"The activities of all human beings, communities and countries are interrelated with population change, patterns and levels of use of natural resources, the state of the environment and the pace and quality of economic and social development. Persistent widespread poverty as well as serious social and gender inequities have significant influences on and are in turn influenced by, demographic parameters such as population growth, structure and distribution. The close linkages between population and development have not yet been adequately appreciated and the progress towards integrating population variables into socio-economic development planning has been very slow in Africa. This situation calls for greater participation of the African Union in population activities." (Quoted from Article)