The Youth Power Driving #ESA Commitments Project
Enhancing young people’s access to SRHR services in the Eastern and Southern Africa region. The East and Southern Africa (ESA) Ministerial Commitment, endorsed in 2013, are crucial for improving access to the sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of adolescents and young people in the region. SRHR services can be accessed by fostering inter-sectoral collaboration between stakeholders, young people, and governments.
Adolescents (10-19 years) and young (19-35) constitute 20.3 % and 75% of the African population, respectively. To tap into this demographic dividend, there is an urgent need to ensure young people’s good health and well-being. The ESA Commitments recognise the centrality of ASRHR in transforming Africa into a healthy and prosperous continent. However, these commitments are not being met due to a lack of accountability by duty bearers and the limited engagement of youth within SRHR spaces. There is inadequate data and monitoring systems, which make it difficult to track progress accurately and identify areas that require attention and improvement, and a lack of regional coordination and collaboration due to differences in priorities, political dynamics, and historical tensions.
Meet the Youth Accountability Champions from the ESA region.
Overcoming these challenges and fostering effective regional partnerships requires strong collaboration and concerted efforts to let young people take the lead in identifying challenges, cultivating solutions, and monitoring progress. By increasing the agency of young leaders to claim their rights and hold duty-bearers accountable for their commitments, young people will be able to advocate for a more inclusive and sustainable ASRHR. Meet the Young Leaders driving the accountability work in the ESA region.
Nellie Tsamwa – Malawi
Nellie Tsamwa is a communications professional, writer, and advocate for gender equality. I have worked with Nation Publications Limited, one of Malawi’s leading media houses. I have also worked with several CBOs and CSOs under the Tilitonse Foundation. Currently serving as Communications Officer for Action Hope Malawi, I am passionate about child protection, HIV and AIDS prevention, gender equality, and women’s empowerment, as well as ensuring that marginalised women have access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and are resilient in the face of climate-related disasters. I am currently working on a climate change adaptation project with Action Hope Malawi that focuses on enhancing the resilience of key populations (KPs) to access SRHR services and withstand climate-related shocks.
