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Sexuality and Youth Empowerment: Unpacking the Black Box

Sexuality and Youth Empowerment: Unpacking the Black Box. 3 rd Africa Sexuality Conference on Sexual Health and Rights Theme: Sexuality, Poverty and Accountability in Africa 4 th – 7 th February, 2008. Outline. Sexuality & RH: Where are we today? What are our enduring issues?

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Sexuality and Youth Empowerment: Unpacking the Black Box

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  1. Sexuality and Youth Empowerment:Unpacking the Black Box 3rd Africa Sexuality Conference on Sexual Health and Rights Theme: Sexuality, Poverty and Accountability in Africa 4th – 7th February, 2008

  2. Outline • Sexuality & RH: Where are we today? • What are our enduring issues? • The Context • The missing link: The Black Box • Unpacking the Black Box • An integrated conceptual framework • Tracking change and targeting investments

  3. Sexuality and Reproductive Health: Where are we?Knowledge and Access • High knowledge levels of sexuality and reproduction • Improved communication materials • Increase in knowledge of STD transmission especially those related to HIV/AIDS • Increased investment in, and higher levels of girl child education • Increase in service outlets focused on the needs of young persons – particularly by non profit service providers

  4. Sexuality and Reproductive Health: Where are we?Policy and Legal Environment • Global and regional advocacy has paved the way for national and regional actions • Maputo Declaration • African Health Strategy • African Sexuality Conference • Abortion laws • Domestication of international treaties and conventions • Youth interventions related to HIV/AIDS

  5. Sexuality and Reproductive Health: Where are we?Outcome (Variable progress against selected indicators) • Behavior and Life Styles • Condom use • Use of modern contraception • Age at first sex • Sex with a casual partner • Reproductive Health • Age at first pregnancy • Levels of teenage pregnancy • Levels of unsafe abortions • HIV/AIDS • Seroprevalence among young persons • Number of young persons with full blown AIDS

  6. Enduring Issues • Increasing policy responses • Youth policies and parliaments • Treaties, Declarations and Conventions • Increased investment in youth friendly services • On the rise among young persons: • Knowledge • Participation • Access to services YET Sexuality and RH targets are not met!

  7. The Traditional Sexuality and RH Response Pathway IMPROVED REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH & PROTECTECTIVE SEXUAL LIFESTYLES CURRENT INTERVENTIONS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH INFORMATION & SERVICES (RHIS)

  8. Case Studies • Lola: The Hairdresser • Goddy: Is this my life? • Ngozi: The end of the road? • Angela: I’ve got it, and they want it! • Ayi: To whom can I turn?

  9. E no dey ee!(Drivers of Sexuality and RH Behavior) • Them ask for education • Them ask for work to do • Bank no go give them credit • Serious options for them future nko! Total Youth Empowerment: Naim we dey talk, give our youths them future oo!)

  10. The Context: Youth Attrition from the Educational System (Nigeria) • Demographic youth bulge • Significant attrition from educational system • Large numbers remain unemployed or under-employed after the youth service year • An apparent neglect of those lost to attrition Tertiary (150,000 complete) Post Secondary Secondary (1.4 m register, 700,000 complete) Primary (3.0 m register, 1.5 m complete)

  11. The Context: ADDITIONAL DIMENSIONS THE HIV/AIDS CHALLENGE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE SOCIAL DISRUPTION POLITICAL INSTABILITY

  12. Reproductive Health THE CONSEQUENCES Political Economic Sexual Brain drain Educational YOUTH DEVIANCE HIV/AIDS Social Youth Migration

  13. An Alternate Framework for Response and Sustained Impact IMPROVED REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH & PROTECTECTIVE SEXUAL LIFESTYLES REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH INFORMATION & SERVICES (RHIS) THE BLACK BOX

  14. Unpacking the Black Box Options for Sustainable Livelihood Access to credit Enterprise training and support Educational counseling and support Bridges for responsible adulthood Leadership development Mentoring and Coaching Stakeholder engagement

  15. More of the Black Box Communication and Advocacy Social Messages ‘Nollywood’ drama series ‘Tomorrow’ Theme Songs (TYE, Seasons of Your Life, Reach Out and Touch’ Tracking and Accountability Evaluation of program effectiveness Measuring achievements Tracking progress

  16. Options for Sustainable Livelihood (EMPOWER & SUSTAIN) • Enterprise Skills Building • Training based on organized time bound curriculum • Enterprise attachments • Business Development grants • Expanding access to credit for organized youth cooperatives

  17. Bridges and Options for responsible adulthood(FRIENDS & MENTORS) • Mentoring Dialogues (Site based & National) • Development and Coaching of Mentors • Youth Leadership Development Internships • Research • Health Systems Strengthening • Stakeholder engagement • National Youth Agenda and Policy • Enactment of the Youth Act • Working with the ‘Young’ Speaker • Working with other CSO’s • Mobilize private sector participation and resources

  18. Communication and Advocacy Social Messages: Electronic and Print Media Seasons of Your Life Values for Youth Empowerment Theme Songs TYE Seasons of Your Life Reach Out and Touch Engaging Nollywood – Partnership with OGD Productions on TV drama series ‘Tomorrow”

  19. Tracking and Accountability(The Youth Index) • Empirical evidence establishing the links between sexuality, RH, and the contents of our black box – access to credit, leadership development, access to justice and access to enterprise? • A composite indicator to track impact of the empowerment approach on sexual behavior and reproductive health outcomes

  20. The Youth Index(A Concept Review and Methodology WOrkshop) • A concept review and methodology workshop (Thursday, 7th February 2008, 11.00am – 1.30pm at the Taraba Hall, International Conference Center) • Youth Index Questionnaire • Optional but encouraged (All participants below 30 years) • Please take a copy on the AHI desk, complete and return there

  21. Conclusion • Some progress, yet still much more needs to be done • Young people are both sexual and developing entities • Sexuality and reproductive health has many drivers • Youth deviance is a main consequence of its poor management • Integrated packages are best suited to reduce these negative consequences • The Youth Index has great potential to track progress, drive advocacy and promote accountability

  22. TYE in Action

  23. TYE HQ, Oyo State ……… Total Youth Empowerment, Tomorrow Starts Today!!!

  24. Kano State Young men – Reserved, but interested and engaged

  25. Lagos State – National Mentoring Dialogues Between Friends and Mentors So much to share, so much to learn

  26. Ondo State Building Community Partnerships that work

  27. Edo State We are Fighters of AIDS, We Prevent & Care

  28. Tomorrow starts today Yet today is just as important! Dr. Lola DareExecutive Secretary CHESTRAD-ACOSHED Partnership chestradint@gmail.com

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