Activists, influencers, and technology experts say young people have made major gains by advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) narratives, particularly for adolescent girls and young women through digital technologies.
Speaking during the “African Voices: Shaping a New SRHR Narrative Through Technology” session, the panellists and participants highlighted how young people are using the internet to dismantle long-standing barriers to SRHR access.
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) Forum in Cape Town showcased the immense potential of Africa’s young people.
With 77% of Africa’s population under the age of 35, the continent’s young people are a powerful force for change, uniquely positioned to drive SRHR transformation.
Brands on a Mission (BoaM) hosted the side event as part of its African Voices initiative, observing that today’s young people, far from being passive recipients, are asserting themselves as discerning consumers of SRHR services, demanding solutions that are responsive to their preferences, experiences, and realities.
By leveraging these technologies, young people are driving conversations that are deeply relevant to their lives and actively shaping and influencing public health narratives, helping to dismantle cultural stigmas and expand access to vital SRHR services across the continent.
Professor Myriam Sidibe, Founder and Chief Mission Officer at Brands on a Mission, stressed the need for African young people to be central in shaping SRHR solutions.
“The young voices that we heard today are the voices we need to keep listening to in our homes, communities, and online. Young people are communication experts shaping our stories and Africa’s future; we need to meet them where they are and expand on their potential.
Today, she expressed immense hope and excitement about the potential of emerging technologies to spur innovation and positively impact SRHR and gender-based violence (GBV) on the African continent.
Angella Summer Namubiru, a Ugandan media personality and digital content creator with over six million followers on TikTok, highlighted the pivotal role of social media in amplifying young people-driven SRHR advocacy, saying, “Technology gives young people a chance to share their stories, learn about sexual and reproductive health, and create ways to earn money.
With these opportunities, young people can make better choices for their lives and health, free from unwanted situations.
Fatima Carvalho, co-founder of the Cape Verde-based Eco-Feminism Movement (Cabo Verde Ecofeminism Movement), highlighted the need to integrate traditional practices with technological advancements to make SRHR interventions more effective: “I believe that the most effective SRHR interventions lie at the intersection of tradition and innovation.
“We can create holistic solutions that are culturally relevant and forward-thinking by combining the wisdom of our ancestors with modern technology, ensuring that no one falls behind in the fight for reproductive rights and gender equality.
Dr. Mercy Nhamo-Murire, Deputy Chief Impact Officer at Tiko, underscored the vital role technology can play in removing social and financial barriers to care, ultimately empowering girls as agents in their sexual and reproductive health journey.
Teenage pregnancy, HIV infection, and sexual violence pose a triple threat to adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa. “Technologies and real-time data are proving powerfully effective in unlocking community-based, girl-centred solutions to combat this threat, enabling girls to access integrated, safe, and stigma-free health services that work holistically within delicate local contexts to meet their evolving needs.”
Kris Lemon, Senior Monitoring Evaluation Research and Learning Associate at Reach Digital Health, complemented, speaking on the necessity of making these technologies accessible to marginalised communities: “Where technologies are developed to facilitate people’s goals, evidence increasingly shows that digital technologies offer particular benefits to young people pursuing their sexual and reproductive health aims.
“Mobile platforms allow users to access a world of educational, motivational, and supportive content at low cost and anonymously, with AI increasing the match between content and users’ individual needs.”
Ndiilokelwa Nthengwe, Executive Director of the Voices for Choices and Rights Coalition, highlighted the importance of diverse leadership in shaping the future of SRHR.
She stated, “The future of technology is evolving much quicker than the representation of accountable leadership. We, African women in all our diversity, need to remain cognisant of this reality as we grow into positions of influence and leadership.”
The session, which was part of the broader SVRI Forum agenda, aimed to strengthen partnerships and foster new collaborations between African influencers, civil society organisations, and technology-driven NGOs.
It called for the creation of safe and stigma-free digital spaces where young people can access and shape relevant SRHR content.