Dr. Eliya Zulu, director of the African Institute for Development Policy in Nairobi: The most effective ways to address Africa's population issues are: to end child marriage & keep girls in school, meet the high level of unmet need for family planning & make contraceptives universally accessible increase funding in family planning, strengthen healthcare systems & bring services to communities, shift to universal secondary education, and lastly, build political will. Speech, Berkeley, USA, February, 2012

Mao: “Every mouth has two hands”

Less than 20 years ago, contraceptive use in Ethiopia (the second-most populous country in Africa) among married women of reproductive age was 3% Maternal mortality rates were among the highest in the world. Today, contraceptive use now 29%. Maternal deaths dropped by 50%. Long-acting contraceptive methods made more available. The 2007 import tax on contraceptives waived. Health Extension Programme with more than 30,000 workers trained – drawn exclusively from women who come from the communities they serve (except for pastoralist areas, where men may be selected).

Media debate usually superficial

Still a largely pro-natalist culture Several governments offer ‘baby bonuses’ and/or promote immigration and/or restrict family planning Overpopulation is still the ‘elephant in the room’

Overpopulation: ‘tyranny of micro-decisions’ =

Final thoughts Overpopulation has many ‘parents’ Overpopulation is ‘everybody’s baby’ but costs & benefits are often separated, encouraging irresponsibility ‘International development’ without the goal of sustainable populations is a recipe for international ruination

Overpopulation has become the “elephant in the room”. But we deny its existence or divert attention from it at our peril.

“I have not seen a major problem facing our planet that would not be easier to solve if there were fewer people or harder, & ultimately impossible, with ever more” (Sir David Attenborough)