1. Harnessing a demographic dividend for equitable, sustainable and environment-friendly growth from a gender perspective Jose Miguel Guzman ICF
Intersessional Expert Meeting on the full enjoyment of human rights by all women and girls and the systematic mainstreaming of a gender perspective into the implementation of the 2030 Agenda
2-3 May, OHCHR, Palais des Nations, Geneva

2. What is the demographic dividend
What happens as a result of a sustained decline in fertility and the subsequent decrease of the size and weight of the young population and increase in the working age population. So the dependency ratio decrease.
Provides an opportunity for smarter economic and social investments (human capital) and increased countries' output and the possibility for long-term development.
The demographic dividend is not a given. It is an windows of opportunity. Requires the right policies.
What happens as a result of a decline in fertility and the subsequent decrease of the size and weight of the young population and an increase in the working age population
Provide a large, young and energetic workforce
Generate a decrease in the dependency ratio
Stabilization or even a decrease in the number of births and the number of children and young people attending school.
Provides an opportunity for smarter economic and social investments and increased countries' output and the possibility for long-term development, if:
Productive employment is created
Human capital investments for the younger generations are implemented
People, and particularly young girls, are empowered and their wellbeing is promoted
The demographic dividend is not a given. It is an windows of opportunity.
With preparation and the right policies, it may positively transform countries
With no actionable policies, the risk of having a large number of jobless people due to a growing mass of unemployed young adults will increased

3. What is the demographic dividend
Nigeria and Brazil presents two very different situations:
Both starts at the same level, but because of declining fertility in Brazil, there is a decline on total dependency ratio that creates a demographic dividend (DD). But it is now basically over.
Nigeria, on the other side will benefit for the DD provide fertility continue to decline.

4. What is the demographic dividend
Nigeria and Brazil presents two very different situations:
Both starts at the same level, but because of declining fertility in Brazil, there is a decline on total dependency ratio that creates a demographic dividend (DD). But it is now basically over.
Nigeria, on the other side will benefit for the DD provide fertility continue to decline.

5. What is the demographic dividend
The increase in the working age population. Brazil is at the maximum now, but it will start declining. Nigeria, on the coontrary is just starting.

6. Harnessing a Demographic Dividend The 3 E’s Framework
Empowerment
Education
Employment
Source: World Economic Forum: Harnessing The Opportunity Of The Demographic Dividend. Publication by the Global Agenda Council on the Demographic Dividend., 2015.

7. Labor and trade policies
The 3 E’s Framework for Harnessing a Demographic Dividend Areas for intervention: some examples
Empowerment (Goal 3, 5, 6,10,16)
Gender equality at all levels
Early marriage and childbearing
Female genital cutting
Violence against women and girls
Health
Sexual and reproductive and family planning
Education: (Goal 4 )
Access and equal opportunities for education for girls and boys
Access to sexual education
Increased investments in education to complete coverage and increase quality
Employment (Goal 8, 11)
Employment/labor opportunities for young people, including contexts of rapid urban growth
Labor and trade policies
Empowerment (Goal 3, 5, 6,10,16)
Eradicate early age of marriage and early childbearing
Eradicate female genital cutting
Ensure gender equality at all levels
Ensure access to appropriate health
Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services and reproductive health/family planning services
Education: (Goal 4 )
Access and equal opportunities for education for girls and boys
Ensure access to sexual education
Increase investments in education to complete coverage and increased quality
Employment (Goal 8, 11)
Create opportunities to ensure employment/labor opportunities for young people, including contexts of rapid urban growth
Labor and trade policies
Source: World Economic Forum: Harnessing The Opportunity Of The Demographic Dividend. Publication by the Global Agenda Council on the Demographic Dividend., 2015.

8. Harnessing the demographic dividend
Policy implementation: sustainability, and gender
Climate change and its consequences can undermine the conditions for harnessing a demographic dividend.
Best scenario: more consumers
Investing in the green economy
Example of Bangladesh
Fertility decline
More women employment
Environmental degradation
Climate change and its consequences with the potential to undermine the conditions under which a demographic dividend may materialize (Bloom, 2016)
Creating new employment opportunities, advance social and gender equity and eliminate poverty means more people will become consumers. It is imperative to invest in the green economy to contribute to these goals without compromising the sustainability.
Bad example: The environmentally degradation component: Textiles and pollution in Bangladesh. Fertility decline and significant women's employment but desperate conditions in Dhaka and elsewhere related to pollution, flooding, climate change, urbanization, informality) 

9. Harnessing the demographic dividend
Policy implementation: Challenges, with emphasis in poorest countries
Rapid and unplanned urbanization
Skilled migration
In situation of crisis and conflicts:
Instability in the economy: low incentives for investments affects employment creation, particularly for young people
Focus in solving daily crisis: lack of long-term vision needed to generate a demographic dividend and reap the benefits of it.
Disruption of school cycles: low incentives for girls/boys to attend school.
Less opportunities for gender sensitive policies and increased risks for gender-based violence

10. Harnessing the demographic dividend
Some conclusions
Opportunity is coming for demographic dividend in many countries, particularly Africa. If well planned it can have positive impacts on development, sustainability and gender equality.
Requires a long-term vision and a national commitment,
There is no possibility of harnessing the DD without a strong on gender equality, women and girls empowerment and its synergies with the other two set of policies
But it is not only about creating employment opportunities for young people; it is about quality employment that allows for growth and sustainability

11. THANKS!