Secure Futures: Expanded partnership and evolved programme design to reach more pregnant adolescent girls and young mothers
Each year, 21 million girls across the globe face uncertain futures due to the harsh realities and challenges of early pregnancy and motherhood [1]. As they become mothers before they are physically, emotionally or financially ready, they require community support and resources to build stable lives for their children and themselves. However, crucial resources are repeatedly not available to them and they often lose the support of their parents and partners.
As the society stigmatises and isolates them, pregnant girls and young mothers face higher chances of being forced into early marriage and finding themselves in a difficult-to-break cycle of gender-based violence and poverty. As they experience significant barriers in accessing appropriate care, economic opportunities and educational pathways, a secure future seems unattainable for many.
Secure Futures Programme
The Secure Futures programme aims to empower pregnant adolescent girls and young mothers to exercise their rights. The programme combines local and global expertise from a range of partners to co-create holistic, girl-centred programmes and tools. These include life skills education, sports, psychosocial support, referral services and economic empowerment opportunities for participants. The programme also engages male partners and shifts community narratives about early pregnancy and young mothers.
Secure Futures was piloted in Nairobi, Kenya from 2020-2022, delivered by Vijana Amani Pamoja and Women Win, with technical support from the Population Council Kenya and Mom in Balance. The programme targeted pregnant adolescent girls and young mothers without a safe or secure place to live. Through sports and life skills activities, 807 participants were reached, and 527 continued on entrepreneurship and employability pathways. The programme had a profound impact on the participants’ lives by building confidence and knowledge; strengthening their well-being; and creating economic opportunities.
Starting in 2024, the Secure Futures programme is set to expand significantly with foundational support from the Nationale Postcode Loterij, building on the achievements from the pilot. The programme will enhance its reach through strengthened partnerships with organisations in Brazil, Guatemala, and Kenya. The implementing partners have played a crucial role in refining the programme’s design by leveraging their unique expertise and strengths, to reach a larger number of pregnant adolescent girls and young women across diverse geographies.
The Power of Partnership
The success of Secure Futures lies in the power of the partnership, which is a collaborative effort between global organisations, private sector partners and community-based organisations. The strategic expansion of this programme into new regions is driven by a comprehensive needs analysis and a thorough review of partners that hold knowledge and experience to take on the work encompassed in this unique programme.
During the initial implementation period, Secure Futures is delivered by three local implementing partners:
- Asociación AMA in Guatemala,
- Empodera in Brazil, and
- Vijana Amani Pamoja in Kenya.
These organisations are long-term partners of Women Win’s and their work around girls’ rights, sports and community engagement is world-leading. A Dutch partner Pink Band Movement, powered by Mom in Balance, and Women Win provide technical support and capacity building.
Participatory Co-Design Process
To ensure the programme at each of the locations accurately responds to the contexts and needs of participants, the implementation is based in co-design with partners, participants, and other stakeholders. The Empodera team said the process is “fundamental to ensure that the program is developed in harmony with the needs, interests and challenges identified by the group itself. This approach guarantees that all voices are heard, contributing to the construction of sustainable and sensitive solutions, aimed at empowering young people.”
The participatory co-design process of the Secure Futures programme sets it up for greater impact and success in different geographies and contexts, as it responds to the real needs of specific communities. The implementing organisations are much more aware of the actual needs of pregnant adolescent girls and young mothers and can thus offer adequate support and resources. Furthermore, the participants, having already been involved in the design of the programme, are already more involved and committed to the programme itself, making its impact more sustainable and effective.
Photos:
- Empodera, Brazil – Secure Futures, 2024
- Vijana Amani Pamoja, Kenya – Secure Futures, 2021
- Asociación AMA, Guatemala – Secure Futures, 2024
