic Commission for Africa. Born in 1994, Prof. Okoth-Ogendo was the third
Director of CAFS (after Prof. Kivuto Ndeti and
Prof. K. E. deGraft-Johnson). He served the institution from 1990-1994.
While at CAFS, he strengthened CAFS Research component and agenda in the area of family
planning, reproductive health, and population
& development. Until his death, Prof Okoth-Ogendo
was a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, Faculty of Law. He served as Constitution of Kenya
Review Commission Vice-Chairman and Chairman of African Population
Advisory Council Board of Directors. Prof.
Okoth-Ogendo also served as a board member of the National
Council for Population and Development.
He leaves behind his wife, Ruth and five children.
CAFS seeks a dynamic and charismatic Director to be an ardent advocate, leader and champion of our work in training, technical services, and research. Our goal is to build and sustain human, institutional and program capacity for health and development in Africa with emphasis on population and development, sexual and reproductive health, and HIV&AIDS.
