Introduction and Mandate

The fifty-ninth session of the Commission on Population and Development takes place at a time when population trends, technological change and development pathways are intersecting in ways that are both promising and deeply complex. The special theme for CPD59, population, technology and research in the context of sustainable development. This reflects an acknowledgement that the implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action must now be considered within a world shaped by digital systems, data infrastructures and emerging technologies.

Since the ICPD Programme of Action was adopted in 1994, technology has reshaped how people access information, services and opportunities. Mobile phones, digital platforms and data-driven systems now play a role in health, education, employment and social participation across all regions. At the same time, these systems have introduced new risks, including exclusion, surveillance, misinformation and harm, particularly for populations that already face structural inequalities.

The Secretary-General’s report prepared for CPD59 recognises this dual reality. It highlights the contribution of technology to development progress, while also drawing attention to widening divides and new forms of vulnerability where access, governance and safeguards are uneven. The report further emphasises the importance of research in ensuring that technological change supports sustainable development outcomes rather than undermining them.

This Africa-focused contribution is intended to support CPD59 discussions by situating the Commission’s theme within African demographic realities, policy priorities and lived experiences. It does not seek to restate the Secretary-General’s report. Instead, it aims to deepen and regionalise its analysis by drawing on African civil society perspectives, applied research and programme evidence from digital health, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and gender-responsive technology initiatives.

The contribution is guided by three core considerations. First, Africa’s demographic trajectory, characterised by a young population and rapid urbanisation, makes the relationship between population and technology particularly consequential for global sustainable development. Second, technology in African contexts must be assessed not only in terms of access and innovation, but also in terms of equity, safety, governance and trust, especially for women, adolescents and young people. Third, research must play a practical role in shaping policy and implementation choices, providing decision-makers with evidence grounded in real-world conditions rather than idealised assumptions.