Tashkent, 28 November 2023 - High-level government representatives, members of parliaments, thought leaders and experts gathered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on 28-29 November 2023 to discuss what countries can do to adapt to demographic change and maximize the opportunities that come with shifting population trends. 

The International Demographic Resilience Conference was organized by the Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Scientific Research Institute of Family and Women, and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, in partnership with the respective UN agencies, international financial institutions, private sector partners and academia.

Demographic change is one of the megatrends that shape our world and affect progress towards achieving SDGs.  In order to achieve the primary goal of accelerating human progress, countries must anticipate and comprehend how their populations are changing. They must create unique responses based on data to mitigate potential negative effects and fully utilize the opportunities that also come with demographic change.

In alignment with the goals set forth in Uzbekistan's National Development Strategy for 2030, the conference aims to bring together policymakers, researchers, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to discuss the extent to which demographic intelligence has already been integrated into national, regional and sector policies, assess gaps in such efforts, and identify strategies for building demographic resilience in the face of changing population trends. 

The conference focused on linking demographic changes to development of infrastructure, health, especially active longevity, education system planning, labor market, urbanization, and environment. The conference also explored the potential opportunities that demographic change presents, such as the demographic dividend and the potential for innovation.

The conference invited high-level government representatives to make statements about demographic changes the country has been going through, and is expected to live through until 2050, key challenges the government foresees, and policies it plans to implement to address them. A few keynote speeches by national and international participants presented population projections of Uzbekistan until 2050 with key findings, and highlighted the importance of evidence-based, forward-looking policies for the country’s development, and backing these with country cases.

The sessions were organized to provide space for relevant government agencies to present their vision, policies, and international experts, researchers, civil society representatives, young people and people living with disabilities to provide their assessments, findings and views about the quality and effectiveness policies implemented, and their recommendations on what needs to change.

The conference resulted in establishing a platform for high-level officials and experts to engage in discussions on demographic resilience, enhancing countries’ capacities to respond to demographic changes, and promoting regional and international collaboration on population and development.  .

For more information, please contact:

Nazokathon Fayzullaeva, UNFPA, nfayzullaeva@unfpa.org, +998946888778