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 is supporting CSOs in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mexico, Niger, Sri Lanka. 

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.

Story by Maryanne W. Waweru l Photos by Moctar Menta Mwangi Peter, 38, is a cobbler in Kiandutu slum, Thika, Kiambu County, in Central Kenya. On a bright Tuesday September morning, we meet him meticulously repairing a pair of beige-colored ‘Safari Boots’—a favorite shoe brand for men in that part of the country. With his hands, he carefully weaves the nylon thread in and out of the boots’ worn-out soles. It’s a job he has been doing for many years. He is Kiandutu’s ‘shoe fixer’. Mwangi is one of the estimated 2.2% of Kenyans living with a form of disability, according to an analysis of the 2019 census report released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). With a physical impairment, he walks with an artificial leg, which he says is long overdue for replacement because he has never gotten funds to do so. “It costs so much money to replace it, and despite working hard for over two decades, I have never been able to save enough,” says Mwangi, who dropped out of school in Grade three as his parents were unable to cover the school fees. It would cost Mwangi about 70,000 shillings ($634) to replace his artificial leg.   Senior Bachelor But that’s not the only thing that Mwangi has been unable to do because of lack of funds. “I’m in my late thirties yet I don’t have a family of my own. People say that I should be married with big children. However, marrying a wife and raising children costs money, which I don’t have. I will marry when I become rich,” he says. Mwangi once had a ‘pregnancy scare’ when one of the women he was in a relationship with told him she was pregnant. “She however told me she would not go ahead to have my baby because she didn’t want her child to be born into poverty like me. So she procured an abortion. No woman agrees to marry me or have my baby because they say I’m poor,” he says, a forlorn look on his face. Multiple Relationships Mwangi has an interesting, active dating life. “I don’t have one particular girlfriend, but I have different women that I see. They come to my place and spend the night, then leave in the morning.” Even though he is aware of the risks associated with unprotected sex such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV, as well as unplanned pregnancies, Mwangi does not always use protection with his different women. “I know about condoms because they discuss them on radio and television. I even learn more about them when I go for my HIV tests every two years at the local health center, but I don’t use them all the time as is required,” he admits.   Condoms or a Basic Meal? Mwangi says that on the few occasions he uses condoms, he purchases them from a nearby kiosk at 30 shillings ($0.27) for a pack of three, an amount he can’t always afford. While Mwangi knows he can get condoms for free at the local government health facility, he cites time limitations. “For me to walk to the health center, I would have to close my business. That is money that I cannot recover. I wouldn’t have enough for my meal that day if I lost those hours,” says Mwangi, who makes an average of 300 shillings ($2.7) a day from his business. Bringing Services Closer to the Community Thankfully, there are community health workers and mobilizers who regularly distribute condoms in the neighbourhood. One of them is Stanley Ngara, popularly known as ‘condom king’. “Stanley passes by here often and leaves me with some condoms. I get very happy when he does so,” Mwangi says, as he clutches the glittering, red-packed condoms he has just received from the condom king. “I will try use a condom with the next woman I’ll have sex with. But I would also urge health workers to be more considerate to people like me who face various challenges when it comes to our sexual health. Condoms should be distributed more frequently in the community for free. They should also go around doing HIV tests regularly without us having to leave our jobs for the hospital to get tested. Bringing the services where we are is more practical and convenient for us,” he says. On this World Contraception Day, it is important to remember the plight of persons living with disability (PLWD) such as Mwangi, who often live below the poverty line. Approximately 67% of PLWD in Kenya live impoverished lives. Their quality of life is poorer, with lower educational achievements which contributes to fewer economic opportunities. They also suffer poorer health, including their difficult access to sexual and reproductive health services. This is a challenge that IPPF, through its Member Associations, continually tries to address through its various programmes across sub-Saharan Africa, such as WISH2ACTION, BMZ and COVID-19 innovative response projects. For more updates on our work, follow IPPF Africa Region on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and You Tube.

By Maryanne W. Waweru Pounika Theoneste is a 21-year old university student studying Law. He is also a volunteer with the Youth Action Movement (YAM) member in IPPF’s Member Association in the Central African Republic -Association Centrafricaine pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ACABEF). We caught up with him at the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) taking place in Kigali, Rwanda (2 - 7 December 2019). He spoke to Maryanne W. Waweru about his experiences as a young volunteer with ACABEF's YAM program.  "I decided to become a YAM member two years ago. My interest in doing so arose from the need to increase my knowledge about sexuality issues. While growing up, I didn’t receive much information from my parents about issues of sex and reproductive health, so when I heard about ACABEF’s youth program, I decided to join it so that I could learn more,” he says. Since joining in 2017, Pounika has been trained as a peer youth educator, and has been empowered to educate fellow youth. He is a peer educator with the JeuneS3 project, which aims to deliver Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information and services to young people in vulnerable contexts, more so women and young girls. His participation in the JeuneS3 project has also seen Pounika receive training in radio journalism and radio production. Each week, he and his fellow youth advocates produce a show targeting young people with SRHR information. This includes information about health centers where they can get youth-friendly services. The shows are produced by the youth, for the youth. Pounika and his team also produce radio broadcasts for ‘Listening Clubs. This involves going to the community and mobilizing young people to come together to listen to the shows produced by Pounika and the team. “During the ‘Listening Club’ outreaches, we are always accompanied by a health service provider. After listening to the episodes, the youth ask many questions, which our team competently answers,” he says. Pounika believes his volunteer activities with ACABEF are helping him even as he pursues his career goals. “I hope to become a reproductive health rights advocate in the future, and the opportunities that I have gotten by being a YAM member are helping me work towards my goal. This exposure has broadened my understanding of the challenges that young people face regarding their sexual and reproductive health, the gaps that exist, and the solutions that can bring change. My work with YAM is also helping me gather insights and perspectives into how the development, improvement and implementation of policies that affect young people and their reproductive health are instrumental in this,” he concludes. If you are young person and would like to join the Youth Action Movement, see where we work and get in touch. You can also reach us through @YAM Africa Maryanne W. Waweru is the Governance and Compliance Officer, IPPF Africa Region. For more updates on our work, follow us on Facebook and Twitter

By Maryanne W. Waweru Cotonou, BENIN:  Over 150 youth drawn from the Youth Action Movement (YAM) and other youth organizations from Francophone African countries are gathered in Cotonou, Benin, for the second edition of the regional forum aimed at sharing best practices on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), especially among adolescents and young people. The youth are drawn from over 20 countries. Discussions at the forum are centered around the identification of effective strategies and responses that have proven successful in advocating for the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) of adolescents and young people in Africa, and disseminating them to different stakeholders. This year's theme is titled: “Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for Adolescents and Youth: Government Priority”. The experiences shared, opportunities identified and solutions proposed by the young people at the forum will help inform policy and SRHR programs in the sub-Saharan region, more so Francophone Africa. IPPF Africa Region and its different partners greatly value youth engagement and their direct involvement in the design of and implementation of health programs, especially those pertaining to sexual reproductive health and rights. Their voices and meaningful participation are instrumental in the achievement of improved health outcomes. The regional forum has been organized by the Benin chapter of the Youth Action Movement (YAM), and is supported by the Embassy of Netherlands in Benin and IPPF. Other participants in the forum include representatives from different government ministries, donor agencies, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, religious leaders and other stakeholders. The regional forum is timely, taking place ahead of the high-level ICPD25 Summit to be held in Nairobi, Kenya from 12 – 14 November 2019. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) first held in Cairo. At the conference, 179 governments adopted a Programme of Action that underscored that fact that reproductive health, women’s empowerment and gender equality are key to sustainable development. ICPD25 is aimed at mobilizing political will and financial commitments needed to accelerate the full implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action. These commitments will be centered around achieving zero unmet need for family planning information and services, zero preventable maternal deaths, and zero sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices against women and girls. Maryanne W. Waweru is the Governance and Compliance Officer, IPPF Africa Region. For more information about the work of IPPF Africa Region, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.