The Youth Internship Program provides a framework for youth to benefit hands-on experience, mentoring and coaching to strengthen and develop technical, professional and advocacy skills. Budget:  300,000 USD Donor: Packard Timeline: 2 Years ( August 2020 – July 2022 ) Project location: Africa Regional Office Key achievements to date: 5 young people were recruited (2 Females & 2 Males) Participation in training & intern. events Participation in projects and initiatives Skills developed Mentoring and coaching from staff & Supervisors Innovative approaches: 2 totally youth-led projects  

The Japan Trust Fund (JTF) represents a visionary partnership that began in 2000 between the Government of Japan and IPPF. Together, we invest in programmes that prioritize health equity, gender equality, and human security for all. Traditionally a driving force behind IPPF's efforts to support the integrated HIV prevention programmes of our Member Associations in Africa and Asia, JTF has adjusted to reflect changing global health priorities. We attach importance to universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights - an essential contributor to universal health coverage and the global development goals.     These projects have transformed the lives of people most vulnerable to HIV and high risk of maternal and child mortality. Equally, it ensures that as a donor, the GOJ’s response to HIV remains people-centred and contributes to human security.      

The SPRINT Initiative provides one of the most important aspects of humanitarian assistance that is often forgotten when disaster and conflicts strike: access to essential life-saving sexual and reproductive health services. We build capacity of humanitarian workers to deliver essential life-saving sexual and reproductive health services in crisis and post-crisis situations through the delivery of the Minimum Initial Service Package (SRH) for reproductive health in emergencies.   Through funding from the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) our SPRINT Initiative has brought sexual and reproductive health to the humanitarian agenda, increased capacity and responded to a number of humanitarian emergencies. Australia has funded the SPRINT initiative since 2007 and has supported reaching 1,138,175 people to date and continues to respond to ongoing emergencies.   In each priority country, we work with an IPPF Member Association to coordinate and implement SPRINT activities. Through these partnerships, SPRINT helps strengthen the enabling environment, improve national capacity and provide lifesaving services during times of crisis.   You can read more about the SPRINT Initiative and IPPF Humanitarian’s Programme here.   Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)      Australia's location in the Indo-Pacific provides us with a unique perspective on humanitarian action. Australia is committed to helping partner governments manage crisis response themselves. This is done through building the capacity of the national government and civil society to be able to respond to disaster. DFAT also works with experienced international partners to prepare for and respond to disasters, including other donors, United Nations agencies, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and non-government organisations.  

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.  

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.  

The objective of the project is to build the capacity of women's movements, via sub-grants and organizational development support, especially for small organizations, often non-registered, to address and respond to gender-based violence. Budget:  14,000 000 EUR Donor: Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Timeline: 4 years (Start date – Q2 of 2022) Project implementation areas: Mexico and Columbia in Latin-America (led by MdM), Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Asia (led by CREA) and Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea the Ivory Cost, Kenya and Mali (led by IPPFARO Partners: IPPF ARO, Médecins du Monde(MdM), Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action (CREA), FIDH (International Federation on Human Rights) & Empow’Her. Other interesting information: It is the first time IPPF has received direct funding from AFD, the first time we are partnering with these new consortium partners and delivering on a large global project. The project supporting CSOs in Kenya Youth Changers Kenya (YCK) is a community-based organization that was founded in 2015 to promote sexual reproductive health and rights and to address systemic issues of sexual violence among adolescent girls and young women from rural and peri- urban areas. YCK’s work with girls & young women strives to provide knowledge and skills necessary to pursue education, participate in policy spaces, delay pregnancy, make informed choices and build self-confidence. At the same time, YCK strategically engages with key gate keepers to build a strong collaboration aimed at developing a more equitable justice system for sexual violence against girls and women.YCK has five thematic areas of focus which include: advocacy, sexual reproductive health and rights, girls’ education, mental health, and sexual violence. While maintaining a national focus, YCK’s 2020 focus was honed in Kakamega,  Kiambu and Nairobi counties, owing to the increased rates of SRHR violations in both areas. Further information about their work can be found here: Youth Changers Kenya – Youth Changers Kenya (YCK) is a community-based organization that was founded in 2015 to promote sexual reproductive health and rights and to address systemic issues of sexual violence among adolescent girls and young women from rural and peri- urban areas Jinsiangu focuses its work on Intersex, Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Individuals. Jinsiangu seeks to ensure that the lives and wellbeing of ITGNC persons are enhanced through the establishment of safe spaces, through advocacy and research, through the provision of information, health services, and psycho-social support, and by fostering opportunities for holistic empowerment. It is probably the FON-supported organisation in Kenya that is the strongest in terms of advocacy. FON (through our partner FIDH – Federation international des droits de l’Homme), supported Jinsiangu to attend the AU advocacy training in Arusha Tanzania last month and FON has also nominated them for CSW68, next year, because their advocacy plans include participation in this event. Website: jinsiangu , Intersex, Transgender, Gender-Non-Conforming Kenya MaryFaith Children Center MFCC is a dedicated rescue center that has been unwavering in its commitment to providing essential support and care to sexually abused girls, many of whom have endured the trauma of incestuous relationships with relatives or close family friends. Website: Mary Faith Children Centre – Securing children from societal abuse Smart Ladies Youth Initiative SLYI is a community-based organization that uses sports and Art as a unique tool for mobilizing girls and young women to dialogue on their Sexual Reproductive Health challenges. This unique approach has created avenues of reaching the vulnerable age and has developed trust and confidence in discussing any challenges girls and young women face. No Website. Entashata Loita: Entashata Loita Community Based Organization (CBO) serves the Maasai pastoralist community in the arid and semi-arid lands of Loita Division in Kenya, sharing climate adaptation strategies and advocating for women and girls’ rights to education and abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).  Kiambu Sex Workers Alliance (KIASWA): Established in 2014, the Kiambu Sex Workers Association (KIASWA) was founded by female sex workers to provide sexual and reproductive health services to Trans sex workers and female sex workers, including those using drugs, primarily in Kiambu county slums. KIASWA aims to economically empower the sex worker community in Central Kenya through initiatives such as entrepreneurship skills training, short courses, and table banking. Although its positive impact in Kiambu County was evident within six months, the challenges posed by HIV and AIDS prompted the group to seek official recognition. As one of the pioneering organizations in Central Kenya, KIASWA focuses on promoting the rights of female sex workers, adolescent girls, young women, women who have sex with women, and women who use drugs (referred to as KIASWA key populations). With a strong reputation for influencing national and local policies related to HIV prevention, care, and treatment, human rights awareness, and economic empowerment, KIASWA actively advocates for marginalized groups, aiming to reduce stigma and discrimination. The organization's goal is to influence policy and improve access to high-quality healthcare, human rights education, legal assistance, and economic empowerment for important populations, including female sex workers, teenage girls, and young women. Members actively participate in economic empowerment, gender and human rights awareness, HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care, and support, as well as advocacy. In addressing stigma and discrimination, KIASWA speaks up for marginalized groups and involves various stakeholders in advocacy and policy discussions. HOME - KIASWA (kiaswa-ke.org)  

1 December 2021, World AIDS Day. Stanley Ngara, from Kenya, is commonly known as the ‘King of Condom’. Stanley spends his days educating people about safe sex practices and distributing condoms. He distributes condoms -for free- to different groups of people among them youth, sex workers, boda boda riders, university students, market traders and even drug users. Stanley is passionate about raising awareness on issues of sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR), including HIV and AIDS. IPPF Africa Region met Stanley during one of his regular outreach activities in his home area of Kiambu County, located in Kenya’s Central region, and brings you his story. IPPF supports champions like Stanley, who are committed to raising awareness on different SRHR issues in their communities. On this World AIDS Day 2021, we celebrate Stanley and all other SRHR champions who are making significant contributions in the society, more so towards the attainment of the health goals in their countries. See the long version of Stanley's story: Meet Kenya’s Celebrated 'King of Condoms', Stanley Ngara This feature was co-produced by IPPF Africa Region and Darbrun Production Company (Nairobi). See also: “I Wish I Should not Have to Choose Between Condoms and a Meal”, says Kiandutu Slum’s Shoe Fixer

Transgender people are increasingly visible in both popular culture and in daily life. Unfortunately, discrimination, stigma and violence towards Transgender persons increases simultaneously and remains widely unreported. Violence affects people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, including Transgender persons. It is often said that one’s sexual orientation, gender identity or expression (SOGIE) is a “non-issue”, however, the violence meted upon said persons is undeniably a big issue as it affects their quality of health and life. According to a Trans Murder Monitoring Report published by Transrespect Versus Transphobia, 375 trans and gender-diverse people were reported murdered between 1 October 2020 and 30 September 2021 globally. Kenya is no exception to this kind of global data. According to The Gay And Lesbian Coalition Of Kenya (GALCK), “Some members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community are better protected from violence and discrimination by the constitution. This is because laws that outlaw discrimination on grounds of sex and gender protect transgender and intersex individuals. However, the law does not adequately address the needs of Kenya’s transgender and intersex community. Members of this community experience challenges accessing health care and changing their names and gender in legal documents”. Kenya is considered among the most progressive African countries. But the country's High Court in 2019 upset activists by upholding a colonial-era law that punishes homosexual acts with up to 14 years in prison. In its 2020 Annual report, the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission reported receiving 329 reports of LGBTI rights violations between July 2019 and June 2020; and the GALCK reported an increase of these cases since the pandemic started with up to 10 attacks per month on the LGBTQ community. This is clear evidence that Sexual and Gender Minority groups in Kenya, continue to experience abuse and violence simply because of who they are and because of their sexual orientation and gender identities. LGBTQ persons in Kenya and across the world have often been on the receiving end of violence, they suffer stigma, discrimination, physical and verbal abuse, assault, harassment, eviction from their home and communities, loss of job, suspension, or expulsion from school, etc. All transgender persons have a right to equality and freedom from discrimination of all forms. All transgender persons require equal protection against any form of violence. The right to equality includes the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. Transgender persons do not want special rights. Basic human rights are not special rights; the right to get and keep a job based on merit is not a special right, the right to be served food in a restaurant is not a special right; the right to have a roof over one’s head is not a special right; the right to walk down a street and not be attacked because of who you are and whom you love is not a special right. The Government of Kenya should ensure its laws and systems protect Transgender persons just like any other citizen of Kenya against all forms of violence and discrimination. The Government of Kenya should commit to end all forms of violence and discrimination against transgender persons, by publicly condemning any major instances of homophobic and transphobic violence that occur in the counties and in the country in general. We are all beautiful, we deserve love and we all have the right to live with dignity and respect. As we just marked and celebrated the Transgender Day of Remembrance, celebrated every 19th of November, which memorializes victims of transphobic violence, and as we continue to celebrate Transgender Awareness month until the end of November; we remember those in the transgender community who have lost their lives due to violence brought by hate and ignorance and we honor, celebrate, and advocate for the respect of the rights of transgender and gender diverse communities.   Alvin Mwangi,  Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Advocate and IPPF Africa Region Intern in the Programs Department

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions in various sectors, including education, where schools remained shut down for extended periods. This led to adolescents and young people staying at home. It also led to a notable increase in young people’s use of digital technology according to a report by the Media Council of Kenya released on Friday 18th December 2020, 55 percent of those surveyed indicated that their media use has increased during the period of the pandemic [1]. Their uses included connecting and engaging with each other on various online platforms, on a variety of topics, amongst which includes. information on their sexual and reproductive health and rights. (SRHR)   Among Kenyan adolescents and youth, some of the most discussed sexual and reproductive health issues include teenage pregnancies, early child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), access to affordable contraceptive information and services, including condoms, menstrual hygiene, sex, sexuality, safe abortion services, Post Abortion Care (PAC), drug and substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).   Before the pandemic, most students would normally receive information on these different issues through peer education programs or during Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) lessons in their schools; although in Kenya, the Competency-Based Curriculum is not yet fully comprehensive as it only includes certain aspects of CSE. For instance, for grades 1, 2, 3 contents around hygiene is mentioned.  CSE involves giving age-appropriate and culturally sensitive sexuality education to adolescents and young people. It provides information pertaining to reproductive health, for instance body changes, friends and relationships, culture, human rights, teenage pregnancies, protection against STIs and HIV, self-esteem, life skills, future dreams and plans, Gender based violence (GBV), among many others. Speaking about sex should not be seen as a taboo, for sexuality education is not only about sex, but also social and health issues that young people continue to face.    Access to verified, quality and comprehensive information is one of the most sustainable and best ways to ensure we reduce some of the negative outcomes when it comes to reproductive health and health in general. In fact, CSE seeks to give students, the knowledge, attitude, skills, and values to make informed appropriate and healthy choices about their sexuality and lifestyle.  CSE in Kenya, just like in other African countries, has been and continues to be subjected to opposition, myths and stereotypes which have led to a total misunderstanding of what it entails. Access to safe abortion for rape and defilement of survivors is still not fully recognized within the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, amongst other policies and guidelines[2].   Key stakeholders, including State authorities, parents, local leaders, religious authorities, but also media influencers followed by young people, should acknowledge that young people are engaging in sexual activities and are vulnerable to teenage pregnancies and many other reproductive health challenges. The Ministries of Education and Health should ensure access and provision of age appropriate CSE, more so during challenging times such as pandemics, where many young people are at home owing to the disruptions. Some of the recommendations include the availing of information as they work through community systems, online platforms, health facilities, churches, and media to speak on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and CSE.  Adolescents and youth should be protected, and they should be empowered enough to enable them to make well informed choices and decisions about their health and general well-being. Through CSE, they will be able to make decisions about their own bodies, own these decisions and choose to be safe and healthy.  Alvin Mwangi   Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Advocate and IPPF Africa Region Intern in the Programs Department   [1] https://mediacouncil.or.ke/media-center/mck-newsroom/news/covid-19-pandemic-increased-use-media-among-kenyan-audiences-status [2] According to the Constitution Of Kenya , Article 26 (4)  It provides that under the provision ,’’ an abortion is not permitted unless , in the opinion of a trained health professional , there is need for emergency treatment , or the life or health of the mother is in danger , or if permitted by any other written law ‘’  

Monica Mwai is a 22-year-old final year university student at Moi University in Eldoret, Kenya. Set to graduate next year, she is studying Linguistics, Media and Communication. In this article, Monica takes us through her journey as a young campus girl, focusing on her experiences with sexual and reproductive health information and services. Joining university was my first go at adulting. I had a new-found freedom, accompanied by lots of new experiences. Away from the constant, glaring watch of my parents, I was both excited and scared – yet to learn how to be a responsible adult, but expected to act like one. But with time I got the hang of it, mostly through trial and error. Popularity of Condoms As a 17-year-old freshman girl, I was still trying to understand my body. Then boom! I realized that I needed to understand contraceptives too. At that time, my knowledge was limited to condoms which were readily accessible in the campus hostels. However, they often ran out fast because their demand always exceeded the supply. I later learnt of the existence of other contraceptive methods from a friend who had attended a camp on sexual health and awareness. From the brief information she shared, I became curious to learn more about contraceptives and turned to the internet for information. However, I found some of the terminologies difficult to understand. Furthermore, different websites provided different information on the same contraceptive method which left me confused. I briefly consulted my mother who gave me some information, but I was afraid to ask too much. I feared she would ask why I was so curious, considering she was not always as open-minded as I hoped she’d be. Peer Discussions on Sex Matters To my relief, the topic came up among my peers. At least I was not the only one curious about learning more. We would regularly have discussions on sex and contraceptives while in our hostel rooms. During these discussions, we would talk about what we knew, which was not always accurate as our information was mainly gotten from older relatives (mostly cousins), television shows, radio, YouTube channels or from search engines. Sharing information among peers was easy because our experiences were all relatable. Most of us preferred condoms because of their numerous benefits – their quick availability in shops and chemists, minimal side effects, effective in preventing unplanned pregnancies, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. However, some of our friends who were in stable relationships shared how, tired of frequent pregnancy scares, they had opted for long-term methods, such as implants. Judged for Being Young and Unmarried Interestingly, most of us talked about our reluctance to visit a health center for contraceptive information because we feared being judged, mostly because we were young and unmarried. With time however, I realized that it was necessary for me to get more accurate information from a professional, so I overcame that fear and visited a health centre near the university. I was disappointed when I learnt they did not offer contraceptive services, and neither did they refer me to a place where I could get these services. Fortunately, a friend informed me of a mobile outreach clinic that was happening near the university and took me there. At the mobile clinic, we found nurses who answered all our questions and helped clarify some of the misinformation we had. They were so nice and friendly, which put us at ease. I was now able to differentiate the different types of contraceptives, benefits, potential side effects and the efficiency level of each. We were further advised that contraceptives do not offer 100% guaranteed protection. Parents’ 'Sex Talk' With their Children From my experiences, information on sexual reproductive health is not easily available to young people, yet it is necessary. The problem starts with the community, parents and guardians who have made talking about sex with their children a taboo. This leads to children not being able to freely consult them, and they end up seeking information from their peers and other unreliable sources where they get misled and end up making bad choices. Parents should be educated on the role they play in enabling a sexually responsible generation. Need for Comprehensive Sexuality Education Age-appropriate sexual education should also be ingrained into the school curriculum. And it is also important to include boys in this conversation! To reach young people effectively, the channel for message delivery should be well thought-out. Social media campaigns and fun, catchy, educative adverts work well with young people. Youth-Friendly Services Sexual reproductive health and services should be readily available to both married and unmarried youth. Some service providers are a major barrier to young people’s access to reproductive health information by their attitude. They should be more youth-friendly, open to questions and ready to offer information. I graduate next year and after four years of campus, I honestly don’t think I know enough as there is always something new to learn every day. Adulting is a tough but a very interesting journey with new experiences but with a lot to process. However, I appreciate being young and learning from my different experiences - both positive and negative. These experiences are enabling me to thrive as a healthy, empowered young woman. For more updates on our work, follow IPPF Africa Region on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and You Tube.