HIV AND AIDS

Early childbirth among married adolescent girls can be a key barrier to many economic development and youth empowerment programs reaching scale. Often, this issue is not considered in economic programming even though it is often a key constraint for girls and women in capitalizing on potential economic pathways. This presentation covers experiences on how to ensure early childbirth does not limit program success and how girls’ economic opportunities can be supported to reduce early childbirth.

This framework offers guidance for how FHI 360’s research and programs can systematically identify and challenge gender-based inequalities that pose barriers to development. Integrating gender considerations (hereafter referred to as gender integration) into the planning, design, implementation and measurement of FHI 360’s research and programs and promoting the utilization of gender-related findings and evidence-based practices will maximize FHI 360’s contributions to development goals, including gender equality.

Nearly 60% of Uganda’s population is aged below 20. This generation faces health challenges associated with HIV, coupled with economic challenges arising from an uncertain transition into the labor market. We evaluate the impacts of a programme designed to empower adolescent girls against both challenges through the simultaneous provision of: (i) life skills to build knowledge and reduce risky behaviors; (ii) vocational training enabling girls to establish small-scale enterprises. The randomized control trial tracks 4,800 girls over two years.