Exploring Strategies for Improving Success for Girls and Women in African Regions

Exploring Strategies for Improving Success for Girls and Women in African Regions

In the heart of sub-Saharan Africa, Tiko, an African non-profit organisation founded by Benoit Renard in 2014, is making waves in the fight against multidimensional poverty. With a focus on teen pregnancy, HIV, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), Tiko is leveraging technology and community-centered strategies to improve outcomes for adolescent girls and young women.

The DIB (Development Impact Bond) for Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health, an outcomes-based contract, is a key driver of Tiko's success. This impact-linked financing, which is a collaboration between Tiko, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Bridges Outcomes Partnerships, and the Government of Kenya, aims to reduce early and unintended pregnancies and new HIV infections in girls aged 15 to 19.

Tiko's model relies on a peer-educator system, a network of vetted public and private health clinics and dispensaries, and a community of mobilizers and community health workers. These elements work together to connect girls and young women aged 10 to 24 to Tiko's online platform and its network of healthcare facilities. Last year, Tiko reached one million girls with its services and aims to increase this to four million per year in the next five years.

Healthcare access and contraceptive services are at the core of Tiko's mission. By ensuring timely access to these services, Tiko helps prevent teen pregnancies, thereby supporting adolescent wellbeing and improving future livelihoods. Tiko's data-driven, technology-enabled model addresses gaps caused by fragmented health systems, connecting adolescents to verified health providers, peer educators, and digital support tools.

To include girls without smartphone or internet access, Tiko deploys "eco-cards" — physical referral tokens used by trained mobilizers. This strategic low-tech inclusivity demonstrates Tiko's commitment to reaching all girls in need.

In the realm of HIV prevention and treatment, Tiko is accelerating free access to injectable PrEP in priority African countries, with a community-driven rollout that centers on trust-building, youth-friendly service delivery, and removing stigma. This approach increases use and retention in HIV preventive care for girls at highest risk.

Community engagement and behavioural change are also crucial to Tiko's work. The organisation employs storytelling and culturally sensitive community feedback to shape impactful programs, enhancing advocacy, funding, and behavioural outcomes that collectively combat the complex challenges of teen pregnancy, HIV, and SGBV.

Serah Melaba, Tiko's chief impact officer, believes that investing in girls is the smartest investment one can make. She describes the drop in aid as a "structural rupture" and emphasises that such investments can increase household income or build healthy and economically resilient communities.

As of March of this year, the DIB programme had delivered 1.5 million sexual and reproductive health services to 700,000 girls, which was more than double the original target. The DIB is set to end this month, and if the pre-agreed outcomes targets are met, the social impact investors in the SDG Outcomes Fund will be paid back their investment.

Tiko is taking a portfolio approach that will look different by country in its investment strategies. Work has begun on a girls outcomes fund in South Africa, and Tiko is starting to incorporate initiatives addressing the prevention and management of sexual and gender-based violence into its work. Tiko's work on the DIB has led Melaba to believe that the organisation can leverage its experience with blended finance opportunities for Tiko's countries of implementation.

The UNFPA states that every $1 invested in family planning yields more than $8 in returns for families and societies. As Tiko continues to grow and scale its impact, it is clear that this investment in girls' futures will yield significant returns for all.

[1] Tiko. (2021). Tiko's Impact. Retrieved from https://www.tikofoundation.org/impact [2] Tiko. (2021). HIV Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.tikofoundation.org/hiv-prevention [3] Tiko. (2021). Our Approach. Retrieved from https://www.tikofoundation.org/our-approach

1. Tiko, an African non-profit, is fighting multidimensional poverty, concentrating on teen pregnancy, HIV, and SGBV.
2. The DIB (Development Impact Bond) for Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health is a significant part of Tiko's success.
3. This impact-linked financing is a collaborative effort between Tiko, UNFPA, CIFF, Bridges Outcomes Partnerships, and the Government of Kenya.
4. The aim of the DIB is to decrease early and unintended pregnancies and new HIV infections in girls aged 15 to 19.
5. Tiko's model is built on a peer-educator system, health clinics, dispensaries, and community mobilizers.
6. This network connects girls and young women aged 10 to 24 to Tiko's online platform and healthcare facilities.
7. Last year, Tiko reached one million girls with its services, aiming to increase this to four million per year in the next five years.
8. Healthcare access and contraceptive services are at the heart of Tiko's mission, preventing teen pregnancies and improving adolescent wellbeing.
9. Tiko's data-driven, technology-enabled model addresses gaps in health systems, connecting adolescents to verified health providers.
10. To reach girls without smartphone or internet access, Tiko uses "eco-cards" - physical referral tokens deployed by trained mobilizers.
11. Tiko is accelerating free access to injectable PrEP in priority African countries for HIV prevention and treatment.
12. Tiko's approach to HIV prevention increases use and retention in HIV preventive care for girls at highest risk.
13. Community engagement and behavioral change are crucial to Tiko's work, using storytelling and cultural sensitivity to shape impactful programs.
14. Serah Melaba, Tiko's chief impact officer, views investing in girls as the smartest investment one can make.
15. She describes the drop in aid as a "structural rupture" and emphasizes that such investments can increase household income or build resilient communities.
16. As of March, the DIB programme had delivered 1.5 million sexual and reproductive health services to 700,000 girls, exceeding the original target.
17. If the pre-agreed outcomes targets are met, social impact investors in the SDG Outcomes Fund will be paid back their investment.
18. Tiko is taking a portfolio approach, with different strategies by country in its investment strategies.
19. Work has begun on a girls outcomes fund in South Africa, and Tiko is incorporating initiatives addressing SGBV into its work.
20. Tiko's work on the DIB has led Melaba to believe that the organization can leverage its experience with blended finance opportunities.
21. Every $1 invested in family planning yields more than $8 in returns for families and societies, according to UNFPA.
22. As Tiko grows and scales its impact, the investment in girls' futures will yield significant returns for all.
23. Following Tiko's work, private equity and development finance institutions might consider investing in social impact projects in Africa.
24. Investing in technology, health, and wellness initiatives can contribute to climate change solutions, improving livelihoods and CVD health outcomes.
25. With pensions and venture capital, women could significantly impact industries like education, medical-conditions research, and women's health care.
26. Advanced technologies, such as AI, wearables, smart home devices, and cybersecurity, can revolutionize healthcare therapies and treatments.
27. Manufacturing industries could embrace environmental science and embrace eco-friendly practices to reduce carbon footprints and minimize respiratory conditions.
28. Smartphones, gadgets, and data and cloud computing have the potential to transform retail, transportation, and entrepreneurship, especially for small businesses.
29. Energy investment can drive sustainable innovation, with cbd and neurological disorders research being crucial areas for funding in medial-conditions and health-and-wellness fields.
30. Leadership, diversity and inclusion, and budgeting skills are essential for balanced wealth management, personal finance, and banking and insurance careers in the venture-capital and private-equity industries.

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