Improving adolescent reproductive health in Senegal

This project works to engage young Senegalese leaders and stakeholders in research and policy dialogue to help improve adolescent girls’ access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services. The project aims to examine the link between gender-based violence (GBV) and reproductive health issues and to use the evidence generated to address policy shortcomings related to adolescent girls’ health and rights by supporting powerful leadership responses from youth policy makers and communities. Project activities include: (1) researching the links that exist between adolescent girls’ vulnerability to GBV and sexual and reproductive health; (2) translating findings into products and tools and applying these findings to address negative gender norms and practices; (3) raising awareness and engagement of community organizations that work against the root causes of GBV; and (4) supporting the development of collaborative and transformative youth leadership skills for adolescent girls to overcome social barriers. The project expects to involve up to 400 000 adolescent girls and 100 000 adolescent boys between the ages of 10 and 16 in its research dissemination of findings and engagement activities. The project also works to provide training to over 100 young community leaders to mentor 2 000 adolescent girls to effectively exercise their reproductive health rights. The project aims to establish strategic partnerships with 40 local and 10 national policy-makers in addition to at least 200 practitioners/service providers and 15 civil society organizations.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved access to evidence-based integrated and youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services for adolescent girls; and (2) strengthened leadership of adolescent girls to effectively exercise their sexual and reproductive health rights.