The Regional Director for West and Central Africa of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Mr. Mabingue Ngom, is on a working visit to Congo from 11 to 14 February 2019. This visit comes within the framework of the implementation of Congo's commitments at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25).

The ICPD25, held in November 2019 in Nairobi (Kenya), opened a new dynamic of country commitments in favour of choices and rights for populations, particularly young people and women, with particular emphasis on the Demographic Dividend and access of young people and women to sexual and reproductive health care as a determining variable to be taken into account in public policies.

During the visit, the UNFPA Regional Director will be received in audience by senior Congolese officials. He will hold meetings and working sessions to strengthen the partnership between Congo and UNFPA. These meetings will involve the Presidency of the Republic, the Prime Minister's Office, the First Lady's foundation (Congo Assistance Foundation), the Ministry of Planning, Statistics and Regional Integration, the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education, the Ministry of Social Action and Humanitarian Affairs and the Ministry of Health, Population, Advancement of Women and Integration of Women in Development.

Mr. Mabingue Ngom's agenda will focus on issues related to the harnessing the Demographic Dividend, the empowerment of youth and women and their access to health care, including in humanitarian zone.

On the second day of the visit, the Regional Director will devote a session to youth associations and members of the NTA-Congo team on the ICPD25 recommendations and the Demographic Dividend profile of Congo.

On 13 February 2020, the Regional Director will visit the maternity wards of some hospitals: Talangai and Mpissa which have benefited from UNFPA support. It will also be an opportunity to talk with women's associations for their active involvement in the new UNFPA Congo programme cycle.