USAID: Advancing Adolescent Health, Changes in Action

CHANGES IN ACTION Stories of improving adolescent health and well-being in USAID: Advancing Adolescent Health, Changes in Action

Message from the Country Director Preface Plan International Bangladesh The A2H project was a three-year project (January 2016-January 2019) with

the goal to improve ASRH and FP knowledge by increasing access and Plan International (Plan) is an international non-governmental organization use of related services for married and unmarried adolescents. The cohorts (NGO) committed to a just world that advances children’s rights and targeted in this project include unmarried and married girls and boys ages equality for girls. Founded in 1937, Plan now works in more than 50 10-14 and 15-19. developing countries, including Bangladesh. Plan started its work in Bangladesh in 1994 and currently has programs in the districts of Rangpur, The project objectives were three-pronged, with a foundational belief that Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Gazipur, Burguna, Khagrachori, improving ASRH knowledge and access at the supply and demand sides Kishoreganj, Jessore, Bogura, Chattogram, Sylhet, and . Key focus of service within a broader enabling environment would lead to increased areas include health education; child protection; disaster risk management; demand for ASRH, FP, and associated health issues, as well as positive and water, sanitation, and health. The main objective of Plan’s health changes related to delaying age at marriage, healthy birth spacing, and programming in Bangladesh is to “ensure that all pregnant and lactating strengthened AFHS at formal and informal health centers/providers. mothers, children under 2 years of age, and young people—including the most vulnerable—benefit from access to appropriate quality health services Specific objectives of the project included: through strengthening government health systems, comprehensive child upbringing, and sexuality education.” • delivery of ASRH, delaying age at marriage, FP, nutrition, and foundational life skills training via a peer-to-peer model to married and The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded unmarried adolescents in the following cohorts: unmarried girls/boys Advancing Adolescent Health (A2H) project is one of Plan International ages 10-14, and unmarried or married girls/boys ages 15-19 (including Bangladesh’s most prestigious programs and was implemented in the pre-marital couples, newly-married couples, married couples with no . The goal of A2H was to improve adolescents’ sexual children, and married couples with one or more children); and reproductive health (ASRH) and family planning (FP) knowledge, and • strengthening AFHS and FP services and information, as well as increase the access and use of related services for married and unmarried comprehensive confidential counseling in both government and adolescents, ages 10–19. Specific results around strengthened ASRH community health centers and with formal and non-formal providers; included delaying age at marriage, delaying age at first birth, and improving and birth spacing. • engaging key community gatekeepers in the intervention areas to The project gained attention throughout different communities in Rangpur, become resources, advocates, and accountable for their communities’ engaging and impacting adolescents, their parents, religious leaders, adolescent population to assist in delaying age at marriage, delaying teachers, community elites, government officials, and health service age at first birth, and safe birth spacing—along with an increased providers. The project successfully equipped 185 government-run health demand for access to and utilization of strengthened sexual and service centers with adolescent-friendly health services (AFHS) and reproductive health and FP services. ado