ESA COMMITMENTS (Education matters ) Empowering young women and girls in Eastern and Southern Africa to make healthier choices and SRH and HIV Integration Dr Vitalis Chipfakacha Mainstreaming Advisor and Ms Lomthandazo Mavimbela Snr. PO Education and Skills. SADC Secretariat

Harnessing the demographic dividend Adolescents and young people (aged 10-24) -33% of the total population of the Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) region. 158 million now and is expected to grow to 281 million by Young people will drive development in the region for the next two decades. Ensuring that they are well educated and healthy is a priority for the advancement of the region.

New HIV Infections and People Left Behind in sub-Saharan Africa: Young Women. Source: UNAIDS, 2014: Fast track: Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030

Education – status of THE ESA REGION BUT… Higher attrition rates at the secondary level and poor quality of educational experiences and learning opportunities for girls remains a concern. 87% Great strides in enrolling girls in school. Net enrolment for primary education (boys and girls)

Retention rates for girls

Education as empowerment More and better schooling means not only better education outcomes but also better health ones

The Role of Schools in HIV Prevention Schools play an influential role in all societies Primary schools especially reach a high percentage of young people (Social vaccine to many issues; health, HIV etc Chipfakacha ) Schools protect against HIV through multiple pathways – School attendance has been shown to reduce sexual risk behavior as well as HIV incidence – Schools are a venue for implementing well-designed comprehensive sex education (CSE) to provide knowledge and skills essential to practice safer behaviors – Schools provide a platform for targeted care and support interventions for especially vulnerable children and adolescents

Benefits of Sexuality Education Good quality and well implemented sexuality education programmes promote; Increased knowledge levels about sexuality, relationships and HIV Delayed initiation of sexual activity Reduced frequency of unprotected sexual activity Reduced number of sexual partners, and Increased use of protection against unintended pregnancy and STIs The empowerment of girls and women and greater gender equality

Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE) Reduces HIV Risk Behaviors Many CSE programs have significant, durable effects on knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and other antecedents to behavior change. Most programs have had positive impacts on one or more sexual behaviors including: Sexuality education programs ultimately aim to empower young people to adopt and sustain positive and protective sexual practices A recent meta-analysis found impacts on multiple behaviors and concluded: “school-based sex education is an effective strategy for reducing HIV risk.” Delayed first sex Reduced frequency of sex Decreased # of partners Increased condom/ contraceptive use

In many countries, sexuality issues are sometimes only partially included or not included in existing curricula – focusing instead on biological information about HIV In particular, we know that key aspects of sex and sexual health are often lacking (i.e. information about reproduction, STIs, abortion and where to access condoms or other SRH services) Educators are not equipped to deal with sexuality issues therefore they are not comfortable talking to students about sexuality Curricula sometimes do not sufficiently address gender and rights meaning that important social drivers of vulnerability are ignored, and impact will be less. Poor linkages and referrals to SRH services, What is happening in schools?

How do we turn 158 million young people into 158 million opportunities?

ESA MINISTERIAL COMMITMENT: AFFIRMED, ICASA, DEC 2013 Ministers of Health and Education from 20 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa made the commitment to better sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health for young people,

ESA Commitment countries

Commitment Targets 2015 A good quality CSE curriculum framework is in place and being implemented in each of the 20 countries; Pre and in-service SRH and CSE training for teachers, health and social workers are in place and being implemented in all 20 countries; By the end of 2015, decrease by 50% the number of adolescents and young people who do not have access to youth-friendly SRH services including HIV that are equitable, accessible, acceptable, appropriate and effective Eliminating all new HIV infections amongst adolescents and young people aged 10-24; Increase to 95% the number of adolescents and young people, aged , who demonstrate comprehensive HIV prevention knowledge levels; Reduce early and unintended pregnancies among young people by 75%; Eliminate gender-based violence; Eliminate child marriage; Increase the number of all schools and teacher training institutions that provide CSE to 75%.

Commitment Targets 2015 A good quality CSE curriculum framework is in place and being implemented in each of the 20 countries; Pre and in-service SRH and CSE training for teachers, health and social workers are in place and being implemented in all 20 countries; By the end of 2015, decrease by 50% the number of adolescents and young people who do not have access to youth-friendly SRH services including HIV that are equitable, accessible, acceptable, appropriate and effective Eliminating all new HIV infections amongst adolescents and young people aged 10-24; Increase to 95% the number of adolescents and young people, aged 10-24, who demonstrate comprehensive HIV prevention knowledge levels; Reduce early and unintended pregnancies among young people by 75%; Eliminate gender-based violence; Eliminate child marriage; Increase the number of all schools and teacher training institutions that provide CSE to 75%.

Teacher training- Pre-service

Teacher training- In-service Online Module on comprehensive sexuality education for teachers

ESA Commitment Progress Mobilized partners at regional and country level to support countries around key results for adolescents and young people; HIV, pregnancy, child marriage and reducing gender based violence Collaboration between Ministries of Education and Health, Youth, Gender and others to ensure a comprehensive approach to addressing issues of young people Increase funding and mobilize the education, health, youth, gender and labor sectors to support young people’s SRH Mobilized communities by involvement of parents, young people traditional and religious leaders to support the delivery of CSE and services for young people

What are we learning? While most governments have implemented some type of school-based HIV prevention education, implementation at scale is yet to be achieved Need for mechanisms to reach marginalised adolescents for example, girls who are living in extreme poverty; married girls; girls who sell sex for economic survival; In particular, programs are doing poorly at reaching those not enrolled in school. Where a significant proportion of girls do not even completed primary school, out-of-school programs are crucial. Where school-based sexuality education programs are limited to the secondary level, they miss young people who are no longer in school for example pregnancy prevention is coming too late in most curricula

What are we learning? Strengthening teacher skill remains an urgent priority for scaling up or improving CSE in the region Zero-tolerance policies that protect all members of the learning community (including adults) and that reject discrimination, bullying, and sexual harassment/activity between teachers (or adult staff) and learners, along with resources for enforcing these policies. Integrating content on gender into comprehensive sexuality education and other subjects remains crucial. CSE programs need to ensure that young people know their right to services, and that they know how to access them.

Our Vision: A young African, a global citizen who is empowered, educated, healthy, resilient and socially responsible - an autonomous decision-maker and has the capacity to reach their full potential and contribute to the development of their community, country and the region.

DR Vitalis Chipfakacha SADC Integrated Responses to Schools Child health interventions Life skills Quality and comprehensive information education on SRH and HIV Provision of RH commodities (contraceptives, equipment and sanitary pads) Youth friendly health services Where necessary ANC services

AIDS mainstreaming PREPARING FOR THE 2015 ESA REPORT Permanent Secretary as Admin Head Focal Person ESA at Moe and MOH Follow up at MOH Return Date Back to Secretariat

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