The Asia-Pacific Population Information Network (Asia- Pacific POPIN) comprises a number of population information centres and networks whose regional networking activities are coordinated by the Regional Population Information Centre of ESCAP.

Asia-Pacific POPIN was established in line with the mandate given to the Secretary-General of the United Nations in 1979 to set up the global Population Information Network (POPIN).

Regionally, the ESCAP Committee on Population at its third session in 1983 endorsed a secretariat proposal to organize and coordinate technical meetings for the managers and technical staff of national population information centres in order to facilitate the development of infrastructure and population information-sharing activities in the region.

The first of these meetings, i.e. the ESCAP POPIN Expert Working Group on Development of Population Information Centres and Networks, was held at Bangkok in 1984. Linked with POPIN at the global level, it recommended the establishment of a regional network to be called Asia-Pacific POPIN.

The first meeting of the Network under this new name was at Beijing in 1986, although regional networking activities had already been taking place in line with earlier mandates. Thus, that meeting, the Asia-Pacific POPIN Expert Working Group on Population Information Networking, made numerous recommendations that formed the framework for the Network's goals, objectives and operations down to the present day.

Today, Asia-Pacific POPIN is well established in several countries and territories of the region. This profile and directory provides an idea of the scope of work carried out by the Network's individual members and by the ESCAP secretariat in fostering population information development in the Asian and Pacific region.

Most of the financial support for POPIN activities is provided by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Top of page

Up one level

Home