Achieng' Opondo📌

#IamAPHRC convened a stakeholder dialogue on the inclusion and empowerment of pregnant and parenting adolescents in Kenya, with the aim of developing a shared advocacy agenda to advance access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. The convening brought together representatives from government agencies, civil society, adolescent parents, the clergy, media, and adolescent health champions. Key highlights from the dialogue included: ✅ Stakeholders reviewed and affirmed policy analysis findings of strategic frameworks addressing the experiences and needs of pregnant and parenting adolescents in Kenya ✅ Participants aligned on urgent policy and advocacy priorities affecting their inclusion and empowerment ✅ Critical gaps in current policies and services were identified, alongside opportunities for action ✅ Stakeholders agreed on a shared advocacy agenda with clear priority actions for collective follow-up The discussions reinforced that advancing inclusion requires more than strong policies; it calls for deliberate action to address stigma, strengthen systems, and ensure meaningful engagement of adolescents in shaping solutions. #WeAreAfrica #APHRCResearch @NCPD_Kenya @TICAH_KE@SautiZetu254 @EACRN@CwKabiru @MangwanaVJ @aiajayi @EmmanuelOtukpa @OpondoAchy @Chris_Maero @isabelmutuku1 @dmdiarafa @amveyange @CKyobutungi

APHRC is proud to participate in the Kenya Population and Development Conference 2025 #KPDC2025! During the conference, we will share insights into our work and discuss opportunities to leverage our strategic evidence and policy engagement focus in Africa (Kenya) by engaging experts and key stakeholders in attendance. Over the next three days, #IamAPHRC will contribute to the larger discourse of population development in Kenya on key issues such as: ✔️ Population and Development ✔️ Fertility & Sexual Reproductive Health ✔️ Population Health and Wellbeing ✔️ Mobility, Migration and Urbanization ✔️ Environment and Climate Change ✔️ Population Data, Research and Innovation "Human capital development unfolds in four key life stages: early childhood, school years, youth, and adulthood. Research consistently reveals gaps throughout these phases, including child labor, reading comprehension, literacy, and unemployment. Political discussions alone aren’t enough; real action is needed. The data makes it clear: we must strengthen human development frameworks based on solid evidence." APHRC’s Director of Programs, @amveyange. #APHRCResearch #WeAreAfrica

#APHRC’s Challenging the Politics of Social Exclusion team is concluding a weeklong stakeholder engagement in Malawi. The team had the opportunity to share study findings from the lived experiences of pregnant and parenting adolescents in Malawi with the Malawi Ministry of Gender, Community Development, Social Welfare officials, the Malawi Ministry of Health's Reproductive Health Deputy Director Dr. Henry Phiri and the Lilongwe Director of Education Dr. Grace Mulima. In depth conversations on ways to explore policies to support pregnant and parenting adolescents to continue their education, including flexible learning options and childcare support. This is a key initiative to advocate for comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education to prevent adolescent pregnancies and empower young people with knowledge about their rights and options. #WeAreAfrica #APHRCResearch

This week, #IamAPHRC partnered with @ReproRights for the 81st @achpr_cadhp Ordinary Session, adding the Center’s voice to the call to end obstetric violence. APHRC’s @aiajayi delivered an insightful presentation on the mistreatment and abuse of adolescents during childbirth, shedding light on this critical issue. The African Commission is engaged in in-depth discussions on how health systems across the continent can ensure dignity and respect for all women during childbirth. Stakeholders in the #SRHR field are also contributing to the conversations. Every woman deserves safe, respectful care! #EndObstetricViolence #DignityInChildbirth #ACHPR81 #WeAreAfrica #APHRCResearch

In commemorating #WorldContraceptionDay, #IamAPHRC's @aiajayi participated in a panel discussion organized by @KenyaMedics_KMA and fellow #SRHR stakeholders. He made a presentation highlighting the critical role research plays in advancing contraceptive use and reproductive health among adolescents. In alignment with this year's #Contraception Day theme, "A Choice for All: Freedom to Plan, Power to Choose," @aiajayi emphasized the need for increased access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services as well as empowering individuals with the freedom to choose their preferred contraceptive method, which is essential in reducing adolescent pregnancies, preventing unsafe abortions, and promoting their overall health and well-being. #WeAreAfrica #APHRCResearch

#IamAPHRC's Challenging the Politics of Social Exclusion (CPSE) program team paid a courtesy call to @mohs_sl's Directorate of Reproductive Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health and @parhacoalition's Health Alert team earlier this week, where the teams shared insights on the progress of the Safe Motherhood & Reproductive Health Bill, to which the Center has contributed through research and advocacy efforts to improve access to #SRHR services. #SRHR #WeAreAfrica #APHRCResearch

In our efforts to strengthen stakeholder partnerships, we paid a courtesy call to @HDIRwanda, where we discussed our joint research & policy advocacy initiatives. We assessed the #CPSE project research outcomes & identified their capacity needs for future collaboration.

In collaboration with @HDIRwanda, we are hosting stakeholder engagement activities to assess our policy advocacy capacity strengthening over the last 4 years. These sessions will help us identify key priorities & co-create advocacy plans for the next phase of the #CPSE project.

Our weeklong engagement includes stakeholder dialogues and community discussions with various actors. The focus is on harvesting project outcomes & mapping stakeholders to further strengthen social inclusion and human rights for all. #APHRCResearch #WeAreAfrica #SocialInclusion

Key to improving girls and women’s #SRH include: ✅Sexuality education, including contraception ✅Recognizing post-abortion care as essential care ✅Tackling #SGBV ✅Investment in #SRHR services ✅ More women and youth-friendly SRHR services #APHRCResearch #WeAreAfrica

Kilifi County has recorded tremendous progress in maternal, child, and newborn health indicators in recent years. This progress results from investment in proven interventions to improve early maternal healthcare. #SRHR #APHRCResearch

@DOHKilifi, in collaboration with APHRC, is holding an in-person multi-stakeholder consultative dialogue to deliberate on various aspects of #maternalmortality, including access to safe abortion & post-abortion care. #SRHR #APHRCResearch