Reproductive Health Network Kenya and FP 2030 convened the 6th RHNK Annual Scientific Conference on Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights conference.
The conference was a three-day event from June 20-23, 2023 comprising more than 500 participants from 12 countries.
They shared progress, challenges and best practices in the localisation of global commitments.
Participants included government, development partners, funders, civil society organizations, academia, the private sector, faith-based organizations, grassroots organizations, health professionals, youth advocates and community representatives.
They called for universal access to comprehensive sex education, reproductive healthcare services and contraception and SDG 3 to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being.
The FP 2030 aims to expand access to voluntary family planning services, information and contraceptives for women and girls in low-and-middle-income countries.
They listed weak governance structures, lack of coordination and limited institutional capacities among the challenges that hinder the localisation process.
Others are inadequate coordination among different government departments, civil society organizations and stakeholders that lead to fragmented efforts, duplication of activities and ineffective implementation.
They resolved to increase financial investments in AYSRHR programmes at the local level and build the capacity of local institutions and governments to effectively plan, implement and monitor AYSRHR interventions.
They also resolved to advocate for and implement supportive policies and legal frameworks that align with international human rights standards, promote sexuality education and address harmful cultural norms through engagement with community leaders and influencers.
Others are to ensure meaningful youth participation and empowerment in decision-making processes and programme development and implementation and address geographic and socioeconomic disparities through targeted interventions and equitable resource allocation among others.