IATT Annual Meeting

Adolescent and Young People participation In the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa

Presented by: Ms. Aidah Nakanjako

AfriYAN

April 16, 2009 Geneva

Background

AfriYAN Is African Youth and Adolescent Network on

population and Development with a focus on sexual reproductive health.

AfriYAN serves to promote and advance greater youth participation in Africa’s development through strengthening leadership and advocacy skills and promoting effective involvement in policy, programming and implementation through national and sub regional structures.

AfriYAN has current membership of 43 countries with presence in four subregions : Central Africa, Eastern Africa, Western Africa, and Southern Africa.

Cont…

Have Secretariat in Ouagadougou; Burkina Faso With leadership of 8 executive committee

members from 4 sub-regions Uganda and Ethiopia for East Africa Zambia (chair) and Mozambique for Southern Africa Nigeria and Ivory Cost for West Africa Cameroon and Congo Brazzaville for Central Africa

AfriYAN was founded in 2005, to coordinate and voice young people issues into national, sub-regional and regional inter-governmental dialogues, policies and programming.

Cont…

Partnerships UNFPA is the key partner of AfriYAN activities

Country networks are also funded by local partners

Work in partnership with other young people coalitions at all levels i.e. GYCA, Red Cross

AfriYAN appreciates its inclusion on the IATT as an expanded representation effort.

NB: More coordinated support is needed from development partners for both financial and technical support

HIV and Young people

2008 UNAIDS report indicates that Young people aged 15–24 account for 45% of all new HIV infections, BUT many young people still lack accurate and complete information on how to avoid exposure to HIV

Across the labour force generally, AIDS is significantly affecting the workforce (Young people). By 2020, the workforce in 15 countries analyzed by the International Labour Organization will be 24 million people fewer because of AIDS. (The global impact of HIV/AIDS; UNAIDS 2001)

Cont…

The global epidemic cannot (will not) be reversed without sustained success in reducing new HIV infections among young people and nearly half the world’s population is under 25 years (UNFPA, 2006)

Important to note: Where young people are well informed of HIV risks and prevention strategies, they are changing their behavior in ways that reduce their vulnerability.

AfriYAN Achievements

Strengthening or creation of national youth Networks and coordination mechanisms

Leadership and capacity building of Youth Leaders Advocacy Contributed to the development of the Africa

Youth Charter and subsequent county ratification Contributed to Africa’s position on UNGASS Input to the development of ADF V consensus

statement and ADF VI youth statement Supports African youth participation in national

and international fora (i.e.. IAC, ICASA, UNGASS, African Union Summits, ADF)

Key Challenges

Young people are not systematically/sufficiently involved in the development process of key national documents, policies and strategies that directly affect them

Inadequate/ Lack of youth HIV empowerment packages

some HIV prevention messages are not youth friendly

inadequate/ lack of HIV prevention strategies focusing on sexual partnerships

inadequate resources for youth services and coordination work

Recommendations

Need to review existing strategies/ policies especially those that directly affect young people to forge way forward

Need more youth involvement and participation in planning, programming and implementation of programs I.e. youth for youth programs use of youth experts, etc

HIV programs should be guided towards comprehensive youth empowerment and development messages

Need for new prevention technologies to complement existing strategies i.e. ABC

Conti…

Design attractive HIV messages for young people

A renewed emphasis on HIV prevention is critically needed

More resources should be committed to HIV Prevention

More resources needed to improve coordination of the response among young people

For a broader African Young people coverage, AfriYAN is

the route…

Thank you