Kampala, Uganda - Global Fund has announced catalytic funding amounting to USD 9.4 million for interventions that will address HIV prevention focusing on adolescent girls, young women and key populations in Uganda.

“This investment is critical in addressing the high HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women that remains unacceptably high, with 360 acquiring HIV every week coupled with one in four young girls getting pregnant or giving birth by age 19,” said Mr. Alain Sibenaler, UNFPA Representative.

 UNFPA provided technical support to the Government of Uganda in identifying priorities and writing the funding proposals.

The interventions to be addressed include gender-based violence, gender inequality and other factors that expose adolescent girls and young women to HIV and teenage pregnancy. This will include, revitalization of the Presidential Initiative on AIDS Strategy for Communication to Youth (PIASCY), activities to ensure that girls stay in school by raising awareness among parents, religious and cultural leaders; and other community gate keepers about the long-term benefits of educating girls. Hygiene issues at school will also be addressed to ensure that young girls have proper menstrual hygiene facilities.

To reduce the vulnerability of out-of-school adolescent girls and young women, opportunities for life and livelihood skills will be created. This will address the underlying economic factors that often lead them into risky behaviors. These girls will be linked to already existing government led youth livelihood and women entrepreneurship programmes for startup capital and further mentorship.

UNFPA supported innovations including GetIN, SafePal and The Zone will be scaled up from 5 to 41 local governments across Uganda to enable young people access critical information and services to address sexual and reproductive health issues including HIV, as well as sexual and gender-based violence.

Story by Simon Ndizeye