Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu on Monday said the objective of the preparatory seminar for the upcoming Summit on the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) was to harness the power and enable global voices to drive innovation on population and development issues through collaborations and sharing knowledge.

She said the agenda of the seminar was to bring together relevant key partners to work collaboratively and strategically through a constructive dialogue towards Nairobi and beyond.

"I encourage you all to continue contributing and maintaining momentum towards the Nairobi Summit and beyond in your respective areas of expertise," said Zulu.

Zulu was speaking during a preparatory seminar at Constitution Hill, in Johannesburg for the upcoming Summit on the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD25) to be held in Nairobi, Kenya from 12 to 14 November 2019.

The minister said the national dialogue was critical in consolidating their gains in implementing the ICPD Programme of Action in the last 25 years in South Africa. 

"This is also crucial in building and sustaining momentum towards Vision 2030 (NDP) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as we accelerate the promise to leave no one behind," she said.

"Let us build on what we have achieved thus far by continuously identifying and encouraging critical areas where South-South cooperation can be effective as we accelerate the promise and continue to implement the 2030 Agenda. Equally, we need to strengthen North-South collaborations."

The conference will bring together representatives of government, civil society, private academia sector, foreign missions based in South Africa, including representatives of the United Nations development agencies to discuss and agree on South Africa’s policy recommendations ahead of the ICPD25 Summit in Nairobi.