Project Duration
2010 - 2014
Overview
The Kenya Urban Reproductive Health Initiative, known locally as Tupange (‘Let’s Plan”), is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to empower youth living in Kenya’s urban slums to take control of their lives and build a brighter future with family planning. Over the course of five years, Tupange is assisting the government and private health providers to provide a full range of high quality family planning services to some of the country’s most vulnerable individuals in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Kakamega, and Machakos. With a goal of increasing the contraceptive prevalence rate in selected project areas by 20 percentage points, Tupange is being implemented through strong partnerships between Jhpiego, CCP, Marie Stopes Kenya, National Council for Population and Development, and Pharm Access Africa Ltd. CCP is using innovative demand creation approaches, including edutainment, to put an end to myths and misconceptions about contraceptives and make family planning a social norm among youth ages 20-29 in Kenya.
Similar initiatives are ongoing in Nigeria, Senegal, and India.
Accomplishments
The Celebrate Life multi-media campaign encompasses several activities to reach young people including interpersonal communications and counseling, a radio drama called ‘Jongo Love’, materials and promotional items, and job aids for service providers. The campaign theme revolves around the notion that every day decisions young people make and the social dynamics surrounding these decisions impact their reproductive health at various stages throughout their life.
Trained community health extension workers provide counseling and information on family planning in homes and community arenas to help correct the myths and misconceptions on family planning that so often influence young Kenyans. Although family planning is typically a discussion reserved for women, men are effectively engaged on the topic through workplace outreaches and integrated health camps held in each district monthly.
Local champions promote family planning as a viable approach for advancing new values and social norms. Using their clout, these advocates spread positive messages on family planning through their networks and social media. They also serve as ambassadors at family planning sponsored events such as football matches, community theatre, and street performances.
Partnerships with popular media such as Shujaaz.FM, a comic book series written by and for Kenyan youth, and Matatu, a commuter reality television show, engage the public on family planning and partner communication in an innovative fashion. These media integrate the use of internet personalities and social media to keep the conversation on sexuality, family planning, and relationships current.
