1. From 20172021, HEARD engaged in a multi country project investigating the SRHR of young key populations. One of the streams of research in Madagascar focused on the sexual and reproductive health needs and challenges of young people in detention where HEARDs team in Madagascar were granted access to prisons and juvenile detention centre by the Ministry of Justice. The findings from this study have now informed the work of the Independent National Commission for Human Rights (CNIDH) to support advocacy for greater attention to the SRHR of women detainees.
2. In 2022, HEARD partnered with the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) in Kenya, and the Department of Public Health at the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in undertaking a problem based political economy analysis (PEA) on adolescents access to sexual and reproductive health information and services in Malawi. The research provided evidence for both the Malawian Health and Education ministries in the development of policy and strategy aimed at improving the health outcomes of adolescents. A validation meeting was held in 2022 in Lilongwe, Malawi. Delegates representing government, civil society, academia and the development sector provided input and comments on the PEA study findings which aimed to inform its finalization. Following this research, a national symposium on Adolescents and Young Peoples Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights is being planned for 2023 in Malawi.
3. HEARD has provided longstanding support to Global Fund processes. During 2022, HEARD produced tools for the Global Fund to support countries to strengthen the quality of programming to reduce human rights barriers. These were a guide for assessing both technical support needs, as well as a guide to conducting a rapid assessment on human rights barriers to HIV and TB programmes. The latter tool supports a new essential component of Global Fund funding requests, whereby countries are required to submit a report on human rights barriers with their applications.
4. The course on Financing for SRHR and UHC, conducted by HEARD in partnership with ARASA, ran for the third time in 2022 and had over 100 applications with space for approximately 50 participants. The course continues to attract participants who are committed to meaningful societal change & advocating for SRHR & UHC.
5. HEARD led the development of South Africas National Policy on the Prevention and Management of Learner Pregnancy in Schools which was approved by cabinet in 2021. HEARD worked with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to develop a plan to guide the implementation of the latter policy, which seeks to provide an enabling environment for learners and prevent discrimination against learners who are pregnant. HEARDs direct engagement in policy development for the DBE involved high level meetings with officials at
the National, Provincial and District levels of government, as well as with Development partners, UNESCO & UNICEF, and Chapter 9 institutions. In 2022, the DBE approached HEARD for guidance on developing a framework for the management of a new cadre of employees the Learner Support Agent (LSA). The framework provided a standardised approach to the operational management of LSAs as they are designated to provide support to vulnerable learners and facilitate direct linkages to care, support and protection services in line with the e Care Support Teaching and Learning (CSTL) framework and the Departments Policy on screening, identification, assessment and support (SIAS).
