Empowering Futures��Youth Involvement in SRHR Policy Development

Presenter: Dr Lilian Benjamin Mwakyosi

United Republic of Tanzania

DARE Organization

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• The Youth Demographic in Africa
• Key SRHR Elements
• Current SRHR State in Africa
• Barriers to Youth Involvement
• Recommendations for Youth Involvement

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Outline

The Youth Demographic in Africa

• Africa has the youngest population worldwide; as of 2022, around 40 percent of the population was aged 15 years and younger, compared to a global average of 25 percent.

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• Our young demographic could provide a powerful opportunity for development and beyond including increasing impact and sustainability of SRH policies and programs.

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• Unfortunately, in many countries existing SRHR policies do not permit or expressly guarantee youths and adolescents friendly access to sexual and reproductive health services.

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• This stands as a threat to vast investments made over the years in addressing SRH issues affecting adolescents and youth.

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Key SRHR Elements

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Equitable access to SRHR necessitates the inclusion of young people's leadership in shaping and implementing policies to ensure sustained impact.

Youth Friendly

Services

HIV and STI’s

Family Planning

/Contraception

Maternal Health

Reproductive Health

Sexual Health

Legal and Policy Frameworks

Gender Equality

Current state of SRHR in Africa

• Access to SRHR for youth remains a challenge in Africa with Adolescent Girls and young Women being disproportionately affected.

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• Child marriage, Gender Based Violence, teenage pregancies, HIV transmission and low coverage of modern contraceptives are common in many African countries.

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• In 2022, 480,000 new HIV infections occurred among young people aged 10 to 24, with 140,000 of them being adolescents aged 10 to 19.

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Barriers to Youth Engagement

Limited youth participatory structures in SRH policymaking 

Sporadic engagement (ideal engagement should be consistent at all levels)

Limited capacity of young people to enable meaningful engagement

Digital dividend – the unequal access to digital technology

Financial resources and security (Geographical disparities)

Reflection: How are you engaging young people in your respective role as part SRHR response?

Recommendations for Youth Involvement

• Intentionally establish comprehensive frameworks to facilitate diverse youth engagement, recognizing the heterogeneity within this demographic.

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• Prioritize mentorship and intergenerational learning to foster knowledge transfer.

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• Invest significantly in enhancing the capabilities of young individuals to actively participate.

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• Extend support to youth-led initiatives and organizations, acknowledging their unique perspectives.

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• Leverage digital advancements and innovation to create more accessible and inclusive platforms for involvement in SRH policies.

• Youth SRH differs notably due to geographical location, highlighting the necessity for country-specific data to shape targeted policies.

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• Promote active youth involvement in decision-making, recognizing the lasting benefits of prioritizing our perspectives.

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• Ensure culturally sensitive, multisectoral, and inclusive engagements that address root causes like poverty, limited education, and gender-based violence.

Ahsanteni!