This week, I join youth activists, leaders of civil society, ministers and parliamentarians, and others committed to advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights, to mark the five-year anniversary of SheDecides. The high-level convening, hosted by His Excellency Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium, will reaffirm our collective action to uphold the right for all women and girls to make informed decisions about their bodies, lives, and future. 

In Egypt, there has been a sharp increase in the prevalence of cesarean section over the past decade. Data from the Egypt Demographic and Health Survey suggest that cesarean delivery may be overused or used for inappropriate indications.

April 22 is the 52nd Earth Day. This year’s theme is “Invest In Our Planet”—a call for governments, organizations, and individuals to invest in a better future and to preserve and protect health, families, and livelihoods.

The rapid spread of COVID-19 in early 2020 led to worldwide school closures, affecting over one billion students. School closures disproportionately impact girls and those living in communities that are already marginalized and affected by conflict. 

Climate change and climate-induced disasters pose a significant challenge to poverty reduction, health, and development in many countries. Located on the east coast of India, the state of Odisha is a climate hotspot, highly prone to climate change and multiple hazards, mainly cyclones, droughts, floods, and heatwaves. 

Children living in districts of India that are highly vulnerable to climate variability are more likely to suffer from malnutrition compared with children living in areas of low vulnerability.

It's impossible to know exactly what the future will bring, but modeling can help us predict or forecast possible future outcomes.  

Population Council researchers develop demographic projections based on globally used and agreed upon scenarios to help us understand the complex interplay between people and the climate. How will the changes we make or fail to make over time affect our future?