The concept of the Demographic Dividend (DD) which is based on the simplistic model of the demographic transition, is a dominant, population based paradigm of development cooperation in the Global South abd especially sub Sahara Africa. The DD refers to examples of successfully developing Asian nations that experienced a significant economic boost which rooted of up to 40 % of total growth in changes of their populations’ age-structures (Bloom et al. 2003).
From a critical perspective, however, some findings related to the DD could be components of a neo-Malthusian agenda. Particularly the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is potentially put into question (Bhatia et al. 2019). Also the current prominent role of private institutions of the former »Birth Control Movement« (Connelly 2006) whose misconduct eventually led to the resolutions at ICPD 1994, putting emphasis on the individual and human rights.
In the context of formal development cooperation, population dynamics are becoming a prominent cross-sectional topic. States are developing »Road Maps« or »Policy Declarations« to harness the DD and »Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in Youth« was also the Leitmotif of the African Union in 2017 (The African Union Commission 2017).
Schultz (2019) argues that the »demographization« of politics should be recognized as a problematic issue in contemporary political decision making. In contrast, this paper supports the idea of a »positive demographization«. Based on qualitative interviews it is shown how policy advisors use the “appeal” and presupposed “objective reliability” of demographic data to broaden the views of (political) decision makers and promote a multi-sectoral perspective in development. Gender equality, building and fostering high-quality education systems as well as efficient and accessible public health services are considered to be basic requirements for economic development within the DD.
Mots clés : Development Planning|African Development|Population Dynamics|Demographic Dividend
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