In a remarkable collaborative effort, the Youth Initiative for Community Development (YICOD), in partnership with All for Youth and Phalombe Youth Arms Organisation, initiated a year-long project at the beginning of 2023 titled “Strengthening youth-led SRMNCAH+N advocacy in Malawi,” with support from Population Action International (PAI).
This comprehensive endeavour aimed to bolster the youth coalition’s capacity to advocate effectively for policy and budgetary changes while demanding transparency and accountability in Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health, and Nutrition (SRMNCAH+N) service delivery.
According to YICOD’s Gender and Social Inclusion officer, Jane Chagunda , the youth leaders who participated in this ground-breaking initiative underwent extensive training program covered critical aspects such as health budget advocacy, policy analysis, communication, and evidence generation.
She disclosed that the intent behind this training was to equip young advocates with the necessary skills and knowledge to influence government on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) budgets, both at the council and national levels.
“...One of the primary objectives of the project was to ensure that young leaders could effectively advocate for improvements in SRHR and enhance overall transparency and accountability in healthcare delivery. The training empowered them with the tools to communicate their concerns, engage with policymakers, and effect change in their communities,” she said.
Chagunda added that the consortium partners recognised the importance of public expenditure tracking surveys (PETS) as a crucial component of strengthening SRHR services with a specific focus on SRHR, the project’s participants received training on how to conduct PETS.
“This involved tracking the flow of public resources throughout various layers of the administrative hierarchy, from the allocating agency to the intended beneficiary. The ability to identify inefficiencies within the system and their magnitude is instrumental in promoting accountability and efficiency in healthcare delivery,” she added.
The year-long project, which began in January 2023, is now approaching its conclusion, with a planned phase-out scheduled for December.
It is believed that the empowered youth leaders are now poised to drive change and transform healthcare services in their communities,with a renewed focus on transparency, accountability, and overall improving the health of women, children and adolescents.
The project is being implemented with support from Global Financing Facility (GFF) through PAI.
