Power of Partnerships: Investing in East Africa’s Young People

Joint declaration co-authored by: Lydia Zigomo, UNFPA Regional Director, East and Southern Africa; Etleva Kadilli, UNICEF Regional Director, Eastern and Southern Africa; Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa; and Medhin Tsehau, Deputy-Regional Director, UNAIDS

With most of East Africa’s population under 24, youths’s goals will form our cumulative future. Turning these hopes into truth suggests equating local policies and dedications into completely moneyed, real-world outcomes.

As the Regional Directors of UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO, and Deputy Regional Director of UNAIDS, in September 2026 we concluded a two-day landmark joint objective to Arusha, Tanzania, conference with the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), and civil society organisations (CSOs). Structure on years of cooperation in between our 4 UN companies and structures of the EAC, consisting of through the 2gether 4 SRHR program, we have actually consented to formalise this collaboration to harmonise and advance health and advancement concerns throughout all 8 Partner States.

In an age of completing top priorities, diminishing resources, environment shocks, and humanitarian crises, collaborating is important. By pooling our technical knowledge, resources, and impact, we can increase effectiveness and accomplish high-impact outcomes at scale.

The Human, Social, and Economic Cost

Throughout the area, teen pregnancy, maternal death, HIV, gender-based violence (GBV), and hazardous practices continue to restrict chances for millions – especially teen ladies and girls. These barriers avoid youths from understanding their possible and adding to the financial success of their households, neighborhoods, and area.

The human toll brings a high financial rate. The Cost of Inaction Report exposes that nations like Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda lose some $1.8 billion annual by underinvesting in youth sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and HIV services. Historically, reproductive health, HIV and GBV have actually dealt with persistent underfunding throughout the area. As Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) decreases, transitioning to sustainable domestic health funding is significantly immediate – securing households from devastating health care expenses, while securing gains in kid, maternal, and reproductive health, HIV and other services.

Our conversations in Arusha enhanced a clear required: ladies and youths need to be at the heart of advancement efforts. Civil society plays a crucial function in guaranteeing that policies equate to real-world modification, while youths are typically the greatest supporters for development and services rooted in their lived experiences.

Current social listening reports mirror this truth, revealing growing need amongst youth for more powerful firm, definitive action on problems like teenage pregnancy and ending damaging practices. We likewise see this management in action every day: in 18-year-old Bugeny from South Sudan, an active member of her school’s argument, health and poetry club, who utilizes innovative composing to begin discussions on kid marital relationship. Or 22-year-old Prossy from eastern Uganda, who fearlessly stands in front of class and neighborhood groups and guides peers coping with HIV to remain healthy and favorable.

The Way Forward
Structure on this momentum, we will develop MoUs with the EAC and EALA to specify our partnership and cumulative efforts, backed by clear results and routine responsibility evaluations from EAC and UN management. We will support the EAC Secretariat to increase domestic funding for health, drive pooled procurement, broaden local capability for regional production, and prioritise high-impact interventions that lower maternal and neonatal death, protect reproductive health, promote gender equality, and end damaging practices.

We will support EALA to produce an allowing environment through the advancement of proof and rights-based legislation, enhancing parliamentary oversight of nationwide and local spending plans, in keeping an eye on development on international, continental, and local dedications, and through tactical engagements on SRHR problems to guarantee that Parliamentarians have the appropriate info offered for decision-making efforts.

We will continue promoting for financial investments in CSOs and young individuals so that they meaningfully engage and take part in all procedures to assist form East Africa’s future. Our joint objective to Arusha showed the strength of providing as ‘One UN’. Our important now is to turn this coherence into concrete action, quantifiable development, and long lasting effect for ladies, women and youths throughout East Africa.