Improving Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV and Nutrition among Adolescent Girls and Boys in Songwe and Mbeya regions.
Adolescents aged 10 to 19 years old makes 23% of the Tanzanian population. This age group has immense potential to contribute to the development of the country. However, their potential is often not fully realised due to various barriers such as HIV/AIDS, Teenage Pregnancies & Nutrition Deficiencies.
Kijana Imara is a project implemented by Restless Development Tanzania, in partnership with UNICEF, aimed at empowering adolescent girls to realise their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and nutrition rights. The project focuses on strengthening adolescents’ knowledge, agency, and participation while improving community and local government systems that support adolescent wellbeing.
Area of Implementation
Songwe Region
Who We Serve
- Marginalised adolescent girls and boys, with a strong focus on girls
Project Outputs
Output 1: Increased Knowledge, Skills, and Agency
Marginalised adolescent girls and boys have increased access to participatory, community-based learning and action initiatives on:
- Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR)
- HIV prevention
- Violence prevention
- Nutrition and adolescents’ rights
These initiatives remain active and responsive even during public health emergencies and disease outbreaks, ensuring continuity of learning and support.
Output 2: Strengthened Local Government and Community Support
Local Government Authorities (LGAs) in Songwe have enhanced capacity to support community-based platforms that amplify the voices, leadership, and collective action of vulnerable adolescent girls and boys. This strengthens adolescent participation in decision-making and improves accountability at community level.
Impact
Through Kijana Imara, adolescents in Songwe are better informed, more confident, and more engaged in shaping decisions that affect their health, rights, and nutrition, while local systems are strengthened to sustain adolescent-led action beyond the project lifecycle.
The GRREAT Programme runs in Partnership with UNICEF Tanzania.
