20 May 2024, Lilongwe, Malawi — Speaking to delegates and international leaders at the 9th African Population Conference, Lydia Zigomo, the UNFPA Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, emphasized the critical need to focus on human capital to guide Africa towards sustainable development amid global uncertainties. The conference, themed “Road to 2030: Leveraging Africa’s Human Capital to Achieve Transformatio...

Blog by Lydia Zigomo, UNFPA Regional Director - For over 30 years, I have traveled extensively across the diverse landscapes of East and Southern Africa, the region closest to my heart, and experiencing the stunning cultures, varied economies, and breathtaking geography of the region, and meeting our young people brimming with potential. 

Imagine being a midwife in a remote, fragile context, like the Afar region in Ethiopia. This hot low-land and desert-like area has been affected by conflict, driving up the headcount poverty rate to 30 per cent. This has worsened food insecurity for Afar’s population, who mostly make a living as livestock farmers and are often dependent on government support.