UNFPA's Safeguard Young People Programme works to scale up comprehensive interventions for adolescents and young people in Southern Africa through a multi-sectoral approach, touching on policy, integrated HIV and youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, sexuality education for in- and out-of-school youth as well as youth empowerment.
Since launching in 2014, the programme has achieved significant results. Much of the first year of progress focused on building a strong foundation for implementation, including setting up national and regional technical working groups in order to strengthen ownership and ensure efficient multi-sectoral coordination at all levels. With these strong foundations in place, the programme has helped to improve policies and legal frameworks that address adolescent sexual and reproductive health issues, increased young people's knowledge and skills towards the adoption of protective sexual behaviours, scaled up youth-friendly and integrated sexual and reproductive health services and strengthened young people's leadership and participation.
This report reflects on the significant accomplishments made from the programme as well as best practices and lessons learned that is crucial for the continued success of the programme moving forward.
