Youth to Youth Initiative: Assessment of Results in Ethiopia and Kenya

This 66-page report, commissioned by the Gesellschaft für International Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), shares findings of an external assessment of the Youth-to-Youth (Y2Y) Initiative in Ethiopia and Kenya. Developed in 1999 by DSW (Deutsche StiftungWeltbevoelkerung), the Y2Y Initiative empowers young people in terms of their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and their socio-economic situation. Young people are at the core of the Y2Y Initiative acting as peer educators, who pass on their knowledge and skills to their peers. They become role models and change agents and reach many other young people and their communities with sexual and reproductive health information and linkages to respective services. As of 2011, over 600 youth clubs with more than 30,000 members were part of the Y2Y network across Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The study assesses the impact of the Y2Y Initiative on young people in project regions in Ethiopia and Kenya. It particularly looks at the aspect of gender equality both at individual level for participating young women and young men, as well as at the level of potentially changed perceptions of, and attitudes towards young people, in particular women, in their social environment.

The approach of the assessment was largely qualitative and semi-structured and included individual and group interviews. Respondents included young people, such as peer educators, club members and club leaders, as well as representatives from the local government and ministries of health and youth.

According to the assessment, the contributions that DSW's Y2Y Initiative has made towards informing and educating young people about SRH and rights, and to developing their own capacity in many ways are acknowledged by youth themselves, representatives of local government, and health professionals, as well as at policy level. The development and empowerment experienced by many of the young people who are/were part of Y2Y Initiative spans from the acquisition of potentially life-saving knowledge (or at least having essential implications for their health and future lives) to multiple skills gain, such as communication (interpersonal and a strategic approach to community interaction), leadership, self-management, artistic skills, practical skills for income generation, and conflict management.

Female youth in particular noted that the life skills, self-esteem, and training opportunities gained within the framework of the Y2Y Initiative helped them to develop their whole personality, and in a number of cases, to provide for themselves and their families through self-generated income. Male youth indicated the same benefits and more over pointed out how membership in the club helped them to strengthen their ability to resist peer pressure (e.g. to consume drugs or drink alcohol). At club level, members reported particularly about the friendship and respect between female and male youth and the close bonds among club members. In addition, following different trainings, the increased ability of raising funds from other sources and of generating income leading to economic empowerment was emphasised.

In terms of health benefits, the information presented in the assessment covers perceived and reported changes related to health. No health related statistics and health information data at the level of relevant catchment areas could be accessed for the purpose of this evaluation. A general increase of knowledge and improved attitudes regarding SRH and rights including the topic of HIV and AIDS among young people and in their communities are pointed out. Moreover, young people and the key informants from the health sector noted an increased demand for condoms, increased uptake of HIV testing, as well as of modern contraception. Generally, youths were reported to access health services more.

According to the assessment, another major change identified by the young people was the extent to which participating in Y2Y activities helped change their perception of the other sex and of themselves as women/men, and improving their self-esteem and relationships with the other sex. The relationships in clubs were described as very equal and respectful. Through the strong group dynamic/rapport among members, men's acceptance of women’s leadership increased. While a few young men have difficulties joining Y2Y clubs because of women's leading role, the majority reported the perception of equal participation between girls and boys and a feeling of equality from the girls' side. Gender issues have been integrated into club decision-making by club leaders in some of the assessed youth clubs.

At policy level, DSW's role as a catalyst of young people's influence on the formulation of strategies and policies by facilitating youth participation was emphasised as well as DSW's contribution through their representation in different technical working groups in both countries.

As a result, the overall impact of the Y2Y Initiative appears relatively strong despite the comparably small budget.

Recommendations outlined in the assessment study include the following:

• Gender: Continue strengthening gender-sensitive implementation of Y2Y; at operational level there is a need to further promote equal enrolment of girls/young women in training and promote/insist on equal participation of girls in clubs and club leadership.
• Policies/strategies: Further strengthen harmonisation with on-going processes in the health sector, including and formulating MoUs with concerned ministries for every project and ensuring regular reporting at this level.Capacity building: Continue strengthening the comprehensive and holistic capacity building approach with a gender-sensitive perspective.
• Monitoring and evaluation: There is a need to expand the so far largely output-based monitoring system towards more results-based monitoring and evaluation at different levels including outcome and as far as this is plausible, impacts. This may include knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) surveys at peer level (in new intervention areas as baseline, and as follow-ups); complementing output-based monitoring with more process-oriented data (qualitative/quantitative), and establishing feedback mechanisms for relevant health information data to club leadership in districts.