Improved Access to Quality and Responsive SRHR Information and Services for Adolescents and Young People in East and Southern Africa
In Zambia, major drivers of teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence include poverty, limited access to sexual and reproductive health information, cultural norms, and gender inequality. The REPSSI project, that kicked off in 2024 and ending in 2026, aims to improve access to quality sexual and reproductive health services, reduce harmful social norms, and provide psychosocial support for adolescents. Funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the project is being implemented in Eastern Provinces of Zambia.
OUR PROGRAMMING
Our programming aims to improve access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services for adolescents and young people in East and Southern Africa. The project focuses on reducing harmful social norms, enhancing psychosocial support, and building capacity for SRHR service providers. Key objectives include reducing teenage pregnancies, preventing gender-based violence, and improving mental health. The overall goal is to empower youth to make informed decisions and access quality SRHR services.
PROJECT APPROACH
The project adopts a multi-sectoral approach, integrating mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) with sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services. It focuses on addressing social and cultural barriers through community dialogues, capacity-building for SRHR service providers, and peer-led support groups. The socio-ecological model guides interventions at individual, family, community, and societal levels, ensuring a holistic response to improving SRHR outcomes and promoting the well-being of adolescents and young people.
The capacity-building process in this project focuses on training community leaders, health service providers, and peer educators. It involves enhancing the skills of SRHR service providers to deliver youth-friendly, psychosocially informed care. Peer educators are trained to lead support groups that provide SRHR information and psychosocial support to adolescents. Community leaders are also empowered to facilitate dialogues and address harmful social norms. This comprehensive process ensures sustained knowledge transfer and local ownership of SRHR and MHPSS interventions.
The project intervention combines mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) with sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services. It addresses issues such as teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, and harmful cultural norms through community dialogues, peer-led support groups, and capacity building for health service providers. The expected impact includes improved access to SRHR services, reduced rates of teenage pregnancy and gender-based violence, enhanced psychosocial well-being, and empowered youth who can make informed health decisions and contribute to healthier communities.
The project will focus on advocacy to promote policy changes that enhance access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services for adolescents and young people. It aims to engage national governments and regional bodies in discussions about integrating mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) into SRHR policies. Advocacy efforts will include raising awareness about harmful social norms, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, and promoting comprehensive sexuality education to ensure that youth voices are heard in decision-making processes.
Since the project’s commencement, REPSSI will be keen to learn how integrating mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) with sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services affects the outcomes for adolescents and young people. Key learning areas include the effectiveness of community dialogues in shifting harmful social norms, the impact of capacity-building on service providers, and how peer-led support groups improve SRHR knowledge and psychosocial well-being. REPSSI will also assess how these interventions enhance youth access to SRHR services.