Gender Ministry, UNFPA rally stakeholders for implementation of revised adolescent pregnancy strategy

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), brought together key stakeholders to strengthen coordination for the implementation of the Revised Adolescent Pregnancy Strategy (2026-2030). The stakeholder coordination meeting, organized through the Ministry's Department of Gender, aimed to build a shared understanding of the revised strategy, clarify the responsibilities of implementing institutions, and develop practical measures to ensure its successful rollout. Participants included representatives from government agencies, development partners, civil society organizations, academia, traditional and religious leaders, youth groups, and the media.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry, the Chief Programme Officer at the Department of Gender described adolescent pregnancy as a major national development concern with implications for education, healthcare, gender equality, child protection, and economic growth. She noted that about 15% of girls aged 15 to 19 have experienced pregnancy, with more than 100,000 teenage pregnancies recorded annually. The Revised Adolescent Pregnancy Strategy (2026-2030) was developed based on lessons from the implementation of the previous strategy and provides a broader framework for preventing adolescent pregnancies, improving adolescent health, and protecting the rights of young people.