FORUM (Spotlight Weekly)

‘What Matters Is policies And Programs, Not Size’

— J. Bill Musoke

J. Bill Musoke is the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative to Nepal. A Ugandan national, Musoke, 53, joined the UN system 23 years ago. He has served in several African countries as UNPFA representative. Before coming to Nepal, Musoke worked as UNFPA Representative to Nigeria, a country with a population five times larger than Nepal's. He talked to SANJAYA DHAKAL and KESHAB POUDEL on population control activities in Nepal. Excerpts:

How do you view the demographic situation in Nepal?

Nepal is characterized by a high population growth. It is also among the poorest countries of the world, with an estimated 42 percent of the population living under the poverty line. Other characteristics associated with Nepal are high mortality rates -- the infant mortality rate is 75 per thousand births, the maternal mortality rate is a staggering 475 per thousand and the under-five mortality rate is 118. These figures are high compared to Nepal's neighbors. Nepal's population is also characterized by high unemployment and high fertility. The number of illiterate people is also on the high side compared to the neighbors and other developing countries. Besides, illiteracy among the female population is very high compared to their male counterparts. Women here tend to get a raw deal.

What problems do you associate with high population growth in the country?

If the population growth is very high, it is difficult to manage and gives rise to conflicts - both internal and external. Questions of land distribution also arise, as limited land has to be shared by more people. Regarding Nepal, most of the land is mountainous and very difficult to utilize. So, the piece of land that is left for sharing among a rapidly growing population is very small. Another problem is environmental degradation. Environment is a very tricky subject and the effects will go beyond Nepal. Anything that happens to the environment of the Himalayas in Nepal will have their effect in neighboring countries that share the same ecosystem. Health and education are other aspects and all these are compounded by the economics of the population. If the population is poor, that means the education and health systems are going to suffer, as the government does not have adequate resources.

What does UNFPA do to control population?

First, I would like to make a correction. UNFPA does not control population; it advises countries how to manage their population. Our mandate authorizes us to go to countries on the invitation of those countries. Then we assist the countries in identifying the problems, find solutions and mobilize resources. Since the UN population conference in Cairo in 1994, a new paradigm of population and development has emerged. Earlier, people associated population with family planning and control. We have moved a long way from that, and now we talk about population and development that encompasses all facets of development. Because of that, we changed the way we operate. So, when we go to assist a country, one area where we are involved in is advocacy. We tell the people about the problems of population. We try to make policy-makers and parliamentarians understand the population problem. If there is a problem in the country, we suggest ways of allocating resources to manage the population. Talking to newspapers and media is also part of advocacy. The other area we look at is population policies and demographic statistics - for example, the population census - so that the country can have adequate and reliable data to take good decisions. Another area where we allocate resource in is reproductive health. Here, too, we have had a paradigm shift since the Cairo conference. It takes into account all aspects of women's development.

As Nepal is sandwiched between two countries that have a billion-plus people each, what strategies should it adopt to manage its population?

As a Christian, it reminds me the story of David and Goliath. David was small guy and Goliath was very big. Nobody thought David could fight Goliath, but he did. When you are a small country surrounded by big countries, it is very difficult to extricate yourself from geopolitical dictates. But if small country has a vision about where it wants to go and how it wants to manage its population, it can do so. The point here is that what matters is policies and programs, not size.

Before you arrived in Nepal, there were reports of corruption in UNFPA's Kathmandu office. What actions, if any, have been taken against those found guilty?

I am glad you brought up this subject. Corruption is a very unfortunate thing. The case you referred to not only affected the UNFPA office here but the entire UN system. As a result, the UN looked into this subject very seriously and took actions against those found guilty. Three people were dismissed from service, one was retired and one was found not guilty by the tribunal set up to probe the irregularities. Another one is still fighting the suspension.