By Maryanne W. WAWERU

Mr. Kader Avonnon is the IPPF Africa Region (IPPFAR) Manager overseeing the Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) project. Mr. Avonnon recently attended the adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health (AYSRHR) internation al forum held in Dakar, Senegal, from 14 – 16 October 2024 where he delivered the opening and closing speeches on behalf of IPPF. The AYSRHR forum was organized by IPPF’s Collaborative Partner in Senegal, Action Et Développement (AcDEV). The forum also saw the participation of several youth from IPPF’s Member Associations (MAs) in Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Togo.

In this article, Mr. Avonnon shares more insights about the AYSRHR forum, including those from the YAM participants who participated in the forum.

What was the AYSRHR forum all about?

The AYSRHR forum in Dakar aimed to address critical issues related to the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of young people in Africa and developing countries. It brought together government officials, decision-makers, health professionals, international organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs), youth organizations, academic researchers, legal experts, and beneficiaries from across sub-Saharan Africa to collectively reflect on the challenges related to adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health. The forum encouraged closer collaboration between key stakeholders and beneficiaries, with the diversity of participants facilitating rich and constructive exchanges.

Some of the main topics that were discussed at the forum included: sexual and reproductive health (SRH) policies and strategies, gender and inclusion, as well as youth rights, with particular regard to their health and well-being. Topical issues such as abortion, mental health, and the use of digital applications and teleconsultation services for reproductive health for young people were also discussed.

The forum’s proceedings underscored the need for the development of innovative and sustainable solutions to address the challenges faced by adolescents and youth in Africa, as well as the need for relevant policies that respond to their unique SRH needs.

What stood out for you and the YAM members at the forum?

Young people are at the core of IPPF’s work, and my presentation at the forum highlighted the role of young people in the achievement of IPPF's ‘Come Together’ 2028 strategy. I shared more about various youth-specific initiatives being implemented by IPPF’s MAs in the Africa region.

Young people at the forum expressed particular interest in technological advancements for SRH and highlighted the need for secure and accessible platforms that they could use to access respective information and services.

The audiences were particularly curious to learn more about the use of already existing successful digital applications for delivering sexual and reproductive healthcare, especially among adolescents and youth. Towards this, the team from IPPF’s MA in Togo –Association Togolaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ATBEF), led  by the YAM President, Ms. Samata Mayaba, the team delivered a presentation on ‘InfoAdoJeunes', a unique mobile application developed by that is helping youth access credible SRH information. The ATBEF team also presented on "e-Learning ATBEF" applications, which facilitate adolescents' and young people's access to information on SRH.

In other presentations, the IPPF YAM representatives emphasized the importance of strengthening health education for young people, particularly within school programs. Ms. Joliane Attolou from Association Beninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF) Benin, who co-presented with her Ivorian counterpart, Ms. Julienne Ouega Gbato from Association Ivoirienne pour le Bien -Etre Familial (AIBEF), in a hybrid session, talked about innovative ways to deliver comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) for adolescents and youth. They further emphasized the need for greater inclusion of youth voices in decision-making processes and the implementation of health policies.

The participation of the YAM representatives was highly commended and helped to enrich the exchanges at the forum. Some of the good practices that they presented on, based on examples from their MAs included the mobile clinic outreach strategy which ensures that adolescents and young people, especially those in hard-to-reach areas can access quality SHR information and services.

The YAM also presented on the need for strengthening legal and institutional environments in favour of young people’s sexual health, as well as the importance of involving religious leaders in SRHR interventions that target young people.  

Mr. Chafiou Aoubacar, the YAM representative from Association Nigerienne pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ANBEF) in Niger presented on various activities and projects carried out by the YAM in his country. He gave examples of successful local initiatives, more so those that promote collaboration between organisations at the grassroots and community levels, all for the advancement of AYSRHR.

What was your take home from the forum?

The forum presented lots of learning opportunities for all participants. It enabled a safe space for adolescents and youth to express their concerns regarding sexual and reproductive health. It also enabled civil society organizations and strategic partners to better guide their policies in favour of AYSRHR.

Speaking with Ms. Erilka Berenice Dabira, YAM representative from Association Burkinabe pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ABBEF) in Burkina Faso at the close of the forum, she had this to say:

“This forum was very important as it offered a space for dialogue and effective sharing of experiences between young people from different countries. Through these exchanges, we were able to learn more about various initiatives and innovations that are working in other countries, and which could possibly work in our settings too.”

At the close of the forum, a call to action was made, emphasizing the need to strengthen youth participation in presenting their own challenges and supporting their advocacy initiatives. It was also recommended to expand the forum to other countries and ensure the involvement of young people in the organizing committees for future editions.

It was indeed, a worthy forum and together with other young people, we are looking forward to the next edition.

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