In Senegal, Jeunes en Vigie 2 contributes to establishing health democracy based on dialogue between young people, healthcare providers and authorities, to ensure sustainable access to quality sexual and reproductive health services for all.
Context
In Senegal, the sexual and reproductive health of young people, particularly young women and girls, remains a concern. Gender inequalities, social norms, gender-based and sexual violence, and the shrinking civic space limit their ability to make their needs heard and influence decisions that affect them. The first phase of the project (2020–2024) showed that an approach based on health democracy and citizen participation could sustainably transform relationships between young people and healthcare professionals.
Description
As the second phase of the project, Jeunes en Vigie 2 expands the initiative to four districts in Senegal (Matam, Mbour, Sédhiou and Saint-Louis) and further develops a proven “feminist health democracy” approach. Led by Jeunesse et Développement with Equipop and RAES, it is structured around three areas of action:
- Strengthening agency: training young women “auditors” — young women who investigate young people’s access to healthcare and challenge stakeholders on this issue — as well as healthcare providers and communities, and embedding a youth-centred approach in care practices;
- Monitoring and mobilisation: deploying citizen monitoring mechanisms and social audits, and carrying out information, mobilisation and advocacy activities at local and national levels;
- Documenting and disseminating: documenting feminist health democracy through the change-oriented approach and the measurement of social utility.
Impact
Jeunes en Vigie 2 aims to make sexual and reproductive health services more accessible, inclusive and responsive to young people’s needs. By training around 100 young women auditors and around 60 healthcare providers, and by making citizen monitoring mechanisms sustainable, it seeks to strengthen young people’s agency, particularly that of young women, and their participation in decisions concerning their health.
