African Youth Alliance

Working hand-in-hand with 14 local institutions, Pathfinder reached young people with sexual and reproductive health services, designed to meet their specific needs.

A young man is counseled on a sexuality, safe sex, and reproductive health.

From 2000-2005, Pathfinder partnered with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) to implement the African Youth Alliance Project in Uganda, Ghana, Botswana, and Tanzania. The project aimed to improve, scale up, and institutionalize HIV and AIDS prevention and adolescent reproductive health programs in these four countries.

Pathfinder was responsible for the Youth-Friendly Services and Institutional Capacity Building components of the program. In Tanzania, Pathfinder collaborated with 14 local institutions in 10 districts to reach young people through static clinics, peer education programs, and the private and commercial sectors. In addition to building local NGO capacity, Pathfinder instituted an array of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, including:

• Information and counseling on sexuality, safe sex, and reproductive health;
• Contraceptive method provision (with an emphasis on dual protection);
• STI diagnosis and management;
• HIV counseling (and referral for testing and care);
• Pregnancy testing and antenatal and postnatal care;
• Counseling on sexual violence and abuse (and referral for needed services); and
• Postabortion care counseling and contraception (with referral for treatment of complications when necessary).