Intervention by Unathi Nyoni, the Vice Chairperson for the Zimbabwe Youth Council (ZYC): Harnessing Demographic Dividend: The Critical Role of SRH Meeting convened by AUDA-NEPAD, Pan Africa Youth Union (PYU), and the Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYoF). 

Thank you very much, Chair.

Zimbabwe stands at a defining moment — young people aged 15 to 35 make up about 36% of our population, yet nearly half of them (49%) are not in education, employment, or training.

This is not just an economic concern; it is a public health warning. Because when young people are excluded economically, their sexual and reproductive health outcomes are also placed at risk. From a Zimbabwean perspective, harnessing the demographic dividend depends not only on the size of our youth population but on whether young people are healthy, empowered, and able to make informed life choices.

However, the reality for many young people, particularly those who are out of school and unemployed, is one of limited opportunity, limited agency, and increased vulnerability.

Key SRH Challenges

Economic exclusion creates real and immediate sexual and reproductive health risks.

When young people lack financial resources, they often cannot afford transport to health facilities or access to contraceptives. For some, especially young women, economic hardship increases vulnerability to transactional relationships as a means of survival. At the same time, being outside the education system limits access to comprehensive sexuality education, leaving many without the knowledge needed to make informed decisions.

These factors contribute to outcomes such as adolescent pregnancies, with about 22% of girls aged 15 to 19 having begun childbearing, as well as increased exposure to HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and gender-based violence. In this way, economic exclusion and poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes reinforce each other, creating a cycle that undermines the demographic dividend.

Good Practice / Lesson Learned

In Zimbabwe, we have seen promising progress through youth-friendly service models and community-based interventions that bring sexual and reproductive health services closer to young people. Where these services are accessible, affordable, and tailored to youth, particularly those who are out of school, we see improved uptake and better health outcomes.

A key lesson is that sexual and reproductive health interventions are most effective when they are integrated with broader youth empowerment and livelihood initiatives.

Recommendation

My key recommendation is:

We must adopt an integrated approach that deliberately links youth economic empowerment programmes with accessible, youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services — with a deliberate focus on reaching NEET youth.

This means investing in community outreach, reducing cost barriers, and ensuring that no young person is excluded due to stigma, distance, or lack of information.

Thank you.