This document summarizes a study exploring experiences of adolescent pregnancy and motherhood in Rwanda. The study involved qualitative interviews with 24 adolescent girls ages 15-19 who were pregnant or had given birth before 18, as well as focus groups and interviews with other adolescents, government and community organizations. Key findings include that the majority of adolescents did not want to get pregnant, adolescent mothers had limited return to school with 0% currently attending compared to 58% of non-mothers, and adolescent mothers reported higher rates of depression and suicidal thoughts than non-mothers. The document discusses implications for social and economic support for adolescent mothers and improving sexual education and community norms.
The document summarizes estimates of homeless youth populations in the United States. It provides data on the number of homeless youth under age 18, including 1.3 million who experience brief runaway episodes, and approximately 327,000 who experience temporary disconnection from home. It also estimates around 150,000 homeless young adults ages 18-24, most of whom experience short-term homelessness, and approximately 50,000 homeless young families, most of whom experience temporary homelessness. In total, the document analyzes population data on hundreds of thousands of homeless youth in the United States.
This document discusses interventions for different populations of homeless youth. It identifies three subpopulations of homeless youth under age 18 and three subpopulations of homeless youth ages 18-24, including homeless young families. For each subpopulation, the document outlines example interventions and their goals. It concludes by listing some overarching strategies to address youth homelessness and providing examples of specific programs that implement interventions like family intervention, rapid re-housing, and transitional living programs.
Yekaterina Chzhen presents “Impacts of a Cash Plus Intervention on Gender Attitudes Among Tanzanian Adolescents" at Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Annual Conference, Barcelona July 29-30.
Abstract presentation: Caecilia Roth (Opportunities for strengthening sexual ...CNS www.citizen-news.org
This is the abstract presentation of Caecilia Roth, which took place as part of the first session of #APCRSHR10 #Virtual on the theme of "Addressing barriers to accelerate progress on sexual and #reproductivehealth and rights in Asia and the Pacific" more details are online at www.bit.ly/apcrshr10virtual1
This document discusses the importance of early childhood development programs in addressing poverty in South Africa. It notes that over half the population lives in poverty, with many children growing up in extreme poverty. Parent support programs can significantly improve nurturing care for young children by reducing parental stress, improving caregiver-child relationships, and reducing developmental delays. The document outlines the reach and impact of one such program called REACH in 2017, and presents a vision of developing a global early childhood development strategy to mobilize resources and partner with experts to reach 500,000 children by 2030.
1) A survey by the BBC found that 17% of boys and 16% of girls aged 12-15 in the UK are overweight or obese, and nearly three quarters of children are not getting the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity outside of school.
2) Physical activity in childhood can improve health and cognitive skills in adulthood. However, statistics show that many teenagers, especially girls, are not meeting the recommended daily amounts of physical activity.
3) Experts and students were interviewed to discuss the recent decline in sports participation among teens and how schools and colleges influence teenagers' involvement in sports and physical activity.
Escuela Caracol is a school that is investing in educating girls in Guatemala. Educating girls leads to increased wages, delayed marriage and childbearing, and fewer children. This helps reduce poverty and maintains stability, which is important for Guatemala given that nearly half the population is under 18 and the country recently experienced a long civil war. The school aims to provide opportunities for girls through education to improve their lives and help stabilize the country.
This document summarizes a study exploring experiences of adolescent pregnancy and motherhood in Rwanda. The study involved qualitative interviews with 24 adolescent girls ages 15-19 who were pregnant or had given birth before 18, as well as focus groups and interviews with other adolescents, government and community organizations. Key findings include that the majority of adolescents did not want to get pregnant, adolescent mothers had limited return to school with 0% currently attending compared to 58% of non-mothers, and adolescent mothers reported higher rates of depression and suicidal thoughts than non-mothers. The document discusses implications for social and economic support for adolescent mothers and improving sexual education and community norms.
The document summarizes estimates of homeless youth populations in the United States. It provides data on the number of homeless youth under age 18, including 1.3 million who experience brief runaway episodes, and approximately 327,000 who experience temporary disconnection from home. It also estimates around 150,000 homeless young adults ages 18-24, most of whom experience short-term homelessness, and approximately 50,000 homeless young families, most of whom experience temporary homelessness. In total, the document analyzes population data on hundreds of thousands of homeless youth in the United States.
This document discusses interventions for different populations of homeless youth. It identifies three subpopulations of homeless youth under age 18 and three subpopulations of homeless youth ages 18-24, including homeless young families. For each subpopulation, the document outlines example interventions and their goals. It concludes by listing some overarching strategies to address youth homelessness and providing examples of specific programs that implement interventions like family intervention, rapid re-housing, and transitional living programs.
Yekaterina Chzhen presents “Impacts of a Cash Plus Intervention on Gender Attitudes Among Tanzanian Adolescents" at Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Annual Conference, Barcelona July 29-30.
Abstract presentation: Caecilia Roth (Opportunities for strengthening sexual ...CNS www.citizen-news.org
This is the abstract presentation of Caecilia Roth, which took place as part of the first session of #APCRSHR10 #Virtual on the theme of "Addressing barriers to accelerate progress on sexual and #reproductivehealth and rights in Asia and the Pacific" more details are online at www.bit.ly/apcrshr10virtual1
This document discusses the importance of early childhood development programs in addressing poverty in South Africa. It notes that over half the population lives in poverty, with many children growing up in extreme poverty. Parent support programs can significantly improve nurturing care for young children by reducing parental stress, improving caregiver-child relationships, and reducing developmental delays. The document outlines the reach and impact of one such program called REACH in 2017, and presents a vision of developing a global early childhood development strategy to mobilize resources and partner with experts to reach 500,000 children by 2030.
1) A survey by the BBC found that 17% of boys and 16% of girls aged 12-15 in the UK are overweight or obese, and nearly three quarters of children are not getting the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity outside of school.
2) Physical activity in childhood can improve health and cognitive skills in adulthood. However, statistics show that many teenagers, especially girls, are not meeting the recommended daily amounts of physical activity.
3) Experts and students were interviewed to discuss the recent decline in sports participation among teens and how schools and colleges influence teenagers' involvement in sports and physical activity.
Escuela Caracol is a school that is investing in educating girls in Guatemala. Educating girls leads to increased wages, delayed marriage and childbearing, and fewer children. This helps reduce poverty and maintains stability, which is important for Guatemala given that nearly half the population is under 18 and the country recently experienced a long civil war. The school aims to provide opportunities for girls through education to improve their lives and help stabilize the country.
Amber Peterman, Elsa Valli and Tia Palermo
UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti
On Behalf of the LEAP 1000 Evaluation Team
CSAE Conference 2019, Oxford
March 17, 2019
This document discusses PEPFAR's collaboration with faith-based organizations (FBOs) over 15 years to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in various countries. It outlines the history of PEPFAR's engagement with FBOs from 2003-2018, focusing on community care, stigma reduction, and engaging men and boys. The document emphasizes that high-risk men aged 23-35 fuel the epidemic by infecting adolescent girls and young women aged 16-23. It argues that re-engaging FBOs is important because they can access men through weekly religious services. The document proposes several evidence-based programs like Families Matter that work with parents, caregivers and faith leaders to improve communication, prevent violence, and link
Impact of the Kenya Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children on safe...Michelle Mills
This presentation provides information about The Transfer Project and describes findings from a recent evaluation of the Kenya Cash Transfer Program for Orphans and Vulnerable Children.
Can a social cash transfer program improve youth mental health in Kenya?Michelle Mills
This presentation looks at how cash transfers can provide greater economic security to improve young people’s ability achieve their goals, enhancing their hopefulness and future outlooks.
Cate Lane, Youth Advisor for USAID shares strategies to reach youth with positive messages on health and evaluates what works and what does not based on program experience.
A presentation by Jennifer Seager (George Washington University), Maheen Sultan (BRAC Institute of Governance and Development) at the Webinar on Adolescent Experiences in Chittagong and Sylhet: the support programme and COVID-19 impact
Salam Shebli participated in the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) leadership program hosted by Mercy Corps Action Center and Portland State University. The month-long program brought 18 university students from 13 countries to Portland to develop their leadership skills. Salam excelled in the program through her strong communication skills, enthusiasm for new challenges, and insightful contributions. She gained project management skills and confidence in presenting her ideas. Salam was an outstanding participant who took on projects with amazing work ethic and responsibility.
The document summarizes a study on adolescent mothers in Rwanda. It found that adolescent mothers experience social rejection from peers and fathers of their babies. This leads to feelings of self-hate and isolation. They have limited opportunities for education due to stigma and lack of childcare. Early motherhood increases economic insecurity as adolescent mothers have less opportunity for paid work and face greater financial demands. The study recommends addressing stigma, supporting adolescent mothers' education reintegration, and changing community and service provider norms.
A comparative study on child marriage in Bangladesh Issues and Facts বাউন্ডুলে শামীম
Child marriage is a widespread problem globally and remains common in Bangladesh. Some key facts:
- Over 60 million girls worldwide married before 18; 1 in 7 girls marry before 15.
- Bangladesh has the 4th highest rate globally, with over half of girls married by 18.
- Poverty, lack of education, social norms, and easy falsification of age documents contribute to the problem.
- Consequences for girls include health risks, denial of education, domestic violence, and abuse.
- Efforts are needed to increase education, empower girls, engage communities, and strengthen legal protections to reduce child marriage in Bangladesh.
Leah Prencipe, Tia Palermo, and Yekaterina Chzhen and presented “Impacts of a Cash Plus Intervention on Gender Attitudes among Tanzanian Adolescents” as part of European Commission Joint Research Center's Seminar Series. (June 2020)
Adolscents to Youth to Young Adults_Hainsworth_5.11.11CORE Group
The document summarizes a women's and girls' empowerment program in Ethiopia that aims to improve sexual and reproductive health, rights, and social status. It discusses the Ethiopian context of early marriage and childbearing. The multi-faceted program works through various organizations to provide information, skills, and support to girls and young women. Key interventions include girls' clubs, life skills education, and scholarships. Evaluation found the program reduced early marriages and increased modern contraceptive use, HIV testing, and awareness of youth services. It recommends focusing on shifting male attitudes and exploring program impacts in rural areas.
This document summarizes findings from a midline evaluation of the Act With Her Ethiopia program in Oromia, Ethiopia. The evaluation found some positive effects on adolescents' knowledge related to puberty and reproductive health, as well as improved communication between adolescents and parents. However, there were limited impacts on changing gender norms and attitudes, girls' education, and economic empowerment. The asset transfer component also caused some community discord. Overall, the program showed mixed results and the evaluators provide recommendations to improve engagement of communities, parents, mentors, and tailor the program better to local contexts and norms.
The document summarizes key findings from a pilot study conducted by the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) program in Rwanda. GAGE conducted surveys and interviews with over 200 adolescents and caregivers to examine issues related to education, economic empowerment, health, violence, and empowerment. Key findings include the financial barriers to schooling, limited knowledge around contraception, high rates of violence in schools and homes, and the promise of programs like 12+ in developing skills and empowering adolescents. Going forward, GAGE plans to partner with Investing in Adolescent Girls Rwanda and continue longitudinal research to evaluate programs supporting adolescents.
Speaking at the 2015 CCIH Annual Conference, Susan Hillis, PhD, MS, Senior Global Health Advisor, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control explains research to discover the magnitude and the effects of violence against children on a global scale.
Power point presentation on puberty and adoloscenceMotiur2
Puberty is the time in life when a boy or girl becomes sexually mature.
It is a process that usually happens between ages 11 and 15 for girls and ages 12 and 16 for boys.
It causes physical changes, and affects boys and girls differently
Utilizing HIV combination prevention interventions in reaching sexually explo...Hellen Karoki
The OCaT program enrolled 201 boys and 920 girls between 2014-2015. It provided HIV testing, counseling, education programs, and linked some to education, legal aid, and shelters. Results found 22 children tested HIV positive and were enrolled in care, 106 were reintegrated into school, and the program demonstrated the positive effects of tailored HIV prevention for at-risk adolescents. Recommendations include investing in such adolescent-focused interventions to reduce new HIV infections.
0.3%
0.1%
9.6
11.2
Married as teenagers
Frequency
Frequency of
Average
of ever
teen birth
years of
attending among women
schooling
school
ages 20-49 who
among
ever attended
those with
school
schooling
70.4%
95.6%
65.4%
60.3%
6.7
9.4
1) The document analyzes data from Demographic and Health Surveys in 76 countries to estimate the years of schooling lost due to teenage childbirth and the resulting economic costs. 2) Multivariate regression models were
The document summarizes research on the impacts of cash transfer programs on gender dynamics. It finds that:
1) Cash transfer programs in sub-Saharan Africa often target women to achieve outcomes like improved child well-being, though evidence supporting this approach is mixed.
2) Evaluations of cash transfers' impacts on women's empowerment also show mixed results, depending on the indicators and contexts studied.
3) A study in Zambia found its Child Grant Program increased women's decision-making power modestly and their ability to save and engage in small businesses significantly, suggesting it had a subtle empowering effect.
Mobilizing Action to End Violence Against Children: Lessons from around the w...BASPCAN
Keynote Speaker Profile
Tuesday 14th April : 9.15am and 2.00pm
Dr James A. Mercy Ph D
Special Advisor for Global Activities, Division of Violence Prevention,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta USA
James A. Mercy oversees global activities in the Division of Violence Prevention in the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He received his PhD in sociology from Emory University in Atlanta in1982.
Amber Peterman, Elsa Valli and Tia Palermo
UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti
On Behalf of the LEAP 1000 Evaluation Team
CSAE Conference 2019, Oxford
March 17, 2019
This document discusses PEPFAR's collaboration with faith-based organizations (FBOs) over 15 years to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in various countries. It outlines the history of PEPFAR's engagement with FBOs from 2003-2018, focusing on community care, stigma reduction, and engaging men and boys. The document emphasizes that high-risk men aged 23-35 fuel the epidemic by infecting adolescent girls and young women aged 16-23. It argues that re-engaging FBOs is important because they can access men through weekly religious services. The document proposes several evidence-based programs like Families Matter that work with parents, caregivers and faith leaders to improve communication, prevent violence, and link
Impact of the Kenya Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children on safe...Michelle Mills
This presentation provides information about The Transfer Project and describes findings from a recent evaluation of the Kenya Cash Transfer Program for Orphans and Vulnerable Children.
Can a social cash transfer program improve youth mental health in Kenya?Michelle Mills
This presentation looks at how cash transfers can provide greater economic security to improve young people’s ability achieve their goals, enhancing their hopefulness and future outlooks.
Cate Lane, Youth Advisor for USAID shares strategies to reach youth with positive messages on health and evaluates what works and what does not based on program experience.
A presentation by Jennifer Seager (George Washington University), Maheen Sultan (BRAC Institute of Governance and Development) at the Webinar on Adolescent Experiences in Chittagong and Sylhet: the support programme and COVID-19 impact
Salam Shebli participated in the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) leadership program hosted by Mercy Corps Action Center and Portland State University. The month-long program brought 18 university students from 13 countries to Portland to develop their leadership skills. Salam excelled in the program through her strong communication skills, enthusiasm for new challenges, and insightful contributions. She gained project management skills and confidence in presenting her ideas. Salam was an outstanding participant who took on projects with amazing work ethic and responsibility.
The document summarizes a study on adolescent mothers in Rwanda. It found that adolescent mothers experience social rejection from peers and fathers of their babies. This leads to feelings of self-hate and isolation. They have limited opportunities for education due to stigma and lack of childcare. Early motherhood increases economic insecurity as adolescent mothers have less opportunity for paid work and face greater financial demands. The study recommends addressing stigma, supporting adolescent mothers' education reintegration, and changing community and service provider norms.
A comparative study on child marriage in Bangladesh Issues and Facts বাউন্ডুলে শামীম
Child marriage is a widespread problem globally and remains common in Bangladesh. Some key facts:
- Over 60 million girls worldwide married before 18; 1 in 7 girls marry before 15.
- Bangladesh has the 4th highest rate globally, with over half of girls married by 18.
- Poverty, lack of education, social norms, and easy falsification of age documents contribute to the problem.
- Consequences for girls include health risks, denial of education, domestic violence, and abuse.
- Efforts are needed to increase education, empower girls, engage communities, and strengthen legal protections to reduce child marriage in Bangladesh.
Leah Prencipe, Tia Palermo, and Yekaterina Chzhen and presented “Impacts of a Cash Plus Intervention on Gender Attitudes among Tanzanian Adolescents” as part of European Commission Joint Research Center's Seminar Series. (June 2020)
Adolscents to Youth to Young Adults_Hainsworth_5.11.11CORE Group
The document summarizes a women's and girls' empowerment program in Ethiopia that aims to improve sexual and reproductive health, rights, and social status. It discusses the Ethiopian context of early marriage and childbearing. The multi-faceted program works through various organizations to provide information, skills, and support to girls and young women. Key interventions include girls' clubs, life skills education, and scholarships. Evaluation found the program reduced early marriages and increased modern contraceptive use, HIV testing, and awareness of youth services. It recommends focusing on shifting male attitudes and exploring program impacts in rural areas.
This document summarizes findings from a midline evaluation of the Act With Her Ethiopia program in Oromia, Ethiopia. The evaluation found some positive effects on adolescents' knowledge related to puberty and reproductive health, as well as improved communication between adolescents and parents. However, there were limited impacts on changing gender norms and attitudes, girls' education, and economic empowerment. The asset transfer component also caused some community discord. Overall, the program showed mixed results and the evaluators provide recommendations to improve engagement of communities, parents, mentors, and tailor the program better to local contexts and norms.
The document summarizes key findings from a pilot study conducted by the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) program in Rwanda. GAGE conducted surveys and interviews with over 200 adolescents and caregivers to examine issues related to education, economic empowerment, health, violence, and empowerment. Key findings include the financial barriers to schooling, limited knowledge around contraception, high rates of violence in schools and homes, and the promise of programs like 12+ in developing skills and empowering adolescents. Going forward, GAGE plans to partner with Investing in Adolescent Girls Rwanda and continue longitudinal research to evaluate programs supporting adolescents.
Speaking at the 2015 CCIH Annual Conference, Susan Hillis, PhD, MS, Senior Global Health Advisor, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control explains research to discover the magnitude and the effects of violence against children on a global scale.
Power point presentation on puberty and adoloscenceMotiur2
Puberty is the time in life when a boy or girl becomes sexually mature.
It is a process that usually happens between ages 11 and 15 for girls and ages 12 and 16 for boys.
It causes physical changes, and affects boys and girls differently
Utilizing HIV combination prevention interventions in reaching sexually explo...Hellen Karoki
The OCaT program enrolled 201 boys and 920 girls between 2014-2015. It provided HIV testing, counseling, education programs, and linked some to education, legal aid, and shelters. Results found 22 children tested HIV positive and were enrolled in care, 106 were reintegrated into school, and the program demonstrated the positive effects of tailored HIV prevention for at-risk adolescents. Recommendations include investing in such adolescent-focused interventions to reduce new HIV infections.
0.3%
0.1%
9.6
11.2
Married as teenagers
Frequency
Frequency of
Average
of ever
teen birth
years of
attending among women
schooling
school
ages 20-49 who
among
ever attended
those with
school
schooling
70.4%
95.6%
65.4%
60.3%
6.7
9.4
1) The document analyzes data from Demographic and Health Surveys in 76 countries to estimate the years of schooling lost due to teenage childbirth and the resulting economic costs. 2) Multivariate regression models were
The document summarizes research on the impacts of cash transfer programs on gender dynamics. It finds that:
1) Cash transfer programs in sub-Saharan Africa often target women to achieve outcomes like improved child well-being, though evidence supporting this approach is mixed.
2) Evaluations of cash transfers' impacts on women's empowerment also show mixed results, depending on the indicators and contexts studied.
3) A study in Zambia found its Child Grant Program increased women's decision-making power modestly and their ability to save and engage in small businesses significantly, suggesting it had a subtle empowering effect.
Mobilizing Action to End Violence Against Children: Lessons from around the w...BASPCAN
Keynote Speaker Profile
Tuesday 14th April : 9.15am and 2.00pm
Dr James A. Mercy Ph D
Special Advisor for Global Activities, Division of Violence Prevention,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta USA
James A. Mercy oversees global activities in the Division of Violence Prevention in the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He received his PhD in sociology from Emory University in Atlanta in1982.
Maja Gavrilovic and Elsa Valli's presentation "Child Marriage and Ethiopia's Productive Safety Net Programme: Analysis of protective pathways in the Amhara region" presented at IDS in October 2019.
Presenation Slides For NPFC2022 - Wapa Africa.pptxSande Slivesteri
Research conducted to understand the SRHR-related factors affecting Female Adolescents & Young women’s development in Luuka district, East Central Uganda
Elevating Asian Girl Human Rights: Releasing the Power of Asian Girls to Brid...GOH Foundation
Undrakh Chinchuluun, Director of PRINCESS Center for the Protection of Girls and Young Women's Rights (Central Asia/Mongolia) gave the presentation, "Empowerment of Teenage Mothers through Social Services".
View her presentation on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjnN22tJCtg
The parallel event "Elevating Asian Girl Human Rights: Releasing the power of Asian girls to bridge the gender gap" was held at the 58th NGO-CSW in New York, USA. To learn more about the Asian Girl Human Rights Campaign, please visit girlday.org
This document summarizes findings from the Young Lives study on adolescent development in low and middle-income countries. Key points:
1) Poverty has cascading effects throughout adolescence, negatively impacting education, nutrition, skills development, and future opportunities. Gender and social norms exacerbate inequalities.
2) Adolescents face increasing responsibilities from work, family care, and norms around discipline while their aspirations often exceed opportunities, especially for the poor.
3) Transitions from education to work, marriage, and parenthood interact in gendered ways with poverty and norms. Early responsibilities disrupt education, perpetuating disadvantage.
Similar to 'Our children are fatherless': exploring experiences of adolescent pregnancy and motherhood in Rwanda (20)
Findings from the GAGE mixed-methods longitudinal study in Ethiopia on prevention strategies and girls' experiences of FGM/C, child marriage and adolescent motherhood, presented to the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Women and Social Affairs, Ethiopia.
This document summarizes research on youth economic security, skills, and empowerment among displaced youth in Jordan. It finds that while youth aspirations are high, their access to education, skills training, work, and social protection is limited due to poverty, gender norms, conflict, and discrimination. However, some youth are able to overcome obstacles through individual commitment, family support, inspiring teachers, and empowerment programs. Such programs provide new skills, role models, mindsets, and social networks that transform outcomes, especially for girls. Ongoing challenges include lack of funding, discrimination, and restrictive gender norms. The research implications call for supporting education, skills training, livelihoods programs, and changing social norms.
The document provides an overview and findings from a study on female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) practices in Ethiopia. Key findings include:
1) FGM/C rates and types vary significantly by region in Ethiopia, from over 90% in Afar to under 50% in some areas of Amhara and Oromia. Younger generations are less likely to undergo FGM/C.
2) Drivers of FGM/C include ensuring girls' marriageability, beliefs about sexuality and fertility, and social norms. Girls feel pressure to undergo cutting to fit in socially.
3) While some progress is reported, qualitative findings suggest FGM/C continues
The Development Studies Association 2022 Conference was hosted online by University College London on 6-8 July. The theme was ‘Just sustainable futures in an urbanising and mobile world’, with contributions exploring what justice and equity look like in a post-pandemic world affected by an escalating climate crisis.
The document summarizes key findings from research conducted by GAGE in Jordan on the interconnected environmental, economic, and social risks faced by adolescents. The research found that water scarcity, poor infrastructure, lack of transportation, and waste management issues pose significant challenges. Males are responsible for water collection due to social norms. Infrastructure provides limited protection from weather. There is limited awareness and infrastructure for recycling. Transportation issues restrict access to services. The document concludes with policy recommendations such as improving water access, waste collection, transportation, and social protection to help households cope with environmental risks.
Presentation by Dr Nicola Jones, Dr Bassam Abu Hamad, Prof Sarah Baird, Erin Oakley, Sarah Alheiwidi, Agnieszka Malachowska at the 4th IAAH MENA region Adolescent Health conference in Hurghada, Egypt
Presentation by Dr Bassam Abu Hamad, Dr Nicola Jones, Prof Sarah Baird and Agnieszka Malachowska at the 4th IAAH MENA region Adolescent Health conference in Egypt
This document summarizes findings from the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) longitudinal research programme regarding adolescent mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in Gaza, Jordan, and Lebanon. GAGE is following 20,000 adolescents across multiple countries and has found high levels of psychological distress driven by conflict, violence, poverty and restrictive gender norms. Stressors have intensified during COVID-19, increasing anxiety, depression, and violence in homes and communities. While some services exist, access and acceptability are limited. Expanding gender-sensitive programming and strengthening mental health systems are priorities to better support adolescent wellbeing.
Married Syrian refugee girls in Lebanon and Jordan face overlapping crises of poverty, limited access to education and livelihood opportunities, gender inequality, and family violence. Research from the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) program finds that early and arranged marriage is common as a coping strategy, but takes a toll on girls' well-being. Married life brings responsibilities that girls are unprepared for, leaving them exhausted and isolated with little support. The economic crisis in Lebanon has exacerbated girls' hardships. Violence from husbands and in-laws is prevalent, while girls have little agency or ability to access support networks. Programming recommendations include preventing early marriage, improving relationships within marriages, expanding support for survivors,
Understanding adolescent vulnerabilities in LMICs through an intersectional lens: launch of a new European Journal of Development Research Special Issue
Background and objectives
This event will showcase a new EJDR special issue that explores adolescent experiences across diverse LMICs, including conflict-affected contexts, drawing on unique mixed-methods data from the GAGE longitudinal study. It will highlight why an intersectional approach is critical to capture adolescents’ diverse and dynamic capabilities, and what the policy and programming implications are to ensure no adolescent is left behind.
A presentation by Nicola Jones at the Global Webinar: Leave No Child Behind – The Way Forward for Education organised by Economic Policy Research Institute
A presentation by Silvia Guglielmi at the Webinar on Adolescent Experiences in Chittagong and Sylhet: the support programme and COVID-19 impact.
Organisers: BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH), GAGE, IPA
AHMR is an interdisciplinary peer-reviewed online journal created to encourage and facilitate the study of all aspects (socio-economic, political, legislative and developmental) of Human Mobility in Africa. Through the publication of original research, policy discussions and evidence research papers AHMR provides a comprehensive forum devoted exclusively to the analysis of contemporaneous trends, migration patterns and some of the most important migration-related issues.
The Antyodaya Saral Haryana Portal is a pioneering initiative by the Government of Haryana aimed at providing citizens with seamless access to a wide range of government services
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
United Nations World Oceans Day 2024; June 8th " Awaken new dephts".Christina Parmionova
The program will expand our perspectives and appreciation for our blue planet, build new foundations for our relationship to the ocean, and ignite a wave of action toward necessary change.
Indira awas yojana housing scheme renamed as PMAYnarinav14
Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) played a significant role in addressing rural housing needs in India. It emerged as a comprehensive program for affordable housing solutions in rural areas, predating the government’s broader focus on mass housing initiatives.
This report explores the significance of border towns and spaces for strengthening responses to young people on the move. In particular it explores the linkages of young people to local service centres with the aim of further developing service, protection, and support strategies for migrant children in border areas across the region. The report is based on a small-scale fieldwork study in the border towns of Chipata and Katete in Zambia conducted in July 2023. Border towns and spaces provide a rich source of information about issues related to the informal or irregular movement of young people across borders, including smuggling and trafficking. They can help build a picture of the nature and scope of the type of movement young migrants undertake and also the forms of protection available to them. Border towns and spaces also provide a lens through which we can better understand the vulnerabilities of young people on the move and, critically, the strategies they use to navigate challenges and access support.
The findings in this report highlight some of the key factors shaping the experiences and vulnerabilities of young people on the move – particularly their proximity to border spaces and how this affects the risks that they face. The report describes strategies that young people on the move employ to remain below the radar of visibility to state and non-state actors due to fear of arrest, detention, and deportation while also trying to keep themselves safe and access support in border towns. These strategies of (in)visibility provide a way to protect themselves yet at the same time also heighten some of the risks young people face as their vulnerabilities are not always recognised by those who could offer support.
In this report we show that the realities and challenges of life and migration in this region and in Zambia need to be better understood for support to be strengthened and tuned to meet the specific needs of young people on the move. This includes understanding the role of state and non-state stakeholders, the impact of laws and policies and, critically, the experiences of the young people themselves. We provide recommendations for immediate action, recommendations for programming to support young people on the move in the two towns that would reduce risk for young people in this area, and recommendations for longer term policy advocacy.
Combined Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) Vessel List.Christina Parmionova
The best available, up-to-date information on all fishing and related vessels that appear on the illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing vessel lists published by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) and related organisations. The aim of the site is to improve the effectiveness of the original IUU lists as a tool for a wide variety of stakeholders to better understand and combat illegal fishing and broader fisheries crime.
To date, the following regional organisations maintain or share lists of vessels that have been found to carry out or support IUU fishing within their own or adjacent convention areas and/or species of competence:
Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
Commission for the Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna (CCSBT)
General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM)
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC)
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO)
North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC)
North Pacific Fisheries Commission (NPFC)
South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (SEAFO)
South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO)
Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA)
Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC)
The Combined IUU Fishing Vessel List merges all these sources into one list that provides a single reference point to identify whether a vessel is currently IUU listed. Vessels that have been IUU listed in the past and subsequently delisted (for example because of a change in ownership, or because the vessel is no longer in service) are also retained on the site, so that the site contains a full historic record of IUU listed fishing vessels.
Unlike the IUU lists published on individual RFMO websites, which may update vessel details infrequently or not at all, the Combined IUU Fishing Vessel List is kept up to date with the best available information regarding changes to vessel identity, flag state, ownership, location, and operations.
2. Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE):
A longitudinal research programme (2015-2024)
By finding out ‘what works,’ for whom, where
and why, we can better support adolescent girls
and boys to maximise their capabilities now and
in the future.
We are following 20,000 adolescents, the largest cohort in the Global South
5. Sample and Methods
• Qualitative interviews with older adolescent girls ages 15-19 who were currently
pregnant or had given birth before 18 years old (n=24)
• Focus groups with female adolescents aged 15-19 years
• Key informant interviews with government and community organizations,
para- social workers (n=20)
• Qualitative: thematic analysis
Qualitative
• Quantitative survey with 117 older adolescent girls (50 mothers and 67 non-
mothers)
• Quantitative: linear regression analysis
Quantitative
6. Willingness of engaging in first sexual intercourse
‘I was like an idiot because it was the time I
came from countryside. I entered in his house
and then he directly closed the door because
there was no one else around there… So,
because there wasn’t any one around, it
[rape] was done.’
(Adolescent aged 18 years, raped by an
acquaintance)
‘Before we slept together, we were in love and
he usually was telling me that he needs to
take me to his family, to show them that he
has a girl he wants to marry.’
(Adolescent aged 17 years, rural, cohabiting
consensual relationship)
Reported willingness of engaging
in first sexual intercourse
Willing 18.0%
Somewhat willing 8.0%
Not willing at all 74.0%
Reported desire of first pregnancy
Wanted the pregnancy 10.0%
Wanted to wait until later to
become pregnant
62.0%
Did not want children 28.0%
7. Adolescent mothers limited return to school
Mean
Overall Adolescent mothers Non-mothers
Difference
(all significant at p<0.001)
Age 17.03 17.58 16.61 0.97
Currently attending
formal school 33.0% 0.0% 58.0% 58.0%
Highest Grade
Attended 7.21 6.40 7.81 1.4
‘If she's pregnant, then that means that
her dreams fade away. If she's pregnant
before she completes her studies, then
she goes home to raise the baby. It's like
her vision has just been erased.’
(KII, community health worker, Kigali)
‘It was not a problem for my mom to take care of
my baby because she is the one who requested me
to go back to school. The baby used to stay at home
with my mother and at school they used to give me
permission to go and breastfeed her at noon time.’
(Adolescent aged 19 years, raped by her boyfriend)
8. Adolescent mothers have increased symptoms of depression
‘All my friends rejected me when they saw what happened. I was alone and I could
see it, and I started to hate myself. I was worried, and I feared to go in public and
wished to stay at home all the time.’
(Adolescent aged 19 years, non-consensual sex with her boyfriend)
Means
Adolescent mothers
(n=50)
Adolescent non-mothers
(n=67)
Significance
Not depressed (PHQ ≤ 4) 28.0% 50.8%
p<0.05Mild depression (PHQ 5-9) 34.0% 38.8%
Moderately or more
depressed (PHQ ≥10) 38.0% 10.4%
Reported suicidal ideation
in the past two weeks 20.0% 9.0% p<0.05
9. Limitations
We can only
compare how
adolescent
mothers and non-
mothers differ at
the time of data
collection
Inability to
establish whether
adolescents who
are mothers were
– before they
became mothers –
different from
adolescents who
are not (yet)
mothers.
Adolescent
pregnancy and
motherhood is
highly stigmatized
and made
systematic
sampling of
mothers from the
survey for
qualitative
interviews not
possible.
We do not know if
the adolescent
mothers who
refused re-contact
are systematically
different from
those who
consented to re-
contact and
interview.
11. Policy and programming implications
•Social and economic support for adolescent mothers
Access to contraceptives for adolescents
Supporting adolescent mothers to return to school
Norms of community members and service providers
Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education
12. Authors
• Ernestina Coast – London School of Economics
• Marie Merci Mwali - FATE
• Roberte Isimbi - FATE
• Ernest Ngabonzima - FATE
• Paola Pereznieto - GAGE
• Serafina Buzby - LATERITE
• Rebecca Dutton – The George Washington University
• Sarah Baird - The George Washington University
13. Contact Us
WEBSITE
www.gage.odi.org
TWITTER
@GAGE_programme
FACEBOOK
GenderandAdolescence
About GAGE:
Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence
(GAGE) is a nine-year (2015-2024) mixed-
methods longitudinal research programme
focused on what works to support
adolescent girls’ and boys’ capabilities in
the second decade of life and beyond.
We are following the lives of 20,000
adolescents in six focal countries in Africa,
Asia and the Middle East.
Editor's Notes
(:30)
Welcome and introductions
Today we will briefly be sharing from ‘Our Children are Fatherless’: Exploring Experiences of Adolescent Pregnancy and Motherhood in Rwanda, mixed-methods case study of Rwanda in which we explored how and in what ways adolescents’ capabilities: education; health and nutrition; freedom from violence and bodily integrity; psychosocial well-being; voice and agency; and economic empowerment, are influenced by pregnancy and motherhood.
Rebecca, a DrPH candidate from GWU and myself, from FATE consulting, will be presenting on behalf of our team.
(:20)
This research is part of the broader Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) project.
GAGE is a nine-year (2015-2024) mixed-methods longitudinal research programme exploring the gendered experiences of young people aged 10-19 years. We are following the lives of 18,000 adolescents in six focal countries.
Please visit our website to learn more about the research.
GAGE aims to generate new evidence on ‘what works’ to transform the lives of adolescent girls and boys to enable them to move out of poverty and exclusion, and fast-track social change. GAGE research involves the most vulnerable adolescents, including adolescent refugees, adolescents with disabilities, those out of school, married girls and adolescent mothers.
The results will support policy and programme actors to more effectively reach adolescent girls and boys to advance their wellbeing and what is needed to meet the Sustainable Development Goals, including the commitment to Leave No One Behind.
The GAGE consortium, managed by the Overseas Development Institute, convenes 35 research, policy and programming partners globally and is funded by UK Aid from the UK government.
3 CS Conceptual Framework
(:15)
Data collection took place from October-November 2019 in the five regions for qualitative and three for quantitative.
These locations were selected to represent different regions and urbanization levels in Rwanda, and----
Quantitative and qualitative
City of Kigali: Gasabo district (urban), Kinyinya sector
Southern province: Huye district (semi-urban), Simbi sector
Northern province: Gakenke district (rural), Muzo sector
Qualitative only
Western province: Nyabihu district (rural), Jomba sector
Eastern province: Ngoma district (urban), Remera sector
(1:15) ** include how the purposive sample was done- see notes below.
Qualitative data from key informant interviews [n=20], qualitative interviews of female adolescents aged 15-19 years who had given birth before age 18 or were currently pregnant [n=24], and 5 focus groups with female adolescents aged 15-19 years who had given birth before age 18 or were currently pregnant [n=24] were collected from 5 sites.
Key informant interviews were conducted with 20 individuals, drawn from a range of government and community organisations, including para-social workers (community health workers). Individuals were purposively selected for working with or on adolescents, in education and health. Qualitative IDIs were conducted with 24 female adolescents aged 15–19 years who had given birth before the age of 18 (n=22) or were currently pregnant before the age of 18 (n=2).
Quantitative sample
Quantitative surveys were conducted with 117 adolescent females aged 15–19 years, of which 50 had given birth or were pregnant before the age of 18, and 67 were non-mothers. To identify adolescents aged 15–19 to sample in the three quantitative sites, village leaders and community health workers prepared lists of all households in their villages that had adolescent girls aged 15–19 as members. Community health workers were also requested to list adolescent girls who had given birth or were pregnant and under 18. Enumerators visited the identified households to confirm eligibility of the adolescent girls and enroll them in the study.
Adolescent mothers were selected through purposive sampling. It proved difficult to re-contact surveyed adolescent mothers, reflecting the stigma of adolescent motherhood and the demands on adolescent mothers’ time. In the two sites where there was no quantitative survey (Jomba and Remera), the research team purposively sampled adolescent girls who had given birth before the age of 18, and two interviews were conducted with adolescents who were pregnant.
These were recorded and used community and institution mappings to stimulate discussion.
(1:00)
Adolescent became pregnant or mothers through a range of different scenarios- some within long-term consensual relationships, some through transactional sexual, others described being forced or tricked.
One 18 year old adolescent explained:
I was like an idiot because it was the time I came from countryside. I entered in his house and then he directly closed the door because there was no one else around there… So, because there wasn’t any one around, it [rape] was done.
While another said shared about getting pregnant while in a consensual relationship…
Before we slept together, we were in love and he usually was telling me that he needs to take me to his family, to show them that he has a girl he wants to marry.
The quantitative data indicates that 74% of the sample were not willing to have sex at the time of their first sexual encounter and only 10% stated that they had waned their first pregnancy.
(1:00)
Adolescent pregnancy and motherhood appears to have dramatic effects on education. There were no respondents in the quant sample who were currently in school, while 33% of the non mothers were still attending. Mothers, on average also had 1.4 less years of school compared to those who were not mothers. (only partially explained by difference in age)
This finding was echoed in a KII with a community health worker who said:
If she's pregnant, then that means that her dreams fade away. If she's pregnant before she completes her studies, then she goes home to raise the baby. It's like her vision has just been erased
Despite this troubling finding, one adolescent in the qualitative sample explained:
It was not a problem for my mom to take care of my baby because she is the one who requested me to go back to school. The baby used to stay at home with my mother and at school they used to give me permission to go and breastfeed her at noon time.
Demonstrating the importance of support from family and community institutions in aiding mothers to continue their education.
(1:00)
Out findings show a negative relationship between adolescent pregnancy and motherhood and mental health.
Qualitative findings indicate that adolescents who become pregnant are isolated from their communities and friends as one 19 year old shared:
A girl, we studied in the same class, she saw what happened to me and she is no longer my friend because she may say that I can lead her into bad behaviours and she gets pregnant too because I gave them a bad example.
(Adolescent mother, FGD)
Linked to this rejection was increased social isolation:
All my friends rejected me when they saw what happened. I was alone and I could see it, and I started to hate myself. I was worried, and I feared to go in public and wished to stay at home all the time.
(Adolescent aged 19 years, non-consensual sex with her boyfriend)
(1:00)
Out study had a few limitation, which included
We can only compare how adolescent mothers and non-mothers differ at the time of data collection, so we are not able to determine from this data whether adolescents who are mothers were – before they became mothers – different from adolescents who are not (yet) mothers.
As mentioned while describing the methods, Adolescent pregnancy and motherhood is highly stigmatized and made systematic sampling of mothers from the survey for qualitative interviews was not possible.
We do not know if the adolescent mothers who refused re-contact are systematically different from those who consented to re-contact and interview.
(:30)
Despite these limitations, our mixed-methods analysis suggests that adolescent motherhood has negative implications for adolescent girls’ trajectories and their likelihood of being further left behind.
Concerted and multisectoral efforts – across education, justice and health – are critical to prevent unwanted adolescent pregnancy and to support adolescent mothers, to reduce the likelihood that adolescent mothers and their children are left behind.
(1:15)
Based on our findings, we will conclude with five policy and programming implications and recommendations
Social and economic support for adolescent mothers
-Adolescent mothers face multiple barriers to economic empowerment, as childcare reduces their income-generating options. Unplanned pregnancy and motherhood negatively impact girls’ economic trajectories, with less opportunity to earn but more demands on any income. The potential for intergenerational transmission of poverty to children of adolescent mothers is high, and perpetuates who is left behind.
Access to contraceptives for adolescents
-This includes policy changes to ensure that adolescents have access to contraceptives as well as shift in norms and implementation of policies by health workers who limit contraception. The current policies also criminalize consensual sex between minors, limited access.
Supporting adolescent mothers to return to school
- Rwandan education policies make no mention of how to support adolescent mothers’ return to school. The need to provide and care for a child makes it exceptionally difficult for adolescent mothers to achieve this.
Adolescent mothers’ experiences of stigma and exclusion by their peers and teachers compound barriers to continuing education.
Norms of community members and service providers
- Adolescent mothers’ experiences of stigma and exclusion by their peers and teachers compound barriers to continuing education. That adolescent mothers experience negative psychosocial outcomes is clear from our evidence; they are significantly more likely to be depressed compared to their peers.
Programming to change norms to reduce the stigma around adolescent pregnancy to promote mental health and psychosocial wellbeing
National policy also makes no provision for an adolescent mother and her child if they are rejected both by the child’s father and the girl’s family; the implicit assumption is that families will provide.
5. Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education
- To include impact of contraceptives on future fertility.