Re-affirmation of the Eastern and Southern Africa Inter-Ministerial Commitment

On 6 December 2021, Ministers of Education and Health from 20 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) convened virtually to reaffirm their commitments to work collaboratively towards a vision of young Africans who are empowered, educated, healthy, resilient and socially responsible with capacity to reach their full potential and contribute to the development of their community, country, and the region. This event was part of the 2021 International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) held in Durban, South Africa last December 2021.

The ministers affirmed a commitment to the right to the highest possible level of health, education, non-discrimination, and well-being of adolescents and young people. The Commitment had two sets of targets to be achieved in 2015 and 2020 respectively. In 2020, an evaluation was conducted which revealed that progress has been made in reducing new HIV infections, increase in comprehensive HIV knowledge, and creation of a conducive policy environment for adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. Further, the evaluation showed that accelerated efforts are urgently needed in reducing early and unintended pregnancy, gender-based violence, and curbing the effects of pandemics such as COVID-19.

The evaluation further underscored the need to renew the commitment until 2030, expanding and aligning it with Agenda 2030. In line with this, the SADC and EAC Secretariats, jointly with the United Nations partners (UNFPA, UNESCO, UNAIDS, UNICEF, UN Women and WHO), and along with other Technical Coordination Group (TCG) members, held a hybrid inter-ministerial high-level session during the ICASA 2021 Conference in Durban.

While addressing the delegates that convened for the ESA re-affirmation in Durban, Uganda’s Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Nyirabashitsi Sarah Mateke informed the stakeholders that for a long-time emphasis have been put on the girl-child at the expense of the boy-child who have since lagged behind and undergone numerous life challenges. She added that, “the country has made tremendous progress in addressing ASRHRs related challenges by putting in place a number of polices and laws that promotes inclusivity, notwithstanding the various challenges encountered along the way.” Hon Mateke continued that, “the best investment that a country can make is to invest in its children and I believe that, it is where we are heading.”

The high-level inter-ministerial meeting was with the goal of endorsing the ESA Ministerial Commitment on health and education for the wellbeing of adolescents and young people and subsequently share the journey from the 2013 ESA Ministerial Commitment to the renewed Ministerial Commitment on health and education for the Wellbeing of adolescents and young people in Eastern and Southern Africa. It was also provided a platform for presentation and discussion of the new ESA Ministerial Commitment, which set out to bring together countries in the most affected region around a common rights-based commitment on health and education for adolescents and young people in the region.

The in-country meeting brought together participants from government line Ministries, youth representatives, UN partners Development partners Civil society Organizations. A total of 10 countries within the ESA region fully re-affirmed their commitment to continue supporting implementation of the ESA Ministerial Commitment on access to Comprehensive Sexuality Education and Youth-Friendly Health Services, with many more others expected to commit in the nearby future.