With support from AmplifyChange, the SRHR Youth project progress review and evaluation meeting was a success. The review brought together key stakeholders, project team members, healthcare providers, youth advocates, and partners. The primary objective was to assess the project’s achievements, analyse challenges, and chart a strategic way forward to enhance impact and sustainability. Key objectives included:

1. Review the progress against the project’s objectives and indicators.
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of implemented activities.
3. Identify challenges and bottlenecks faced during implementation.
4. Gather feedback from stakeholders and beneficiaries.
5. Discuss lessons learned and best practices.
6. Develop actionable recommendations for future phases.

Key Highlights shared:

• Progress Achievements: The project has continued to make significant strides in increasing awareness and access to SRHR services among adolescents and young people. Notable accomplishments included, distribution of educational materials, support to youth-friendly health spaces, and successful community outreach campaigns.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Support from ministry of health, active participation from parents/guardians, support from schools, participation from community members, young people, most of whom are beneficiaries – keep the project more sustainable, fostering a multi-sectoral approach.
• Identified Challenges: Some challenges include late submission of activity reports, logistical constraints, and gaps in data collection in target sites. Additionally, lack of IEC materials. These challenges continue to be openly discussed, with consensus on strategies to address them.
• Lessons Learned: The meeting emphasized the importance submitting activity reports on time, distribute more IEC materials; the need to translate available IEC materials, in local languages, promote community involvement from the planning phase, culturally sensitive messaging, and robust monitoring systems.

Outcomes and Action Points:

At the end of the meeting, we agreed a way forward. Some of the issues we agreed include:

1. Communication to continue to be in line with the Government communication system: All correspondence to be sent to the PMO, copying the DHD’s, the District focal point persons and the Advocates.
2. Proper tracking report system must be introduced to track Monthly and/or quarterly reports, including service delivery data.
3. Activity reports to be written by anyone provided it is authenticated by the district focal point person.
4. All reports to be sent to ZAGO by 7th of the following Month.
5. Inter-district visitations to be promoted. Districts which are doing well to be supported to visit and help those that may have challenges and gaps for technical support.
6. Webinars to continue to be held quarterly and used as platforms to learn from one another’s successes and address the challenges/failures.
7. Next webinar to be facilitated by team Kitwe, on topic and date to be advised.
8. Translate IEC materials into local languages in order to address communication barrier withing the target communities.
9. Harmonise the data collection tools in the target sites, if possible.

Conclusion:

The project review meeting was highly successful, marked by transparent discussions, constructive feedback, and a shared commitment to achieving improved access to sexual and reproductive health services. The collaborative atmosphere fostered innovative ideas and reinforced collective accountability. Moving forward, the insights gained will guide the next phase of the project, ensuring sustained progress and greater impact.