PROGRESS ON THE EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA MINISTERIAL COMMITMENT Ms. Mwansa Njelesani-Kaira, UNESCO - RST, ESA
EARLY PREGNANCY AMONG GIRLS AGE 15-19 Pregnancy clearly means the end of education for many adolescent girls (Source: Demographic and Health Survey; n/a Most recent data not available; complied from Population Council, UNESCO, 2014, Study on Education Sector Responses to Teenage Pregnancy ) Country % Ever Pregnant % out of school among ever pregnant Botswana N/A N/A Kenya 18 98 Malawi 26 97 Tanzania 23 99 Uganda 24 98 Zambia 28 95
In many countries, sexuality issues are sometimes only partially included or not included in existing curricula focusing instead on biological information about HIV What is happening in schools? In particular, we know that key aspects of sex and sexual health are often lacking (i.e. information about reproduction, STIs, abortion and where to access condoms or other SRH services) Educators are not equipped to deal with sexuality issues therefore they are not comfortable talking to students about sexuality Poor linkages and referrals between schools and SRH services Key data on access to CSE is often missing
Legislation (policies and guidelines) inhibiting adolescents and youth from accessing services Capacity of service providers access and quality of pre-service and in-service trainings, mentorships and supervision What is happening with Sexual and Reproductiv e Health services for YP? Alignment of AYFHS policies and guidelines with international standards Quality of AYFHS delivery Equitable access to services (age, gender, marginalized groups) Poor linkages and referrals to AYFHS services Monitoring and evaluation and use of data for service improvement
THE EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA (ESA) COMMITMENT: AFFIRMED ICASA, DEC 2013 Scaling up of comprehensive sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health care for young people across Eastern and Southern Africa
COMMITMENT TARGETS 2015 A good quality CSE curriculum framework is in place and being implemented in each of the 20 countries; Pre and in-service SRH and CSE training for teachers, health and social workers are in place and being implemented in all 20 countries; By the end of 2015, decrease by 50% the number of adolescents and young people who do not have access to youth-friendly SRH services including HIV that are equitable, accessible, acceptable, appropriate and effective. 2020 Eliminating all new HIV infections amongst adolescents and young people aged 10-24; Increase to 95% the number of adolescents and young people, aged 10-24, who demonstrate comprehensive HIV prevention knowledge levels; Reduce early and unintended pregnancies among young people by 75%; Eliminate gender-based violence; Eliminate child marriage; Increase the number of all schools and teacher training institutions that provide CSE to 75%.
REGIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY FRAMEWORK
YOUNGPEOPLETODAY.NET
UPDATE ON ESA COMITMENT CSO/ YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
BACKGROUND Engaged in regional and country consultations (before Commitment signed) Members of HLG and TCG advocacy, strategic guidance Members of country coordinating mechanisms (implementation; monitoring) Consulted over 180 people from ESA (through sessions etc.) during ASHR Symposium in Zambia on strengthening CSO and Young People s Engagement
DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGY Recognition of the need to systematically engage CSOs in the implementation of the ESA commitment Ensure youth voice is systemically factored in the ESA Commitment To hold government and CSOs to the commitment and outline how partners will work together
PURPOSE: HIGHLIGHTS OF STRATEGY Outline role of Civil Society in ESA commitment Provide a framework for engagement in, advocacy for and monitoring implementation of ESA Commitment OVERALL GOAL: By 2020, governments in Eastern and Southern Africa have made significant progress towards achieving the targets of the ESA Commitments EXPECTED OUTCOMES: CIVIL SOCIETY Engage in the implementation of and advocacy for the implementation of the ESA commitment, contribute to improving adolescent and youth SRH and HIV prevention outcomes
ROLE OF YOUNG PEOPLE Active participation on coordination and decision making mechanisms Critical representative role in the national coordination mechanisms Advocacy for youth leadership and inclusion Promote partnerships and coordination with youth led organizations Advocacy with Government, Parliament and partners for the implementation of the ESA commitment Monitoring of progress on the implementation of ESA commitment
PROGRESS TOWARDS ESA COMMITMENT TARGETS
Coordination At least 10 countries have joint work plans outlining priority actions to achieve ESA Commitment targets 3. CREATION OF OF AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT Harmonization of the legal environment on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in the East and Southern Africa Region Development of policies and strategic frameworks Cabinet papers developed- Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland Drafting CSE bill- Burundi Development of school Health Policies: Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Resource Mobilization Regional level: Resources mobilized from Ford GIZ, SIDA, SDC, UN Partners Tanzania: $2 920 222 USD from partners Dedicated Human Resources appointed to NAC
ACCOUNTABILITY Regional Accountability Framework Country reporting templates developed Engagement of Education International to explore how teacher unions can support implementation of the accountability framework
ADVOCACY FOR ESA COMMITMENT AT GLOBAL, REGIONAL AND COUNTRY LEVELS Side Events at the Commission of the Status of Women and General Assembly SADC Ministers of Education Meeting; EAC HIV implementing Partners meeting Engagement with Teacher Unions Engagement with Religious Leaders/FBOs WYCA for the June AU meeting for a session on Child Marriage Country dialogue meetings
COUNTRY CSE INTEGRATION IN SCHOOL CURRICULUM
BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF TEACHERS AND HEALTH WORKERS ACROSS THE REGION PRE- AND IN SERVICE TRAINING
PROGRESS TOWARDS ACCESS TO SRHR SERVICES & ENDING CHILD MARRIAGE
SCALING UP ACCESS TO ASRH SERVICES AND CSE OUT OF SCHOOL Working with RECs to review laws and policies that impact on young people s access to SRHR services Development of a State of the Art training guidelines and materials for health service providers Harmonizing regional guidelines and standards for Adolescents and Youth Friendly Health services; including school health services; Strengthen referrals/ linkages between school and services (social and rehabilitative; health, education etc.) In the process of developing a minimum package for CSE out of school that can be used in the region in order to ensure links with in school CSE.
ENDING CHILD MARRIAGE UNFPA and UNICEF are currently supporting the AUC Campaign to End Child Marriage Supporting national launches (DRC, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Madagascar, Uganda, Mozambique) Development of M&E framework to monitor regional and national progress Rapid assessment of laws and policies on child marriage Harmonization of the legal environment on Child Marriage in the East and Southern Africa Region SADC Model Law on Child Marriage Evidence review and partnership mapping Capacity building training for Ministries of Gender, Health, CSOs, Parliamentarians, RECs etc. (Zambia and Nigeria)
Reinforcing positive traditional rites of passage: Countries are undertaking specialized studies on rites of passage to reinforce positive traditional rights related to SRH
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TOOLKIT Practitioners Tools: Capacity Building in CSE: A Manual for Programmers in Schools and Communities A Guide to holding CSE Dialogue with Communities Community Tools: Know More about CSE for Children and Young People: An Information Booklet for Communities 7 Know More Guides for families (talking to children, talking to parents) gatekeepers (religious, traditional and political leaders) as well as on Youth friendly services (YFS) for service providers
SELECTED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INTERVENTIONS Lesotho: develop and deliver radio lessons to Forms D and E (where CSE not currently provided) Dialogues with 50% of RCC and LECSA secondary school boards Malawi, Namibia, Uganda, Zambia Running CSE radio programmes Zambia: reached 3 million to-date Zambia: linking schools with services working with ZINGO (inter-faith group) Uganda: Inter-generational dialogues; linking schools with services in selected districts Tanzania: Working with 32 community radio stations Community interventions surrounding schools to reach 3 million young people
Bringing it live Safeguard Young People Programme; UNFPA is Piloting the TuneME Youth Engagement Platform; UNFPA launched the SYP music album and website (www.safeguardyoungpeople.org)
LESSON LEARNED RECOMMENDATIONA
LESSONS LEARNED Implementation of school-based CSE and AFYHS programmes at scale and of good quality is yet to be achieved Inadequate CSE for out of school youth (minimum package) Need to strengthening teacher and health care providers skills to improve CSE and AYFH services in the region CSE and AYFHS programs need to ensure that young people know their right to services, and that they know how to access them. The multi-sectoral nature of the commitment calls for the establishment of a strong partnership with all the organizations involved in its implementation including donors, UN family, FBOs, CSOs etc.
RECOMMENDATIONS: CIVIL SOCIETY Advocacy for scale-up of quality CSE and services Complement government efforts in service provision (CSE, ASHR Services) Engage communities on the benefits of CSE and ASHR Services
KEY MILESTONES
KEY MILESTONES FOR 2015 & 2016 Sept December 2015 Religious Leaders Forum EAC Partnership Forum CSO Consultation on ESA Commitment Countries sent 2015 Country reporting templates (30 Sept) AfriYAN General Assembly Implementation and Monitoring IMPLEMENTION OF COMMITMENT Preparation of 2015 Annual Report December 2015 May 2016 31 Dec submission of 2015 Annual Reports HLG & REC etc meeting(s) to vailidate reports Implementation & monitoring ICASA 2015 IAS Durban AIDS Conference Presentation of 2 year progress Implementation and monitoring Review of Progress
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