SHARP Project in Kenya

On 18–19 March, In Dar-Es-Salaam,Tanzania EANNASO attended the Regional Inception Meeting for the EAC Youth Policy SRHR Implementation Road Map 2026 hosted by East Africa Youth Network (EAYN). It was an honor to share this space with Hon. Machano Ally Machano,Hon.Mashaka Khalfan Ngole from EALA and Hon. Naomi Waqo from the Parliament of Kenya. We were also pleased to connect with our SHARP consortium partner MeTA Kenya and other organizations including BRAC Tanzania, HDI Rwanda, CEHURD Uganda, and Plan International. Their presence reflected a strong regional commitment to advancing adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH). The new EAC Youth Policy seeks to improve the broader SRH environment in East Africa through comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), reduction of stigma, and stronger policy harmonization across the EAC bloc. Together, these efforts bring us closer to a healthier and more supportive future for young people across the region.

“When 15 mothers die daily, a newborn is left without a mother; a family is shattered, and a community grieves a preventable death. When 92 newborns die daily, parents walk out of a facility empty-handed; a future is cut short by complications we know how to manage.” Edward Serem- Head of Division of RMNCAH Today, Access to Medicines Platform co-convened a breakfast media briefing ahead of the International Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (IMNCH) Conference to bring national attention to preventable maternal and newborn deaths and spotlight the urgency of the upcoming conference. The media was engaged to amplify these realities beyond the room raising public awareness, shaping the national conversation, and building momentum toward the IMNCH Conference as a critical platform for action. This was more than a briefing it was a call to ensure these issues remain visible, prioritized, and acted upon

Gratitude that fuels impact 🤝 We extend our sincere appreciation to our partners and donors whose continued support makes our work possible. Your commitment enables us to drive meaningful change, strengthen systems, and reach communities with the services and information they need most. Together, we are creating lasting impact. 👉 Read the impact to see the magic we have been making together. atmplatformkenya.org/wp-content/upl…

📍 Dar es Salaam | EAC Youth Policy Regional Meeting “We can’t keep celebrating policies while young people feel no change. This meeting is about turning the EAC Youth Policy into services, budgets, and results.” Now is the time for practical commitments, clear timelines, and shared tracking across Partner States. Members of Parliament, CSOs, Youth, and Media are in Dar es Salaam for two days at the #GoldenTulipHotel to attend the EAC Youth Policy, which sets clear regional guidelines on the sexual and reproductive health and well-being of #Adolescents in the EAC region. The @MeTA team, in collaboration with @eayn, @eannaso, @Brac, and @cehurd, are deliberation on the implementation of the 2025-2030 policy. #EACYouthPolicy #YHealthyAdolescents #SRHR #DarEsSalaam #EAC #PolicyToAction

Radio remains one of the most powerful tools for reaching grassroots communities and we are using it to inform, engage, and empower. Through strategic radio engagements, we amplify critical advocacy messages, creating space for dialogue, raising awareness, and connecting communities to vital information and services. By bringing conversations closer to the people, we help break barriers, challenge misinformation, and strengthen community participation in issues that matter most. This approach continues to play a key role in advancing equitable access and building more responsive health systems. 👉 Dive into our Annual Report to explore the full impact and how we’re turning conversations into change atmplatformkenya.org/wp-content/upl…

Behind every number is a life reached, a system strengthened, and a community empowered. From training 180 CHPs and 50 HCWs, to reaching over 500,000 people with life-saving knowledge, strengthening referral systems, improving access to essential treatment, and building a strong network of community health workers, this is impact that matters. 📘 Click to read more in our Annual Report and see how these efforts are transforming lives atmplatformkenya.org/wp-content/upl…

Day 2 of the EAC regional meeting in Daresalaam focused on reviewing the revised draft SRHR Policy noting the great improvements from the 2014-2018 version. The team further focused on formation of implementation committees where Access to Medicine's Platform was proposed to lead the committee in Kenya in collaboration with the EAC Youth Network chapter in Kenya. The meeting further reviewed the toolkit that would guide monitoring and implementation of youth-led, rights-based SRHR policy formulation across EAC partner states. MeTA is committing to work collaboratively with partners in SRHR space to ensure that the EA Youth policy is implemented for the attainment of optimum health and well-being of adolescents and youth.

Access to Medicine's Platform through the SHARP Project is participating in a technical workshop convened by the East African Community (EAC) Youth Network to develop an implementation plan for the regional Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) policy. On the sidelines of the meeting—which included Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) and Hon. Naomi Waqo, Women Representative for Marsabit County—we presented the findings of our recent SRHR study and our 2025 Annual Report. Key Outcomes: Legislative Support: Hon. Naomi Waqo pledged to support policy frameworks addressing the "triple threat" (HIV, unintended pregnancy, and gender-based violence). She also committed to sensitizing her colleagues within the Kenyan National Assembly’s Regional Integration Committee. Policy Harmonization: Attending MPs emphasized the need to harmonize policies to better protect adolescents. Legal Strategy: The group called for extensive legal consultations to develop an advisory that ensures the SRHR Bill aligns with national laws to facilitate its successful passage.

In her opening remarks at the EAC Regional Inception Meeting for the Development of the Youth Policy SRHR Implementation Roadmap 2026, AtMP CEO and also SHARP Coordinator, Ms. Okemo reiterated the devastating impact of the “triple threat” facing young people—new HIV infections, unintended teenage pregnancies, and sexual and gender-based violence, compounded further by the persistence of early marriages and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). She emphasized that these are not just health challenges, but critical barriers to the full potential and socio-economic transformation of young people across the region, as envisioned in the EAC Youth Policy. In response, Access to Medicines Platform reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Roadmap through three key lenses: ✔️Commodity Security: Ensuring the "Implementation Toolkit" we develop here addresses the availability and affordability of SRHR commodities for all youth. ✔️Youth-Led Accountability: We fully support the establishment of National Youth SRHR Implementation Committees. Leadership must belong to those who use the services. ✔️Policy Harmonization: We must bridge the gap between Ministries of Health, Ministries of Youth, and CSOs to ensure that a young person in Bujumbura or Goma has the same rights and access as one in Nairobi or Kampala

Strengthening youth access to accurate SRHR information starts with empowering young people themselves. Through @ProjectSHARP , implemented by Initiatives for Progressive Change (IfPC) in Moyale, a peer-to-peer outreach in Oda Location reached 35 adolescents and youth (20 girls, 15 boys) with critical information on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Key outcomes included: ✅Increased SRHR knowledge and awareness ✅Improved understanding of referral pathways to youth-friendly services ✅Strengthened youth confidence to seek care ✅Safe space created for open dialogue on sensitive topics SHARP remains committed to building the capacity of grassroots, youth-led organizations to design and lead community-driven interventions that respond to the real needs of adolescents and young people. #HealthyAdolescents #CSOSpotlight

Strengthening adolescent-friendly health services requires meaningful dialogue between young people and health providers. Through the @ProjectSHARP in partnership with @Mybody_Ke youth–facility interface sessions brought together 65 adolescents and youth with healthcare providers at Laisamis Sub-County Hospital and Merille Health Centre to discuss barriers to accessing ASRHR services and identify solutions for more responsive, youth-friendly care. Key outcomes included: ☑️Identification of service gaps such as lack of youth-friendly spaces and female condom stock-outs ☑️Increased awareness among adolescents about available SRHR services ☑️Facility commitments to improve confidentiality, youth engagement, and community outreach The initiative demonstrates how social accountability mechanisms can strengthen adolescent access to sexual and reproductive health services. #HealthyAdolescents

Happy New Week! Starting the week by engaging community gatekeepers on how we can end the triple threats of HIV, teenage pregnancy, and GBV affecting adolescent girls. Community voices matter in protecting and empowering girls. #EndTripleThreat #HealthyAdolescents

As we wrap up the session,we extended our heartfelt appreciation to @ProjectSHARP through @MeTAKenya2018 for empowering our community, Today,we're proud to see youth,elders,women stepping up as champions of ASRHR in Saku Sub County,we always say Asante Sana (Galatoma)

Earlier today with support of @MeTAKenya2018 under @ProjectSHARP we are previlage to have a dialogue with Elders,faith leaders,youth in a bid to address the 'triple threat' facing our young people in saku,the clarion call today was we must break the silence &be champions of ASRHR

Recap: Friday, As a key RMNCAH Stakerholder in Marsabit, we participated in Multi-Sectoral meeting supported by @MeTAKenya2018 through @ProjectSHARP Different indicators were shared and action plan generated to address the gaps thereoff.

During group discussion youth shared that they face difficulty accessing youth friendly health services and commodities hence urge the dept of health to prioritise it in the next budget circle

@MeTAKenya2018 @ProjectSHARP @IfPC15 @AFOSCKENYA @AFGMBoard @Mybody_Ke @YouthAntiFGMKe @youthfocus12

@AFOSCKENYA @athewa1 @KBCChannel1 @MeTAKenya2018 @ProjectSHARP @YouthAntiFGMKe @Mybody_Ke @Muchu_abdiaziz @AFGMBoard @NOFMA2 @