The UNFPA Kenya country office recently welcomed a new cohort to its Youth Advisory Panel, marking a new shift in the representation and engagement of young people in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights.
The 2024-2026 YAP panel is composed of members drawn from the 10th Country Program focus counties (Turkana, Baringo, Bungoma, Nairobi, Isiolo, Garrisa, Kwale, Narok) and FGM focus counties (Narok, West Pokot, Bungoma, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Samburu and Garrisa).
Composition and leadership
The UNFPA Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) is a platform for youth participation that helps ensure UNFPA’s initiatives are youth‐friendly and adequately address young people’s concerns, particularly regarding their sexual and reproductive lives, HIV/AIDS and gender issues. The new panel consists of 7 male and 8 female representatives and includes special interest groups such as young people with disabilities, and those living in humanitarian and refugee settings. This is in the spirit of inclusivity and leaving no one behind. During their tenure, members will engage in various advocacy efforts to raise awareness on critical issues such as access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, attainment of reproductive health rights, and the elimination of harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation.
The UNFPA YAP enlists young people aged 18-24 years from diverse backgrounds who are passionate about Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and are keen to contribute to the health and well-being of adolescents and youth in Kenya through advocacy and other targeted initiatives on a volunteer basis. The panel attests to UNFPA's vision and conceptual shift of moving away from working for young people to working in partnership with young people to ensure youth-friendly approaches and actions.
The outgoing members of the 2022-2023 youth advisory panel notably participated in several notable campaigns and events to amplify youth voices. The panel played a pivotal role in advancing advocacy to end technology-facilitated gender-based violence in Kenya's universities through the Bodyright campaign.
Additionally, the outgoing panel convened the inaugural Youth Persons Living with Disabilities convention that was held during the International Day for Persons with Disability on 3rd December 2023. More than 200 Young people living with Disabilities were reached with sexual and reproductive health information and services. The 2024 cohort is expected to take on the mantle and continue amplifying youth voices in sexual and reproductive health matters across the country.
Reflections
“Being part of the Youth Advisory Panel allowed me to participate in high-level panels at UNFPA Global Technical Meetings where I shared youth perspectives on global megatrends and how UNFPA can support young people globally.” - Leshan Kereto (YAP Chair - 2022-2023) and African Union Youth Mainstreaming and Inclusion Lead.
(2022-2023)
“My experience as a leader on the Youth Advisory Panel has been a transformative path that has enriched both my personal development and professional growth. Working with UNFPA has expanded my knowledge in SRH and empowered me in my capacity to positively influence the lives of adolescents and young people.” - Nora Nyadzua (YAP Member - 2022-2023)
“My journey serving as the youth representative for Isiolo County has made me an ambassador for my community and has fueled my commitment as a male champion to promote gender equality toward achieving a just society. It has additionally enriched me with professional networks which have fostered many learning and collaborative opportunities.” - Yaqoub Hussein (YAP Member 2022-2023)
The 2019 to 2021 cohort led by Ms. Faith Opiyo was equally instrumental. It was led by Ms. Faith Opiyo, a Chevening Scholarship Award winner and formerly the National FGM Coordinator at AMREF Health Africa. In her own words, the greatest achievement by the team was the establishment of robust strategies to engage young people online and at the county level on sexual and reproductive health matters.
(2019-2020)
