Project Title

Young People's Health and Development: A Reproductive and Sexual Health Centred Action Approach

Funding Agency

Duration of the project

Sida (Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency)

The project is currently in its second phase from July 2003 to June 2008

Geographical Coverage

Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

Partners

Rfsu, Swedish Association for Sexuality Education

The Srijan Network partners in 7 states include in CHETNA in Rajasthan, CINI in West Bengal, CHETNA in Gujarat, NMP Plus in Maharashtra, ANS in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Arogyam in Bihar

Objectives

• Create relevant database on key* YRSHR issues for programmers/implementers/researchers and young people.

• Strengthen resource and training base at national and state to capacitate Young people and related stakeholders

• Strengthen network of at least 150 NGOs in 10 states along with enabled youth fora to monitor services and integrate YRSHR in State institutions* and policies

• Influence policy environment for young people reflecting and supporting reproductive and sexual health and rights

• Implement newer approaches and document lessons to develop model for future replicability and up-scaling

• Develop effective fora for global partnerships for ensuring reproductive and sexual health and rights of young people

Project Brief

The second phase of the project began in July 2003. The phase is split into five spells – first spell of 18 months (July 2003 till December 2004), followed by three spells of 12 months each (Jan ’05-Dec ’05, Jan ’06-Dec ’06, Jan 07-Dec ’07), and lastly a spell of six months (Jan ’08-June ’08).

Key strategies have been developed to achieve the project objectives – Networking, Advocacy, Informatics, Research & Documentation, Phased Interventions and Global Partnerships. The project was primarily aimed at young people from poor and disadvantaged sections of the society and focused on out-of-school youth both unmarried and married. A partnership was created with 150 NGO partners in seven states across the country. Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar came together with Rfsu-MAMTA and SRIJAN was formed. Each of the seven states has a nodal NGO, called the State Facilitating Agency or the SFA. The network integrates information on adolescent health and development, and provides youth friendly services through capacity building of service providers and advocacy with policy makers and other stakeholders.