ObjectivesFund scope
Adolescence critical period where important decisions are made that shape girls’ lives. However, traditional youth programmes overlook the barriers that prevent girls and young women from thriving, much less meeting their basic needs. If fully engaged, educated, healthy, and [JP1] productive, young people can break multi-generational patterns of poverty and increase their resilience in the face of personal and social threats. But if subjected to violence, harmful practices and discrimination, or deprived of resources and services, the consequences for young girls and women almost always negatively affect their sexual and reproductive health rights.
In Mozambique, the well-being and rights of girls and young women are still at risk, which is why the Action for Girls and Young Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Mozambique Joint Programme engages national stakeholders in promoting and protecting the SRHR of girls and young women—incorporating measures from the United Nations equality agenda.
Theory of change
The programme is designed to embody a participatory approach that includes the voices and participation of girls and young women across various platforms (e.g. radio, television, social media, local community fora). Doing so encourages them to step up as mentors and community activists, and helps mobilize local and religious leaders in finding solutions to providing effective and holistic SRHR services.
Boys and men are involved in programme activities because male inclusion is paramount to updating socially-constructed gender roles that shape attitudes and behaviours. As such, they are mobilized to champion the sexual and reproductive health rights of girls and young women in their communities.
Along with more obvious outcomes, the joint programme takes into consideration the effect of economic empowerment on the agency, health, uptake of health services, and the health of young women’s children. Because a woman’s capacity to foster economic change is one of the most important factors for achieving equality between women and men, stakeholders use economic activities to address inequalities that marginalize girls and young women.