Articles about Kenya

This mapping study of networks, youth-led organisations, organisations that focus on youth development as well as youth-serving organizations has been conducted. A key aim of the study has been to bring these diverse organizations and networks on the same platform based on commonalities and also highlighting their strengths, so that through sharing of experiences, expertise and learning, SRHR with and for youth, including advocacy, can strengthen in the region

This document, a result of a mapping study undertaken in Nine countries in South Asia, showcases the dynamism of youth work and SRHR work in the region. It contains a purposive sample of 68 organisations/ networks working either on issues of SRHR, youth development and participation or both, with full recognition that the two are intrinsically linked. The data presented in the directory is information gathered either through primary data shared by the respective organisations/networks and/or supported by desk research. This is by no means an exhaustive list.

IPPF collaborates with UNAIDS and The PACT to implement ACT!2030 (formerly ACT!2015), a youth-led social action initiative which engages young people in 12 countries with advocacy and accountability around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other SRHR agreements/frameworks. ACT!2030 was initiated in 2013 as a way to increase youth participation in the negotiations leading up to the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, and for two years focused on establishing alliances of youth-led and youth-serving organisations in 12 countries across the world. The project is currently in Phase 4, which runs until the end of 2017, and aims to establish youth-led, data-driven accountability mechanisms to ensure youth engagement with the implementation of the SDGs and build an evidence base for advocacy. Ultimately, Phase 4 of ACT!2030 seeks to identify, assess and address key policy barriers to young people’s sexual and reproductive data by using existing data, supplemented by youth-collected data, to advocate and lobby for policy change. This phase involves four main activities: indicator advocacy (persuading decision makers to adopt youth-friendly SRHR and HIV indicators, including on things like comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and access to youth-friendly services, into national/global reporting mechanisms); evidence gathering (creating national databases on quality of and access to youth-friendly services and CSE); communications (transforming this data and evidence into communications pieces that can be used to advocacy and lobby at national and international level); and global exchange (facilitating global visibility to share advocacy and engagement learnings and increase youth-led accountability in global and regional processes). ACT!2030 is implemented by national alliances of youth organisations in 12 countries: Algeria, Bulgaria, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.  

IPPF South Asia Region implemented a program advocating for the integration of SRH and HIV in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iran, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka at policy, system and service delivery level through its Member Associations in the respective countries. The uniqueness of the program is its multi-stakeholder, the multi-layered approach promoting the concept of SRHR HIV linkages and integration at various levels. It facilitated in building up cross learning platforms and partnerships with different stakeholders, innovative integrated service approaches through a provision of small grants and developing a series of knowledge products which are useful for both replication and sustainability. SRH HIV Integration captures the process and the achievements of the past four years of the programme which also includes the learning and the way forward.

IPPF South Asia implemented an advocacy initiative to promote the integration of sexual reproductive health (SRH) and HIV in Global Fund Mechanism and country health system in eight South Asian Countries. The eight Member Associations were able to reach approximately 150 CSOs in eight countries over the period of four years. MAs also engaged with a diverse group of stakeholders which include Government, Media, Youth, vulnerable key population, Parliamentarians and CCM members of Global Fund. In South Asia HIV prevalence is concentrated but vulnerability is high in all the eight project implementing countries. Through this project initiative, an effort was given to enhance understanding of relevant stakeholders on the benefits of the integrated response to SRH and HIV concerning to both prevention and treatment.

Saving lives is the core of the SPRINT Initiative (Sexual and reproductive health PRogramme IN crisis and post-crisis siTuations) The initiative was designed to address gaps in the implementation of the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) an international standard of care for Reproductive Health which is a set of priority activities to be implemented at the onset of an emergency.  The SPRINT Initiative provides one of the most important aspects of humanitarian assistance that is often forgotten when disaster and conflicts strike. IPPF-SPRINT ensures access to essential lifesaving SRH services for women, men and children in times of crises, a time when services are most needed yet are not prioritised or recognised by key humanitarian responders, IPPF-SPRINT delivers practical solutions for girls and  women, trains humanitarian workers to deal with pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health and the aftermath of rape and violence.

My name is Umm e Kalsoom. I’m 23-years-old and I live in the Muzaffarabad region of Pakistan. I started volunteering with Rahnuma, the Family Planning Association of Pakistan, two years ago. I realised that SRSH was being grossly neglected in our communities after I went to some awareness raising sessions and decided to contribute to the cause. I now run tea parties in my area. These tea parties are important to create a comfortable and open environment for girls and young women to share their SRH issues and concerns and also provide an opportunity to inspire young girls within the communities to mobilize other girls and women. Through my work and involvement in the Girls’ Power Project, I have been able to create a trustworthy environment in the community to discuss matters related to SRH which are usually considered a taboo. I have gained the confidence of young girls and women to share their issues and discuss their SRHR concerns. Through these parties we have been able to develop a sense of confidence within these girls and women and empowered them to exercise their right to participation, expression of thought,  acquire information, education and access services related to their health especially Sexual and Reproductive health without any discrimination. At the beginning of this project the community was reluctant to participate. The girls and women had been raised to believe these issues should never been discussed with others. But because the tea parties provided a relaxed and open environment they were eventually able to win the community’s support and eventually girls found the confidence to share their issues. I remember that in one tea party a 12 year-old-girl came to me at the end of the party and said “I don’t have any sister, from now on you are my elder sister and a friend with whom I can share my problems. Due to your education and information I have been able to come over my inferiority complex”. The main issues that come up at the tea parties from my community are a lack of awareness, counselling, information and services related to sexual and reproductive especially when it comes to Hepatitis, HIV/AIDs, STIs and family planning. Other concerns are about the high prevalence and acceptability of early marriage, child marriage and sexual abuse. The women and girls who come to the tea parties are also worried about the lack of abortion services and the fact that it is very difficult to get contraceptives. The tea parties have had a massive impact on me and my community. Without them women and girls in the community would not have realized that SRH issues are concerns and that it is their right to seek redress.  Engaging as a volunteer I have been able to acquire detailed information on SRHR. I am also empowered to make informed decisions about my life especially in terms of SRHR. If I ever have my own daughter I would like her to be a confident and empowered girl, who know and exercise’s her rights to make informed decision in her life.

The Guttmacher Institute and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) today released Spanish and French language versions of Demystifying Data: A Guide to Using Evidence to Improve Young People’s Sexual Health and Rights. The publication, which is also available in English, is designed to be a resource for advocates, sexuality educators, young people, service providers and others working to advance the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people around the world. It contains a wealth of data on young people’s sexual health and rights in 30 countries and offers guidance on how to use those data to advocate for better programs and improved education and services. The guide highlights 70 key indicators on issues that include sexual activity, marriage and contraceptive use. Each indicator is defined and discussed in terms of how it can be applied in the context of advocacy, service provision and sexuality education. The data featured in the guide come from nationally representative surveys on sexual and reproductive health and were the latest available at the time of writing (i.e., the data span the survey years 2002 through 2010-2011). National-level data are provided for each country so that users can understand what is happening in their country and easily compare it to others in their region. By region, the countries covered are: Africa—Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe Asia—Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Vietnam Europe—Albania, Moldova and Ukraine Latin America and the Caribbean—Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru. Data from the Dominican Republic, for instance, show that 88% of boys and 90% of girls attend primary school, but that just 38% and 53%, respectively, attend secondary school. Thus, policymakers and youth advocates could use these data to show why it is critical to deliver sexual and reproductive health and rights information when young people still attend primary school. This would enable boys and girls to learn how to avoid unintended pregnancy and STIs, and how to cultivate healthy intimate relationships before most begin having sex. IPPF and Guttmacher work in all of the above world regions to increase public awareness about sexual and reproductive health issues and to counter misinformation with sound scientific evidence. The Spanish and French versions of this guide take another step toward that goal by reaching out to a wider audience of stakeholders to promote better policies, service delivery and sexuality education.

Integra is a 5-year research initiative in Kenya, Malawi and Swaziland. It aims to reduce HIV infection, HIV-related stigma and unintended pregnancy. IPPF implements the Integra Initiative with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Population Council.