KENYA — In an ambitious endeavor aimed at transforming the lives of Kenyan adolescents, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with dedicated development partners, have pioneered a groundbreaking initiative.
This collaboration, led by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and supported by a Development Impact Bond (DIB) worth Sh1.5 billion (US$10.1 million), aims to transform adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) services in Kenya.
Kenya’s youth have reason to rejoice as the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the UN in Kenya, unfurls a significant plan to address two pressing concerns – teen pregnancies and the escalating rate of new HIV infections among adolescents.
This alliance, backed by UNFPA, UNAIDS, WHO, and the SDG Partnership Platform, alongside invaluable contributions from global organizations like Triggerise, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), and Bridges Outcomes Partnerships, is poised to redefine the landscape of adolescent healthcare in the country.
The cornerstone of this initiative is the Development Impact Bond (DIB), a financial instrument worth Sh1.5 billion (US$10.1 million), dedicated exclusively to the advancement of adolescent sexual and reproductive health.
This substantial fund will fuel the provision of high-quality, adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, which will also encompass essential HIV testing and treatment.
Addressing the harsh realities
Kenya grapples with disconcerting statistics related to teen pregnancies and HIV infections among its youth. Startlingly, one in six adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 has experienced pregnancy.
In 2022 alone, the country witnessed a staggering 7,307 new HIV infections among adolescents and young people aged 15 to 24, accounting for a substantial 41 percent of all adult new infections.
Even more concerning is the fact that adolescent girls and young women bear the brunt of this health crisis, accounting for a staggering 78 percent of new HIV infections within their age group, as per the National HIV Estimates 2023.
Bashir Issak, Head of the Directorate of Family Health at the Ministry, has emphasized the program’s timeliness and alignment with the government’s broader ambitions of improving the health and well-being of all Kenyans.
This initiative will not only address the immediate challenges but also confront the pervasive lack of information about sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as the limited access to tailored services for young individuals.
As per data from the Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) 2022, teenage pregnancy prevalence stands at 15 percent, with over 300,000 adolescent pregnancies recorded in health facilities annually.
Dr. Bashir Issak passionately underscores the urgency of the matter, stating, “This is clearly the decade of action, and we must strive to do things differently if we are to attain the set goals.”
A holistic approach for maximum impact
This visionary program will be rolled out across ten counties grappling with substantial burdens of HIV and adolescent pregnancies, including Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Homa Bay, Bungoma, Migori, Kisii, Nyamira, Kakamega, and Busia.
Bridges Outcomes Partnerships will play a pivotal role by providing upfront funding to Triggerise, a two-year pay-for-success program that aims to support over 300,000 vulnerable adolescent girls.
The allocated funding will also drive improvements in 150 public primary health facilities located in the specified counties.
An innovative mobile-based platform, Triggerise’s Tiko, will serve as the backbone of the DIB, connecting adolescents with nearby public and private facilities offering free services.
This platform integrates various local stakeholders, including health clinics, pharmacies, virtual channels, community-based organizations, and healthcare workers, fostering informed decision-making for young individuals seeking essential health services.
Furthermore, Triggerise’s technology will provide real-time tracking, offering transparency and data-driven insights to assess the impact of every cent invested in the program.
A vision for change
Lucia Santirso Richards, Investment Director at Bridges Outcomes Partnerships, commended Triggerise’s remarkable work in Kenya over the past seven years, providing access to high-quality adolescent sexual and reproductive health services.
By supporting Triggerise through the Development Impact Bond, the goal is to expand the organization’s reach, enabling more girls to take control of their health, ultimately leading happier and healthier lives.
The Ministry of Health will steer the program’s policy direction and overall stewardship, while the Council of Governors (CoG) will ensure effective coordination among the counties.
The ten County governments involved will assume responsibility for providing Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) and HIV services to vulnerable adolescent girls, reinforcing the multi-sectoral approach crucial to addressing these complex issues.
Upon achieving specific outcomes that directly improve adolescent health, Bridges Outcomes Partnership will recoup its upfront funding through outcome funding provided by the Joint SDG Fund and CIFF.
This approach ensures a self-sustaining mechanism that empowers local organizations to adapt and innovate to maximize the uptake of HIV and SRH services among adolescents.
This endeavor builds upon the successful phase one model, previously executed by Triggerise and funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) with CIFF as the investor.
In the 18-month period from 2020 to 2022, the first phase of this initiative significantly expanded the availability and uptake of SRH services among adolescents in Kenya, surpassing targets by reaching a total of 251,000 girls with 383,000 services—far surpassing the initial target.
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