Ground-breaking Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Impact Bond launches in Kenya

Innovative public and private collaboration to end pregnancy and new HIV infections among adolescents in Kenya launches a ground-breaking $10.1 million Development Impact Bond.

BOP, in collaboration with the UN in Kenya (through a consortium led by UNFPA, UNAIDS, WHO, and the SDG Partnership Platform), the Government of Kenya, global non-profit organisation Tiko, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), is delighted to announce the roll-out of a new Development Impact Bond (DIB) for adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) in Kenya. This innovative programme will fund the delivery of high-quality, adolescent and youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, including HIV testing and treatment, to adolescent girls aged 15-19.

Kenya experiences significant challenges with teen pregnancy and new HIV infections among adolescents, where one in six adolescent girls between 15 and 19 years has ever been pregnant. In 2022, an estimated 7,307 new HIV infections occurred among adolescents and young people aged 15-24, accounting for 41% of all adult new infections in the country. Adolescent girls and young women are particularly vulnerable and account for 78% of new HIV infections among adolescents and young people of the same age (National HIV Estimates 2023).

The ASRH DIB will focus on challenges such as the lack of information about sexual and reproductive health and rights, and inadequate access to services tailored to young people, to provide support in ten counties that experience a significant burden of HIV and adolescent pregnancy. The two-year programme will support the delivery of high-quality, youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health and HIV services to over 300,000 vulnerable adolescent girls, as well as the improvement of services in 150 public primary health facilities.

The programme will be implemented by Tiko, a mobile-based digital platform that connects adolescents to nearby public and private facilities offering free services. The Tiko ecosystem brings together local actors including networks of health clinics, pharmacies, virtual channels, community-based organisations, and health workers who support youth in their decision-making for the health and wellness services they need to thrive.