“Population is not simply a problem of numbers. The growth in Africa’s population in the last decade has not been accompanied by the necessary structural transformation nor has it translated into equitable human development and improved livelihoods,” Dr. Pali Lehohla, Statistician-General and President of the International Organising Committee.

For the first time in the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) 87-year history the International Population Conference (IPC) will be held in sub-Saharan Africa.

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) sought to bring discussions closer to home on key issues of population and development in bidding to host the 28^th IPC of the IUSSP in 2017.

Momentum is beginning to gather.  Stats SA on behalf of the Republic of South Africa (RSA), will host the IPC in Cape Town, South Africa at the Cape Town International Conference Centre (CTICC) from 29 October to 4 November 2017.

The conference brings together people from all over the world who are at varying stages of their careers, from senior researchers, practitioners and policymakers to students. It provides opportunities to network with experts in their field, showcase research and move the population debate forward.  Participants will be exposed to recent scientific research on problems the world is currently facing.

The mission of the IUSSP as well as the IPC is to promote the scientific study of population, encourage exchange between researchers around the globe and stimulate interest in population issues amongst government and non-governmental institutions. The IPC is hosted every four years in a different country to further its mission.

The conference will include over 240 regular scientific sessions, poster sessions, training sessions as well as plenary and debate sessions, side meeting and exhibits.

Conference Themes

Population issues, which are relevant to policy and planning, are addressed at the conference and include sessions on the following themes:

1. Ageing and Intergenerational Relations
2. Biodemography
3. Children and Youth
4. Culture, Religion, Language and Demographic Behaviours
5. Demographic Methods and Data
6. Education and Labour Force
7. Fertility
8. Gender and Population
9. Health, Mortality and Longevity
10. Historical Demography
11. HIV/AIDS and STIs
12. Marriage and Union Formation, Families and Households
13. Migration and Urbanisation
14. Population and Development
15. Population and Human Rights,
16. Population, Consumption and the Environment
17. Sexuality and Reproductive Health
18. Spatial Demography
19. Population and Policy Challenges in Africa

Under theme 19, Population and Policy Challenges in Africa, the South African National Organising Committee will host Africa Population Day on 31 October to 1 November 2017. The eight topics to be covered are:

1. Africa’s youth beyond 2030 – challenges and opportunities
2. African families: continuity and transformation
3. Assessment of civil registration and vital statistical systems
4. Challenges in overcoming poverty, inequality and vulnerability
5. Fertility transitions in Africa
6. Health and mortality: non communicable diseases as an emerging concern in the epidemiology of Africa
7. Meeting the challenge of producing skills for a 21st century African labour force
8. Migration and urbanisation

Stats SA is calling on the African statistical community to do one of two things:

(a)   Organise a pre-conference workshop; or,

(b)   Submit a paper or poster abstract particularly in Theme 19 on ipc2017capetown.iussp.org by 15 December 2016.

For more information on pre-conference workshops please contact Dr Miranda Mafafo at mirandam@statssa.gov.za

Be part of the change: Submit a paper or poster

• Authors to submit a short abstract of 200 words and an extended abstract of two to four pages to the conference website
• English and French submission will be accepted
• Author to provide full names, affiliations and email address of all co-authors
• Submission close on 15 December 2016

The Host: Cape Town (The Mother City)

The city of Cape Town will host the 28th IPC. Cape Town is South Africa’s top international tourist destination with a well-developed infrastructure and wide array of activities in which to participate after the conference. Cape Town is the quintessential melting pot: it is a city alive with creativity, colour, sounds and tastes.

We look forward to welcoming you all to the City of Cape Town in October 2017 to share ideas as you also take time to enjoy the best of Cape Town.

For more information visit the IPC 2017 website: ipc2017capetown.iussp.org

Stats SA webpage:  www.statssa.gov.za/IUSSP

Email: InfoIPC2017@statssa.gov.za