Hivos Regional SRHR Fund: Adolescent and Youth SRHR Initiative 2023-2026

This contribution is new and, as such, results have yet to be achieved and reported. A selection of results from the evaluation of the first phase of the Regional SRHR Fund (PLANit ID 10970) include: - Facilitated 18 youth-led organizations in securing mainstream SRHR funding between 2018 and 2022. The organisations underwent comprehensive training, mentorship, and skill enhancement programmes aimed at enhancing their organisational capabilities. This enabled them to fortify their internal structures, increase their visibility, and broaden their funding base. Consequently, youth-led organisations not only became financially sustainable but also gained the capacity to carry out SRHR initiatives. - Contributed to young persons with disabilities demonstrated a growing sense of determination in advocating for their own agenda concerning ASRHR. An organisation in Zimbabwe organized a health dialogue, which served as a platform for forging partnerships aimed at developing a health strategy that embraces disability inclusivity. - Increased access to crucial ASRHR information, including SRHR research and evidence, programming best practices, opportunities for funding and partnerships, and a wealth of key SRHR resources through the SRHR Fund newsletter and promoted knowledge sharing by organizing webinars. - Youth Research Academies (YRAs) were established in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, and Malawi, with a specific focus on involving youth in research to address gaps in ASRHR programming and policy. Health systems in both Malawi and Zimbabwe have demonstrated increased receptiveness to the latest research and knowledge in the field of ASRHR driven by young people. Consequently, there has been a notable acceptance of the recommendations proposed by young researchers, grounded in the evidence generated through the YRAs. - The inclusion of the 'age of consent' agenda in the strategic priorities of Zambia and Malawi was a notable achievement stemming from these consultations. These strategic actions are expected to yield a favourable environment for the delivery and uptake of SRHR services among adolescents and young people throughout the ESA region in the long term -The Fund increased regional cross learning and knowledge exchange on adolescent and youth SRHR through supporting of regional convenings and youth participation in the same. For example, through the Fund, an organization was supported to convene the World Association of Sexual Health (WAS) congress in Africa.

1. Support and empower adolescents and young people Strengthened and empowered youth and youth led organizations increasingly defend and promote their SRHR 2. Engage and influence duty bearers Duty bearers increasingly design, adopt and implement laws and practices that promote the SRHR of adolescents and young people 3. Evidence generation Strengthened and empowered youth researchers to generate evidence on SRHR in the ESA region