Kenya Hosts CPD-59 Side Event in New York
New York, 14th April 2026……..The Kenyan Government hosted a high-level side event during the 59th Session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD-59) currently underway at the United Nations Headquarters in New York aimed at underscoring the country’s commitment to advancing population and development priorities through strengthened global partnerships.
The side event was led by the Principal Secretary, State Department for Economic Planning Dr. Boniface Makokha, on behalf of the government was co-organized through the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD).
The event brought together global experts, policymakers, and development partners under the theme: “The role of South-South and multilateral cooperation in strengthening national capacities for the analysis and effective use of population data.” The session emphasized the critical role of reliable, timely, and disaggregated population data in driving sustainable development and responsive public policy.
The event was co-hosted alongside key international partners, including the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the China Population and Development Research Center (CPDRC).
Discussions focused on innovative approaches to enhancing collaboration among countries of the Global South with particular attention to building resilient national statistical systems and improving the use of data for evidence-based decision-making.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Bonface Makokha reiterated Kenya’s leadership in championing population and development issues at both regional and global levels. He highlighted the Government’s recognition that robust population data systems are essential for effective planning, resource allocation, and monitoring of development outcomes, including the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr. Makokha further noted that platforms such as CPD-59 provide an opportunity for countries to share best practices, leverage technical expertise, and foster partnerships that enhance national capacities. He emphasized the importance of South-South cooperation as a practical and impactful mechanism for knowledge exchange, particularly among countries facing similar demographic and development challenges.
Representing NCPD’s Directorate of Policy, Programs and Partnerships, Dr. Isabella Kiplagat delivered a detailed presentation on the application of CPDRC’s Population Analysis and Data Innovation System (PADIS-INT).
Her presentation demonstrated how advanced data systems can support more accurate population estimation, strengthen SDG monitoring frameworks, and improve policy responsiveness. She emphasized the need for continued investment in data infrastructure, capacity building, and technology transfer to maximize the benefits of such tools.
As Kenya’s lead agency on population policy and coordination, NCPD continues to play a central role in integrating population dynamics into national development planning. The Council’s participation in CPD-59 reflects its ongoing commitment to ensuring that population issues remain at the forefront of policy discourse, both domestically and internationally.
The side event concluded with a strong call for sustained multilateral engagement, increased investment in statistical systems, and deeper collaboration across countries and institutions. Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to working with global partners to strengthen population data systems and promote inclusive, data-driven development that leaves no one behind.
