Adolescents' Wellbeing Project

Advocating for Adolescents' Wellbeing

Project Goal

Youth advocacy for multisectoral approach to adolescents well being so that they thrive and are able to achieve their full potential

Project Objectives

Objective one

Strengthen capacity of youth on advocating for adolescents wellbeing so that government’s policies and actions correspond to commitments including for realization of PMNCH’s Call to Action for Adolescents Wellbeing

Objective two

To mobilize and amplify adolescents’ voices and meaningful participation on what actions and resources are needed to support them realize their wellbeing; #MyVoiceMyStory Campaign

Objective three

Support advocacy communications to mobilize stakeholders’ efforts towards PMNCH’s Call to Action for Adolescents Well Being and 2023 Global Summit on Adolescents for increased commitments, resourcing and acceleration of efforts towards 2030

Project Summary

Since 2017, The Organization of African Youth (OAY) with the support of PMNCH has been implementing the Adolescent Wellbeing project in Kenya. In the first phase, OAY in partnership with Ministry of Health and National Youth Council developed Kenyan version of Advocating for Adolescent Wellbeing Toolkit that has been used by youth organizations and other young people, enabling them to bring about change in their communities, influence decision-makers as well as hold governments accountable for delivering on their commitments to prioritize adolescent well-being. In 2019, OAY used the toolkit to capacity build over 36 youth organizations and over 200 youth advocates, supporting their participation and meaningful contribution to global, national and county programs and processes. The third phase entails contribution to adolescent wellbeing through continued capacity building of youth advocates, supporting social mobilization and communication efforts to foster multi stakeholder coordination, providing mentorships to address structural and societal barriers that impede adolescent’s empowerment and realization of their potential. Since 2021, in Kisumu County, OAY has held meetings with CHMT, MOE, Local administrators, engaged over 200 out of school adolescents, over 250 adolescents in 4 schools, trained 20 youth advocates and 6 youth organizations. OAY to seeks to develop and implement an advocacy roadmap at national and subnational levels, in alignment with PMNCH’s 2021-2025 Strategy, Call to Action for Adolescents, and PMNCH’s COVID-19 Call to Action

Methodology and Approaches

Capacity building Youth advocates

building their skills, assets and competencies to effectively advocate for adolescents wellbeing

Fostering Meaningful Adolescents and Youth engagement

supporting young people led social mobilization and communication efforts to foster healthy multistakeholder and multisectoral relationships and promote coordinated efforts

Strengthen the Community support systems

address structural and societal barriers that impede adolescents empowerment and realization of their potential

Transform systems

tailored advocacy strengthening platforms for resourcing; and increased and equitable adolescent engagement in developing policies and programmes that affect them

Project Outcomes

Advocacy tools

Advocacy tools co-created to support meaningful youth engagement in advocating for adolescents wellbeing including advocacy toolkit, trainers’ manual, adolescents mentorship manual

Capacity of youth organizations and young people

Capacity of youth organizations and young people strengthened, enabling them to bring about change in their communities, influence decision-makers as well as hold governments accountable for delivering on their commitments to prioritize adolescent well-being

Voices of adolescents modified

Voices of adolescents mobilized and amplified and their meaningful participation on what actions and resources are needed to support them realize their wellbeing enhanced

Prioritization and implementation of policies

Prioritization and implementation of policies and commitments on enhancement of adolescent Well-being mainly focusing on health, safe and supportive environments, skills development and agency

OAY spearheads stakeholders' mobilization

Advocacy tools co-created to support meaningful youth engagement in advocating for adolescents wellbeing including advocacy toolkit, trainers’ manual, adolescents mentorship manual

Key Achievements

Domestication and dissemination of advocating for change for adolescents toolkit in Kenya in partnership with Ministry of Health ,securing endorsement of over 16 youth led organizations during the launch in Pwani University in Kilifi County in 2017

Development of advocating for change for adolescents toolkit training of trainers manual

Capacity building over 36 youth organisations and over 200 youth advocates to date using the toolkit leading to notable and sustained improvements in their engagements in at least 7 counties

Using the resources to advocate for meaningful youth engagement in annual devolution conference leading to OAY , Kakamega County and NYC co-hosting the first ever Pre Devolution Youth Conference in 2019

Enhanced OAY’s capacity in advocating for and programming around adolescents health and wellbeing in Kenya and beyond

Evidence of at least 3 adolescents we engaged in the 2 phases emerging as youth leaders in Kenya

Design of OAY Health Policy Leadership Development Programme from the toolkit with 28 youth leaders from 7 counties already trained in partnership with MoH, NCPD, Nairobi and Kisumu Counties and HENNET by July 2021

Successfully ran My Voice My Story campaign to improve adolescents’ capacity in influencing decision making processes through speaking out voices and writing down their stories.The campaign is aligned to the work of the five domains of the adolescent wellbeing framework

OAY worked with adolescent parents (mothers and fathers) in the informal settlements in Nairobi focusing on education and learning competency

OAY submitted an abstract to ECEDDE, to incorporate daycares in TVETs and it was accepted. The book of abstracts will be a guide for policy development, therefore giving OAY an upper hand to further influence policies that affect the adolescent mothers and their children

OAY has created support groups through the formation of social groups in local youth centers and sport teams. These social setups bring together adolescents and as a result create a safe environment where they can speak up and share challenges. Formation of the partnerships with youth center coordinators, Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) and coaches will enhance sustainability of these groups beyond the project timelines

OAY currently sits at various Technical Working Groups (TWGs) both in Kisumu and Nairobi Counties, thus enhancing the advocacy roadmap

OAY influenced the adoption of the model formation and strengthening of 8 school Health Clubs in Nairobi and Kisumu Counties Kisumu county