Integration of SRHR into the Post 2015 Development Agenda 2015 – 2016
Youth in Africa continue to be the key to ensuring the continent’s success in economic growth through investments in education, employment and health. Making up approximately 70 percent of the African population under the age of 30, young adolescents and young adult’s sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) remains a critical element of a healthy youth population in Africa. Since 1990, the maternal mortality ratio (deaths per 100,000 live births) has gone down by approximately 45%, according to 2013 data; in 1990 there were about 380 deaths per 100,000, as comparted to 2010 last year. However, despite this progress, the number of maternal deaths is still unacceptably high; in 2013, almost 300,000 women lost their lives from pregnancy and childbirth related conditions (United Nations, 2014). Despite these elevated risks and increased need for SRHR, Youth-friendly reproductive health services often remain in pilot form in Africa and are almost always dependent on the support of non-governmental development partners. These services have not been consistently scaled up by the public sector, and there is a dire need for this to be prioritized (African Union, 2013). Furthermore, one in four young women (aged 15–19 years) has had their first child or is currently pregnant (Filmer and others 2014). Some young women give birth even earlier, before the age of 15, which is more common in West and Central Africa, the region which accounts for the largest proportion (6%) of births before age 15 (UNFPA 2012). By 2017, the number of births to girls under the age of 15 in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to be nearly twice as high as it is today. While maternal mortality is going down the unmet need for contraction in Africa is on the rise. In fact, excluding North Africa, the unmet need for contraception on the continent has gone up from 31 million in 2008 to 36 million in 2012 (African Union , 2012) . The connection between education and health is also vital - almost 25% of young girls in Africa (excluding North Africa) drop out of school because of unintended pregnancies (African Union, 2011). One of the most significant challenges related to the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young women in Africa is child marriage. Globally, 11% of girls are married before they reach their 15th birthday, which places these young women at tremendous risk in terms of their health, education and security. (United Nations Children's Fund, 2014) According to 2005-2012 data from UNICEF in sub-Saharan Africa 39% of girls are married by the time they are 18-years-old, and 13% are married by the time they are 13(United Nations 2014). In West and Central Africa, these numbers are even higher, with 41% of girls married by 18 and 16% married by 15. These numbers also demonstrate an increase from previous years, where 2000-2009 data shows 23% of young girls 15-19 currently married in sub-Saharan Africa and 27% in West and Central Africa (United Nations, 2014). HIV continues to remains one of Africa’s biggest health concerns that affects young people. About 80% of young women living with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa, where women acquire HIV about five to seven years earlier than men (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, 2014). In fact, young women aged 15-24 in Sub-Saharan Africa are twice as likely to be HIV positive, compared with their male peers. (United Nations Children's Fund, 2014) Human rights issues related to gender-based violence, a lack of access to health services, and limited access to education for young women are some of the main reasons why adolescents and young women carry a disproportionate HIV burden in Africa. Further, the lack of government accountability is another significant reason, where policies do not translate into action. (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, 2014) Another challenge faced by African youth today is the lack of access to quality education. One of the most important components of development in the context of the demographic bonus is an educated workforce. Today, high illiteracy levels remain one of Africa’s biggest challenges. In sub-Saharan Africa, the number of young people who reached the final grade in school (as a proportion of those who started) worsened from 58% in 1999 to 56% in 2010. Comparatively, this proportion improved from 79% (1999) to 87% (2010) among the Arab States” (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 2014). Gross enrollment is also a relevant indicator of the relative health of a country’s education system. Globally, the gross enrolment ratio for lower secondary schooling increased from 72% to 82% over the period 1999–2011, though there is still a large gap; 57 million children of primary school age were out of school in 2011 and hence denied their human right to a quality education. In addition, just 64% of boys and 61% of girls are enrolled in secondary school. In the least developed countries, this number is halved to 36% of boys and 30% of girls. There are still eight countries where at least one in five children is not expected to enrol in primary school (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 2014). All eight of these countries are in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to the above, addressing youth unemployment on the African continent remains critical for the attainment of development. The Youth Decade Plan of Action 2009-2018 has a target on reducing Youth unemployment in Africa by 2% per annum (African Union, 2011). This is extremely important for harnessing Africa’s Demographic Dividend, particularly since current evidence shows that 3 out of 5 people who are unemployed in Africa are below the age of 35 (African Union , 2012). Projections for 2050 predict that the number of working-age adults in Africa, in relation to the number of dependents (typically meaning those people younger than 15 or older than 64), has the potential to rise to 1.7:1, up from 1:1 in 1985 (Filmer & Fox, 2014). However, this is only possible if fertility continues to decline, and Africa’s workforce continues to grow. Current trends in Africa show that Youth in sub-Saharan Africa are less likely to be unemployed than Youth in North Africa. While previous data showed Youth employment increasing in both regions, more recent analysis demonstrates that Youth unemployment has fallen slightly in the sub-Saharan region, from 11.8% in 2010% to 11.7 in 2011, but has risen in North Africa, from 20.1% to 23.3% over the same time period (African Union, 2011). Projections for 2015 show that unemployment is predicted to continue to rise in North Africa, reaching 23.8 in 2015 (International Labour Organisation, 2010). Disaggregated by sex, however, highlights that Youth unemployment among women in North Africa is expected to fall from 37.1% in 2011 to 36.2% in 2015. Among young men, unemployment is predicted to rise from 17.8% to 18.8% over the same period. (International Labour Organisation, 2010) Lastly, youth participation in decision making forms the bedrock of ensuring that youth needs are provided within the post 2015 development agenda. In the last 10 years, it has become clear that Youth-led organizations and other groups led by young people have the power to influence policy and bring about social, political and economic change to improve their circumstances (United Nations Population Fund, 2013). However, voting trends among African Youth remain relatively apathetic compared to those in older age categories. As with Afrobarometer data from 2005-2006 electoral participation of young people in Africa age 15-29 is consistently lower, in every county, than participation among those age 30 and higher. The highest rates of electoral participation are among those aged 50 and higher. In fact, Youth electoral participation has fallen since 2005-2006, from 59% to 56%, on average. (African Union, 2011) (Afrobarometer, 2014) Addressing the above youth challenges requires addressing the following: