Nouakchott, Mauritania: Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is on a working visit to Mauritania from 11th to 12th January 2014.

The visit is part of UNFPA’s advocacy efforts at the highest level for population and development issues to be included in the priorities of the African continent, and in the policies and decisions of major international conferences on development.

Mandated by the United Nations General Assembly, UNFPA, in cooperation with relevant UN agencies and international institutions and experts, is currently coordinating a global review of the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994. This review will provide a full report on what has worked and on gaps that still remain in uniting efforts to quickly move towards a world where people will have a good life and live in dignity.

It should be recalled that the ICPD Programme of Action, spread over twenty years, recognizes that each individual counts and the problem of population is not simply about numbers but about people and their quality of life.

The UNFPA Executive Director and his delegation will be received by the President of the Republic Mr Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, with whom they will discuss the important and leadership role that Mauritania and its head of State are expected to play at continental and international level on strategic issues, including those relating to the post-2015 development agenda and ICPD Beyond 2014. This meeting will also strengthen relations between Mauritania and UNFPA at national level.

In addition, Dr. Babatunde OSOTIMEHIN will meet the Prime Minister and several members of the Government. He will also meet with the United Nations Country Team, composed of all UN agencies in Mauritania, technical and financial partners as well as representatives of civil society associations and organizations that are UNFPA partners.

Finally, the Executive Director and his delegation will visit the Mother and Child Centre which was the Prime Minister’s residence, and is a strong statement of the priority the Government has given to improving maternal and child health.