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Sudan Crisis: In-depth Gender Assessment Report
This Gender Assessment aims to provide an in-depth gender analysis. It provides data that is sex and age disaggregated to understand the gender-differentiated needs priorities coping strategies risks insecurities and vulnerabilities of the conflict considering different gender roles and responsibilities as well as the intersectionality factors to inform an equitable and effective humanitarian response and give recommendations for gender-sensitive humanitarian programmes that promote justice and equality to women men girls and boys of all ages statuses and vulnerabilities.
Executive summary
As the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues civilian displacement and humanitarian needs steadily increase. About 4.8 million people have been displaced inside and outside the country due to the conflict that erupted on 15 April. More than 3.8 million people have been displaced internally. People have been displaced across all 18 states. Most are in River Nile East Darfur Northern South Darfur Sennar and White Nile states. 72.3 per cent of internally displaced people (IDPs) are originally from Khartoum. In addition about 963000 people have crossed the border into neighbouring countries the Central African Republic (18545) Chad (418126) Egypt (317230) Ethiopia (35623) and South Sudan (260653).
Conflict context and impact
Gender equality framework
World Population Ageing 2023
Population ageing is a global phenomenon an inevitable consequence of the demographic transition that is affecting all countries of the world. The report will examine changing population age structures in developing countries with relatively high levels of fertility (at least 4 births per women) with a focus on LDCs in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. It will also briefly discuss the opportunities and challenges that these countries face in benefitting from the “demographic dividend” – the potential boost in the rate of economic growth per capita during the period when the working-age population grows faster than the total population. The analysis will examine the implications of selected projection scenarios from the World Population Prospects 2022 (WPP22) for trends in the age structure population growth and demographic dividends in LDCs. Most Asian LDCs are approaching the end of the demographic transition from high to low levels of mortality and fertility whereas most African LDCs are in the early stages of this transition which is expected to unfold gradually over the course of the present century. The report will feature case studies of how this gradual shift towards older population age structures may affect the realization of the demographic dividend in different contexts. These case studies (two countries from Asia and two from sub-Saharan Africa) will include a review of the respective demographic economic social cultural and historical contexts to assess the challenges and opportunities in anticipating and preparing for the future ageing of the population in each country. Lessons learnt and best practices derived from experience of countries at different stages of the demographic transition will provide the basis for policy recommendations for Governments of LDCs to support sustainable development social inclusion and adaptation to ageing societies taking advantage of the window of opportunity created by the temporary increase in the relative size of the working-age population.
Introduction
Population ageing in least developed countries (LDCs) presents unique challenges and opportunities. All LDCs have been later in entering the demographic transition – a transition from high to low levels of fertility and mortality – than other countries and are also progressing through the transition more slowly while most of which are experiencing persistently high fertility and rapid population growth. Like the rest of the world most LDCs are experiencing population ageing albeit at a slower pace and at lower levels than other countries.
Lessons learned and best practices: The demographic dividend and population ageing in LDCs
While some Asia-Pacific LDCs are approaching or have entered the late stage of the demographic transition the majority of LDCs in sub-Saharan Africa are still in the early stages of the transition. The major demographic challenges facing these countries include persistently high levels of fertility and rapid population growth. As a result Governments are anticipating tremendous challenges and considerable pressures to accommodate their rapidly expanding school-age and working-age populations.
Preface
Population ageing is an inevitable outcome of the demographic transition — the historic shift from higher to lower levels of fertility and mortality that yields a period of rapid population increase and eventually an older population that is much larger as a share of the total. While more developed countries have completed or are well advanced in this transition less and least developed countries (LDCs) are predominantly in the early or middle stages when the older population is still small but starting to grow. Such countries can anticipate a continuing gradual increase in both the number and the share of older persons many of whom will require substantial care and support at some point in their lives. Unfortunately many LDCs are ill-prepared to offer the essential services and support that will eventually be needed by their ageing populations.
Executive summary
The United Nations created the category of the least developed countries (LDCs) in 1971 to mobilize international support for sustainable development in places facing the most severe structural impediments.
Country case studies: Angola, Rwanda and Bangladesh
This chapter includes country case studies on Angola Rwanda and Bangladesh which were selected based on their geographic location stage of the demographic transition – with Angola at an early stage Rwanda at a middle stage and Bangladesh at a late stage of the transition – challenges associated with population ageing and prospects to harness the demographic dividend. All three countries have made considerable strides in economic and social development since independence but all are still challenged by high poverty and inequality low levels of education limited health care systems and a need to diversify their economy. To finance their education social and health care systems the three countries often depend on ODA or on payments by their users. Further domestic budgets are strained by weak governance structures and foreign debt that reduces the resources available to advance education health and economic development. Multiple global crises from the COVID-19 pandemic to the war in Ukraine the impacts of climate change on agriculture and food production and geo-political tensions at the global and regional levels will continue to dampen their prosperity.