RESEARCH, RESILIENCE, AND RENEWAL TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT PASA CONFERENCE

By Cuma Pantshwa.

• The Population Association of Southern Africa Conference, now on, promises to provide an important platform for research, dialogue, and collaboration on population policy and practice in the region.
• The crucial work of the association took a back seat following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• The conference is being hailed as a moment of “renewal and reaffirmation”.

After a five-year hiatus, researchers, policymakers, and advocates gathered this morning in the City of Tshwane for the 15th Population Association of Southern Africa Conference, hosted by the Department of Social Development in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund.

Opening the conference at the Kievits Kroon wine estate in Pretoria on 17 September 2025, the programme director from the department’s national population unit, Manobri Goldie, reflected on the importance of reviving the Population Association of Southern Africa after the disruptions caused by Covid-19.

She described the platform as “essential and crucial” for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and strengthening connections between demographers, researchers, and policymakers.

Delivering the formal welcome, acting chief director of the national population unit, Thandeka Gumbeni, framed the gathering as a moment of “renewal and reaffirmation” following the pandemic’s far-reaching impacts on health, economies, and research.

“Over the next few days, our objectives are clear – to showcase vital research, foster dialogue, build capacity, and establish partnerships that are essential for advancing the field,” said Gumbeni.

She highlighted the urgent need to address challenges such as gender-based violence, migration, climate change, social inequality, and the role of artificial intelligence in shaping evidence-based policy.

The United Nations Population Fund’s Frederick Okwayo underscored the timeliness of the theme “Sustainable development for the future”. He pointed to the region’s youthful population – with over 60% under the age of 25 – as both a unique opportunity and a pressing challenge.

“Imagine a 14-year-old girl becoming a mother, forced to drop out of school, her prospects narrowing. This is not only a development challenge, it is a health and human rights challenge,” he said. Okwayo added: “It is time to pay attention to the mega trends because population dynamics are changing.”

Population Association of Southern Africa president, Pheya Mabote, reminded delegates of the association’s mission as a non-profit, non-political body committed to advancing the scientific study of population in southern Africa.

She emphasised the importance of stronger collaboration between researchers, government, civil society, and international partners.

“This year’s theme reminds us that accomplishing this goal hinges on our ability to ensure resources for a growing population, eradicate poverty, and move away from unsustainable patterns of consumption and production,” Mabote said.

She called for evidence- and rights-based strategies that safeguard the environment, promote gender equality, and protect human rights: “Most critically, our work must focus on improving the lives of individuals and increasing respect for their human rights.”

Mabote thanked the Department of Social Development, Statistics South Africa, the United Nations Population Fund, and universities across the region for their support in convening the conference, noting that growing interest in the Population Association of Southern Africa demonstrates the value of creating more spaces for researchers to contribute to shaping policy.

Delegates will, over the next three days, engage on themes ranging from health, mortality, and migration to sexual and reproductive justice, climate change, and inclusive data.

The conference also aims to give a voice to often marginalised groups, including persons with disabilities and LGBTQI communities, ensuring that “the future we seek is one that truly leaves no one behind,” Gumbeni affirmed.

With only five years left to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the Population Association of Southern Africa Conference promises to provide a critical platform for research, dialogue, and collaboration to inform population policy and practice in southern Africa and beyond.