The ACP regions have never been in greater need of qualified demography graduates. Most of these regions are beset by the consequences of its high population growth: degradation of the environment, extreme poverty, food insecurity, communicable and a growing burden of non-communicable diseases. The population growth has created a new face of poverty: a considerable proportion of urban populations live in over-crowded informal settlements, commonly known as slums. The living environment of these urban poor is characterized by overcrowding, non-existent or poor sanitation, lack of social and health services and precarious conditions of security.

Tackling these problems requires, among others, a sound basis of demographic information. EDULINK projects work towards the improvement of capacities, and relevant and consistent high-class demographic training, including practical fieldwork.

Projects aim at contravening the dearth of knowledge about the deepening urban poverty and expect to have a positive impact on the results of targeted interventions by governments, international organisations and other civil society actors.