Activists, influencers and technology experts assert that young people have made significant strides in advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) narratives, particularly for adolescent girls and young women, through digital technologies.
Speaking at the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) Forum in Cape Town, South Africa, during a session named African Voices: Shaping a New SRHR Narrative through Technology, panellists and participants emphasised how young people are using the internet to dismantle long-standing barriers to SRHR access.
With 77% of Africa’s population under the age of 35, young people on the continent are a powerful force for change, uniquely positioned to drive SRHR transformation.
The side event, hosted by Brands on a Mission (BoaM) as part of its African Voices initiative, noted that far from being passive recipients, today’s young people 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 youth 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. There has been so much hope and excitement expressed today about how emerging technologies can unlock innovation and impact for SRHR and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) on the African continent,” she said.
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 youth-driven SRHR advocacy, stating, “Technology gives young people a chance to share their stories, learn about sexual and reproductive health, and create ways to earn money.”
“When young people have these opportunities, they can make better choices for their lives and health without being forced into situations they do not want,” said Ms Namubiru.
“I believe that the most effective SRHR interventions lie at the intersection of tradition and innovation. By combining the wisdom of our ancestors with modern technology, we can create holistic solutions that are both culturally relevant and forward-thinking, ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight for reproductive rights and gender equality,” stated Fatima Carvalho co-founder of Cabo Verde Ecofeminism Movement.
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.
She said: “Adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa face the interconnected triple threat of teenage pregnancy, HIV infection, and sexual violence. Technology 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 this by discussing 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.”
“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,” said Ndiilokelwa Nthengwe, executive director of the Voices for Choices and Rights.
The session, 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.
