Building a better future for youth: Learning from experience and evidence

On June 6–9, 2006, the World Health Organization’s Department of Reproductive Health and Research, the Frontiers in Reproductive Health Program of the Population Council, and the YouthNet Program of Family Health International sponsored a regional forum on critical issues in youth reproductive health and HIV programs in sub-Saharan Africa. The objectives of the Africa Regional Forum on Youth Reproductive Health and HIV were to: share the latest research results and program evidence; share findings and methodologies of promising interventions for youth and identify new programs and techniques; identify gaps in existing research, programs, and policies in youth reproductive health and HIV prevention; and explore monitoring and evaluation methodologies and desired outcomes for youth programs. The three organizations engaged a broad range of participants to ensure that technical issues were interpreted and viewed from a diversity of perspectives. Approximately 90 national, regional, and international researchers, donors, program managers, youth, and policymakers from nine African countries participated in the forum. This report summarizes the key content of presentations and indicates the breadth of participant discussion