UNFPA Kenya Deputy Representative Ms. Gift Malunga today paid a courtesy call to the newly appointed NCPD Director General, Dr. Josephine Kibaru-Mbae. Dr Kibaru, who was the head of the East, Central & Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) since 2010, reported to office in February. Prior to that, Dr. Kibaru headed the Division of Reproductive Health in the Ministry of Health, which is a key UNFPA KCO partner.

Ms. Malunga was accompanied by Ms. Cecilia Kimemia (Assistant Representative), Mr Ezekiel Ngure (Programme Analyst) and Ms. Zipporah Gathiti (Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist). NCPD was represented by Mr. George Kichamu (Director, Technical Services), Ms. Margaret Muthoni (Director, Corporate Services) and Mr. David Kinyua (Public Relations Officer)

Ms. Malunga congratulated Dr Kibaru on her appointment to NCPD and commended Kenya for its leadership in the region on population and development issues. She noted in particular Kenya's progressive National Policy for Population and Development that won the global Resolve Award in 2013 at the World Health Assembly for its international quality, inclusiveness and demonstration of political will to provide sexual reproductive health to its citizens.

Kenya has been identified as a champion of the ICPD agenda and the post-2015 development strategy. This is as a result of Kenya's leadership position in key forums targeted by the ESARO ICPD Beyond 2014 outreach strategy that seeks to strengthen regional engagement. Kenya currently holds the leadership of the East African Community (EAC) and the African Population Commission (APC). Further, Kenya is poised to take the leadership of the Africa Group in New York in March and play a key role in convening and facilitating positive common positions on ICPD within these forums.

Ms. Malunga praised Kenya's leadership role at the EAC and APC and thanked NCPD for steering the development of the first Population Situation Analysis in the African region. She requested NCPD to champion the ICPD agenda and its inclusion in the post- 2015 development agenda.

Dr. Kibaru thanked UNFPA for its support to Kenya and to NCPD specifically over the years. She praised UNFPA for being a reliable partner and contributing to major achievements in Kenya's population and development agenda. Of particular note was the extensive support provided towards the development of the National Policy for Population and Development, and the re-launch of the national family planning media campaign, which also received direct funding from the Government.

The NCPD Director General pledged to fully utilize her participation at the meeting of EAC Ministers of Health scheduled to take place in Arusha from 27-28 February. She further pledged to use that platform to lobby and pass messages provided in the UNFPA Executive Director's Advisory. Dr. Kibaru said she would also reach out to the EAC Sexual and Reproductive Health Working Group and the Health Desk to discuss the possibility of Kenya convening an EAC common position prior to the Commission on Population and Development meeting scheduled for April in New York.

Ms. Malunga applauded the positive collaboration with NCPD and its participation in the development of the UNDAF for Kenya as it ensured substantive incorporation of UNFPA's mandate in the development framework. NCPD also played a leadership role in coordinating stakeholders for the development of the 8th Country Programme (8CP) for Kenya.  Ms. Malunga informed Dr. Kibaru that the 8th Country Programme Document was at an advanced state and had been submitted to ESARO for review.

While assuring NCPD of UNFPA's continued support, Ms. Malunga requested Dr. Kibaru to confirm the new chair of APC upon the retirement of Mr Karugu Ngatia, who had chaired the initial meeting held in Lusaka in December 2013.