1994 
United Nations ICPD

For Rotary International, the Population focus began in Cairo, 1994 at the United Nations International Conference on Population & Development. Over 180 nations participated in this global forum, attempting to identify a common strategy to address the population problem. Rotary International sent an official representative, Past Director Umberto Laffi of Italy, to participate in the discussion.

Unanimous agreement by all nations was reached on the following:

The Need to:

1. Extend & improve reproductive health & family planning services
2. Expand population policy to include economic development
3. Improve the status of women
4. Link environmental & sustainable development to population growth
5. Invest in health & development of children - especially girls
6. Emphasize male responsibility for sexual, reproductive, and parenting behavior

1. Completion of many World Community Service Projects (See WCS Projects)
2. Participation through exhibits and programs at last four Rotary International Conventions
3. Partnership conferences with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in New York in 1997 & 1999 with top officers of Rotary International & Dr. Nafis Sadik, Executive Director of the UNFPA
4. Support in membership to more than 1 1/2 % of Rotarians worldwide (18,000) in more than 55 countries

1999
RI Statement on Population Growth and Development

On August 27, 1999 the Rotary International Board of Directors published an official statement endorsing Population & Development as an appropriate area for Rotary's humanitarian service.  The Board set forth explicit objectives and guidelines for proper implementation of population-focused humanitarian projects.

1999
Rotarian Initiative for Population & Development (RIFPD)

Recognition of the International Fellowship on Population & Development (IFPD) as a Fellowship was rescinded at the August 1999 Board of Directors meeting.  The rationale for this action was that the IFPD was neither Recreational or Vocational.  The Fellowship Rotarians, representing over 1% of Rotary's total membership, elected to continue their humanitarian focus under a new banner as the "Rotarian Initiative for Population and Development"( RIFPD).  RIFPD has continued the work of the Fellowship in the same way as in the past.

2000
Population and Development Steeering Committee

On July 1, 2000, this committee, chaired by Past RI Director, William Cadwallader, was formed to provide support and guidance to the Population and Development Task Force established by RI President Frank Devlyn. This committee replaced the Committee on Population Growth & Development above and served until June 30, 2001.

MISSION

The Committee provided support and guidance to the Population and Development Task Force.  It also provided guidance and advice to the RI Board on how to create awareness among Rotarians of the impact of continued population growth on sustainable human and economic development and the environment.

Chairman: William B.P.Cadwallader,Jr. (vet.med.) (spouse: Jean), 87 S. Main St., Homer NY 13077, USA. Bus.: 1-607 7497223, Res.: 1-607-7493144, E-mail: williamc@clarityconnect.com (Member, Rotary Club of Cortland.)

Vice-Chairman: Edgar C. Hatcher (dentistry) (spouse: Jo Ann), P.O. Box 878, Bristol VA 24203, USA. 1-423-6521984, Fax: 1-423-6522364, E-mail: ehatcher@preferred.com

Members:

Winford V. Lindsay (arch.) (spouse: Cindy), 270 Langley Dr., Lawrenceville GA 30045, USA Bus.: 1-770-9638989, Res.: 1-770-9630191, E-mail: lpbatlanta@aol.com  (Member, Rotary Club of Gwinnett County.)

E. Adedolapo Lufadeju (livestock prod.) (spouse: Stella), 9 Fl., Cocoa Hse. Complex, 1 Oba Adebimpe Ave., Ibadan, Nigeria. Bus.:  234-90-807300,  Res.: 234-69-51411, Fax: 234-62-239200, E-mail: dolaluf@mail.skannet.com   (Member, Rotary Club of Zaria.)

Salem A.Mashhour (agr. mach. rtl.) (spouse: Safinaz), 12 A, Hassan Sabri St., 11 211 Cairo-Zamalek, Egypt Bus.: 20-2-340347, Res.: 20-2-3322606, Fax: 20-2-3411582, E-mail: mash@intouch.com

Robert S. Scott (med. gen. pract.) (spouse: Ann), 239 Queen St., Coburg, ON Canada K9A 1N4. 1-905-3725078: Fax: 1-905-3720820, E-mail: bobscott@eagle.ca

Antonio M. Serrano (freight trans.) (spouse:  Marie),  P.O. Box 1416, Bedfordview, Gauteng, South Africa 2008.  27-11-6164595,  Fax: 27-11-6154918, E-mail: etta@briankahn.co.za

Rekha Shetty (mgmt. consult.) (spouse: Jai) 359 N. Main Rd., Anna Nagar West. Madras. Tamil Nadu, India 600 101. Bus.: 91-44-6264611 Res: 91-44-6283658, Fax: 91-44-6283659. E-mail: arjuns@glasmda.vsnl.net.in (Member, Rotary Club of Madras Temple City.)

Luis F. Valenzuela (arch.) (spouse: Chiqui), 13 Av. 20-99, Zone 10, Guatemala, Guatemala 01010.  Bus.: 502-3621442, Res.: 502-3682833, Fax 502-3316296, E-mail: ifvalen@intelnet.net.gt   (Member, Ruatemala Sur.)

Robert Zinser (export) (spouse:  Marion),  Marbacher Str. 3,  DE-67071 Ludwigshafen, Germany.  49-621-682882, Fax: 49-621-682872.  E-mail:  robert.zinser@t-online.de (Member Rotary Club of Ludwigshafen=Rheinschanze.)

Advisor:
Rajendra K. Saboo (needle mfg.) (spouse: Usha), Kamla Centre, SCO 88-89, Sector 8-C, Chandigarh, Union Territory, India 160-018.  Bus.: 91-172-548223, Res.: 92-172-740332, Fax: 91-172-548302, E-mail: kddlcmd@91.net.in

Liason Director: Donald E. Osburn
Liason Trustee: James L. Lacy

2000 - 2001
Rotary International Task Force on Population and Development

On July 1, 2000  the  RI Task Force on Population and Development was formed by President Frank Devlyn and Chaired by PRID Bill Cadwallader.  This Task Force served until June 30, 2001.

Goals:

Create Awareness of critical Issues related to world population growth and sustainable development and implement relevant projects.

Working Goal: To encourage Rotary clubs and districts, working as appropriate with government agencies, non-governmental organizations and local leadership, to increase awareness and undertake even more projects that directly impact population growth and sustainable development. Projects would include those that promote education on the issue of population, access to family health care, adequate nutrition and enable individuals to make informed and responsible decisions about issues such as child spacing in a way that is in keeping with their personal values and cultural and religious considerations. (The Rotarian: February 2000; p. 34.)

During the term of President Frank Devlyn (2000-01), major progress was achieved in Creating Awareness and in Taking Action as a result of three Presidential Population Summit Conferences held in Zurich, July 2000, in New Delhi, September2000 and in Brasilia, March, 2001. Over 200 population-based Matching Grants were generated from these conferences. See Results Population Summit Conferences and Project Countries.

June 6, 2001
Memorandum of Cooperation
Rotary International & United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Rotary International President, Frank Devlyn and United Nations Population Fund Executive Director,Thoraya Obaid, signed the Memorandum of Cooperation to work together on population and reproductive health issues and promote awareness worldwide of the social, economic and environmental implications of population growth and challenges. The UNFPA and Rotary will cooperate on projects to address development needs and the challenges of a global population that increases by 77 million people each year, mainly in the world's poorest countries.

June 18, 2002
Extension of Memorandum of Cooperation
Rotary International & United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

June 18th, 2002, the Rotary International Board agreed to renew the cooperative relationship with the United Nations Population fund (UNFPA) and requests the President to inform the UNFPA that RI renew this relationship with the understanding that the UNFPA will not promote abortion. In addition, regarding the RI and TRF Cooperative Relationship Guidelines, the Rotary International Board agreed to modify the Rotary Code of Policies 35.010.1 by removing a previous restriction on contraceptive devices.

October, 2003
Rotarian Fellowship for Population & Development (RFPD)

The RI Board of Directors approved the creation of the Rotarian Fellowship for Population & Development (RFPD).  This replaces the Rotarian Initiative for Population & Development. The new Rotarian Fellowship will continue its work the same way as in the past.

November 2005
Rotarian Action Group for Population & Development

The name of our organization was changed to Rotarian Action Group for Population & Development and now falls under the new Rotary category of Global Networking Groups. Rotarian Action Groups unite Rotarians worldwide with a particular project or service focus. Our work, directly related to population and sustainable development, will continue the same way as in the past.

TODAY

Many challenges remain, however considerable progress has been made

• The Council on Legislation has acted with Resolution 98-231- January 1998 in New Delhi, India,
• The RI Board has issued its Statement of Policy regarding Population & Development - August 1999,
• The Population Summit Conferences under Past President Frank Devlyn provided strong evidence of demand for humanitarian service from Rotarians worldwide.
• The Memorandum of Cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) cements a working relationship with Rotary International to work towards population stabilization and sustainable development.
• Over 1500 Rotarians attended the Presidential Celebration on Population Concerns  held in Abuja, Nigeria in August, 2003 by RI President Jonathan Majiyagbe\
• The Cairo Conference on Sustainable Development in December 2004 was well attended by Rotarians and outside experts.
• Our new status as a Rotarian Action Group provides recognition, support and publicity from Rotary International.
• On 2-3 November, 2006 the Ft. Lee, New Jersey, the Conference on "Fundamental Challenges to Human Development" in conjunction with RI/UN Day on November 2 2006 was well attended by Rotarians from 16 countries and 27 districts. Organized and sponsored by RFPD, experts from the UN and RI spoke on Women's Empowerment, Education, Maternal Health, and HIV/AIDS.
   

LET THE WORK CONTINUE