Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume II, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs

345. Memorandum From Hazel Denton of the National Security Council Staff to the Special Representative for Economic Summits (Owen)¹

Washington, August 26, 1980

SUBJECT

• Proposal for Summit Follow-Up on Population²

Three initiatives are proposed. The background for each is set out in the following pages.

1. Increase Resources. Propose that all Summit countries make a commitment to provide significant population assistance.

Goal. To double contraceptive usage among women in developing countries, from 25% to 50%.

2. Appoint Population Coordinators. Recommend that a senior policy level coordinator of population affairs be appointed by each Summit government to carry the responsibility for Summit follow-up.

Goal. To coordinate efforts to increase international assistance; to highlight population issues in communication with embassies and with international organizations; to stimulate action by their governments and by the international organizations of which they are donor members.

3. Intensify Family Planning/Contraceptive Research. Propose that the United States, working with other international agencies, establish a series of centers in developing countries for research into family planning methods.

Goal. To take the contraceptive techniques developed in the United States to the field, and to undertake detailed operations research into acceptability and adaptability in differing cultural and economic environments.

Background Information

1. Increase Resources

We are proposing an increase from the current $1 billion to $2 billion.

Funding for Population

	Current (1980)	Proposed (1984)
	(million)	(million)
DAC Population Aid to LDCs	$ 350	$ 900
US Share	(200)	(400)
Others	(150)	(500)
World Bank	100	250
LDC Expenditures on Population	450	700
Private Contributions	100	150
	$ 1,000	$ 2 billion

The Summit countries contributed around $250 million for population assistance in 1979, with 75% coming from the United States.

Population Assistance from Summit Countries	1979
	(million)
Canada	$ 10
Germany	13
Japan	19
United Kingdom	18
Italy	?
France	1
United States	185
	$ 245

For tactical reasons, we probably should not mention the specific target of doubling resources because this will raise technical questions of why double (rather than some other multiple, for what, for where). Instead the emphasis should be on the unmet demand, the opportunities, and the current low level of support from Summit countries. Suggested goals could be along the lines of a minimum contribution of $25 million each per year, reaching $100 million each by 1985.

2. Appoint Population Coordinators

To support the call for increased resources it is important to increase awareness of the need. This awareness can be stimulated and maintained by a high-level flow of information to embassies, and by increased pressure from donors on the international organizations.

The embassies are important in that population planning is still a sensitive subject and the establishment and/or expansion of programs is effected by good communication on needs and supplies. Promotion of an international consensus will facilitate the efforts of national leaders to support population planning.

The international organizations currently place little emphasis on population. (The World Bank is lending less than 1% for family planning and related activities.) The coordinators could inform and support their representatives in pressing for more.³

International organization funding is as follows:

	1979
	(million)
UNFPA	$ 112 (using contributions mainly from DAC countries)
World Bank Group	102
IPPF	47
IDB	?
ADB	?
AFDB	?

The coordinators would also be tasked with follow-up on the population issues in Brandt Commission Report⁴ and Global 2000.

Because some of the major donors to population assistance are not Summit countries (i.e., Sweden $28 million, Norway $31 million, Netherlands $15 million), the coordinators would work with them to encourage their efforts and increase cooperation among the group.

3. Intensify Family Planning/Contraceptive Research

There is a need for increased funding for biomedical research; one weak link in the chain is the acceptability of contraceptive methods in different cultural and economic settings.

We propose the establishment/upgrading of research centers in the developing countries. Their focus would be operational research into usage of differing methods. A model for this type of operation is CGIAR.⁵

The centers would work in cooperation with established operations by other international organizations (such as WHO) where possible, and be specifically linked to research efforts in the Summit countries.

Because the United States is the only Summit country with a significant bilateral population program, the US would take the lead. These centers would be located in countries which already have an interest in family planning assistance from the United States, such as Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria, Indonesia, India, Philippines, Thailand, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. (Three such AID-funded health-oriented efforts already exist.)

We would suggest that as all Summit countries have population and biomedical research programs, they should consider either joining the US in this effort, or establishing similar centers.

In order to upgrade and expand international efforts in biomedical research, a mechanism, perhaps under the guidance of the population coordinators (or IDCA, the DAC, UNFPA, or the World Bank) would be established. This coordination would encompass these research centers.

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Special Projects—Hazel Denton, Box 63, Population: 8/80. In a handwritten notation next to Denton’s name, Owen commented: “Pls see me. HO.”
2. See footnote 7, Document 333.
1. * less than $200,000
3. In the left-hand margin next to this paragraph, Owen wrote: “Better phone McN.”
4. See footnote 4, Document 274.
5. Denton sent Owen a memorandum on September 22, informing him that she had undertaken additional work on contraceptive research. In regard to the recommendation proposing research centers in developing nations, Denton noted: “Future investigation suggests that there may be sufficient centers already in operation. What is lacking is research funds. What may be lacking is international cooperation and coordination of results.” She then recommended that the population coordinators of the Summit countries “investigate what their countries’ actual and planned expenditures are, stressing the need for increased funds.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Special Projects—Hazel Denton, Box 63, Population: 8/80)