Ivory Coast develops national population and climate health policies

Ivory Coast is advancing new strategic frameworks to address demographic shifts and the intersection of climate change and public health.

In Abidjan, officials recently reviewed the draft National Population Policy 2026–2035. The policy projects the country's population to grow from over 33 million today to 36.5 million by 2030, and exceeding 40.5 million by 2035. The initiative, organized by the Ministry of Planning and Development and the National Population Office with support from the UNFPA, includes two five-year plans and focuses on human capital development in alignment with African Union goals.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene, and Universal Health Coverage held a national dialogue to integrate health concerns into Ivory Coast's position for the COP31 climate conference. The discussions aimed to address how climate phenomena, such as extreme heat, flooding, and water insecurity, impact public health and food security. The goal is to establish a coordination mechanism to ensure health priorities are represented in international climate negotiations.