Dashboard Nigeria: Demand Generation Linking Youth to Reproductive Health Information & Services Through Civil Society Organizations

Nigeria Toolkit: AYSRH Demand Generation

Linking Youth to Reproductive Health Information & Services Through Civil Society Organizations

What is it?

TCI supports state structures to improve quality adolescent and youth sexual reproductive health (AYSRH) service delivery, while at the same time increasing demand for those services and resources to ensure smooth operations. As part of this process, during TCI’s net-mapping exercise and study tour, it was evident across all TCI-supported states that civil society organizations (CSOs) facilitate AYSRH implementation at the state, local and community levels. These CSOs lead in addressing issues of cultural, religious and political barriers while creating demand and linking adolescents and youth to information and services.

To address AYSRH information and service needs, TCI is supporting government to create stronger synergies and connections with CSOs to increase youth’s access to reproductive health information and services. To overcome barriers at the community level, TCI and states recognized that youth-focused CSOs, specifically community-based organizations (CBOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs) are often already trusted institutions in the community, providing various services to youth, including family planning, HIV/AIDS and life skills.

Why is this important?

Before the introduction of this approach, there were no synergies between CSOs and state government for family planning or AYSRH programming, although it existed in the HIV/AID programming space. CSOs would receive their own funding and just work to implement their planned family planning or AYSRH activities, accountable to a donor but not requiring coordination or meaningful engagement with the state government. As a result, this approach strengthens the community’s AYSRH response and amplifies the impact of the state government’s AYSRH program.

What are the steps to implement this approach?

Step 1: Identify and select CSOs to implement AYRH activities

TCI supports states to identify CSOs working in the AYSRH space through expression of interest and request for application.

The AHDO along with TCI review the expressions of interest. Qualified CBOs and FBOs then submit request for application (RFA). The RFAs are reviewed based on set criteria and the best applications are selected after an on-site validation. The selection and validation cover technical expertise, organizational systems and structure.

Step 2: Provide ongoing coaching and mentorship support to selected CSOs

TCI with the state and local government through the government representative offers orientation and training to the selected CBOs/FBOs on AYRH as well as mentoring/coaching and on-the job training. Tools such as frequently asked questions, minimum package of services, information leaflet and job aids are also provided to enhance implementation and quality of services off by the CBOs/FBOs.

Step 3: Program Implementation

CBOs/FBOs facilitate implementation at the state, local and community levels, they engage with policymakers, technocrats, program implementer and community leaders to address issues of cultural and political barriers, address social norms around AYRH while creating demand and linking adolescents and youth to information and services. Specifically, they carry out outreaches, in-reaches, mobilization, referral services and intergenerational dialogues, among others.

The selected CBOs carry out outreach events and mobilize youth for in-reaches. They provide counseling on contraceptive methods and “Go Cards” for referrals to quality service delivery sites.

Step 4: Continuous supervision and monitoring

In each state, the AHDO is primarily responsible for the coordination, implementation and monitoring of the state’s Adolescent and Youth Health Development (AYHD) workplan. Hence, CBOs/FBOs share progress reports with AHDO. As members of the State Technical Working Group on Adolescent and Young People’s Health and Development (STWGAYHD), the CBOs/FBOs actively participate in meetings, including meetings related to workplan review and development.

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