Reproductive Health Sub-Program
Project / Programme Summary

1. Objectives
   
   To contribute to increased utilization of: (a) integrated, comprehensive, cost-effective and quality RH services by adolescents/youth, women and men; and (b) RH information and knowledge to bring about behavioral changes on safe sexual and Reproductive Health practices among women, men and adolescents/youth.
2. Activities and contents
   
   UNFPA is assisting the Government with the development of a National Reproductive Health Programme including the Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) component, the review of policies and the development of standards and guidelines for implementation and supervision procedures. Support is also provided for the training of the Government and NGO personnel to strengthen the human resources capacity.
   
   Adolescents and youth, both in and out of school, will be mobilized and trained to participate in providing the ARH services and information, including those on prevention of STDs/HIV/AIDS. Training of peer educators in interpersonal communication and counselling for the prevention of unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and STDs/HIV/AIDS will be conducted at the district and community levels. Many activities focus on involving youth as well as on empowering them to participate as partners in ARH information and service provision.
   
   Support is also provided to training health providers and others in the use of integrated ARH training materials, establishing ARH information and services distribution points and outlets in schools, youth centres and elsewhere. In order to empower youth to be able to make informed and appropriate RH decisions and take responsibility for their reproductive behaviour, information will be provided on cultural, economic, and other factors, reproductive rights issues and services. Young people will also be trained on how to assess their own risks and susceptibility to unhealthy sexual behaviour, how to negotiate with their partners on abstinence, delaying sexual activity and safe sex. In order to strengthen integration and teaching of Population Family Life Education (POP/FLE), ARH, gender and STDs/HIV/AIDS issues in school curricula, appropriate IEC materials will be developed, followed by orientation of headmasters and teachers, training and retraining of teacher counsellors and other trainers.
   
   Also, orientation will be provided at workplaces on the RH programme, the HIV/AIDS Policy and the RH Policy, ARH information will be integrated into existing workplace activities on Occupational Health, Family Planning and STDs/HIV/AIDS. Workplace peer educators will be trained in interpersonal communication and counselling, and special strategies will be developed to reach families of youth workers.
   
   With regard to coordination among donors in the field of adolescent reproductive health, UN agencies/donors in Botswana (UNICEF, WHO, UNDP and also EU) agreed to coordinate their activities and develop a joint UN programme for Adolescent Reproductive Health. For HIV/AIDS, UN agencies work closely through the UN Theme Group.
3. Expected outcomes / impacts
   
   1) Improved management and understanding of Reproductive Health at all levels.
   
   2) Improved access by adolescents/youth to information and knowledge about Reproductive Health issues, rights and services through:
   
   
   • the improved involvement and participation by adolescents/youth in Reproductive Health;
   • strengthened integration and teaching of Population and Family Life Education, Adolescent Reproductive Health, gender issues and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS;
   • improved access to information/knowledge on Reproductive Health rights, services, gender issues, and STDs/HIV/AIDS by youth in the workplace.
   3) Improved decision-making capacity of adolescents/youth on Reproductive Health issues, rights and services
4. Features in line with the Agenda for Action
   • Health - Reproductive Health
   • Education
   • Gender
   • Capacity Building

UNFPA office, Botswana