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An international symposium on “Islam, Demographic Dividend and Family Wellbeing” took place in Ndjamena, Chad, from 25 to 27 July 2017, at the initiative of the Government of the Republic of Chad and the Chadian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (CSAI), and with the financial and technical support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Bank. The event brought together “more than 1,200 Muslim leaders”.

This paper presents an independent observer’s preliminary reflections, based primarily on three sources:

• Review of introductory documents presented in plenary;

• Discussions in the three working groups set up to review the introductory documents2;

• Analysis of the Ndjamena Declaration adopted at the end of the symposium proceedings.

The paper revolves around five points. After this introduction, the first chapter dwells on the symposium’s innovative methodology. The following three chapters focus on the main results of the symposium, and respectively. The paper clarifies a number of concepts on the symposium’s theme areas, highlight a number of key and consensual messages on the issues, and review recommendations from the working groups and how these are addressed in the Ndjamena Declaration. The last chapter presents recommendations.