KAMPALA – Four youth innovation groups on Tuesday emerged winners of $10,000 (shs37 million) each, courtesy of the United Nations Population Fund – UNFPA, the Swedish Embassy and Outbox Uganda in a bid to put an end to teenage pregnancies in Uganda.
Bulamu Bridge AI, the overall winner, Ndaba hub, the second and the Deaf Youth Network and Her Worth Foundation who tied for the third position were among the ten finalists who pitched for the grant.
The journey commenced on 7th July 2023 when UNFPA in partnership with Outbox Uganda launched the End Teenage Pregnancy HackLab aimed at ending early and unintended pregnancy in Uganda, calling for social change Innovators.
The HackLab was driven by a vision to create a world where communities, including girls and young women, are supported, and lead the campaign against early and unintended pregnancy. It is engaging youth innovators to scale innovative solutions focusing on the 16 districts of Abim, Amuria, Kaboong, Kaberamaido, Kiryandongo, Kotido, Napak, Nakapiripirit, Pader, Yumbe, Moroto, Gulu, Bundibugyo Kamuli, Mayuge and Kampala.
The HackLab sought to source creative solutions to expedite collective efforts to end Early and Unintended Pregnancy in Uganda.
According to the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS 2016), nearly three out of five women (58.2%) aged 20-49 years of age started childbearing while still teenagers. Teenage mothers are more likely than non-teenage mothers to attain only primary-level education and six times less likely to complete secondary education. Data shows that teenage pregnancy is responsible for nearly one-fifth (18%) of annual births in Uganda.
Speaking at the event, Daniel Alemu – UNFPA Uganda Deputy Representative showed fear that if no action is taken to reduce teenage pregnancy in Uganda, 50% of teenage girls are at risk each year.
“We must act together to reverse this trend which has a long-term effect on the girl-child and country at large.”
He noted that they received 127 innovations from across the nation, 25 of whom were chosen to undergo a 2-day boot camp that not only trained the young innovators based on business prospectus but also enabled them to refine their ideas, priming them for further shortlisting. It is here that 10 were selected as finalists.
He noted that each selected team will be connected to a community-based organization (CBO), that will provide support throughout this initiative.
“We believe that these solutions will benefit from a seed fund worth $10,000 each, alongside an additional $10,000 worth of technical assistance, including business support services on brand positioning, go-to-market strategy, and investment readiness.”
Alemu says that UNFPA’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 identified innovations as a key accelerator to meet tomorrow’s challenges and boost its impact, especially in addressing the needs of the population left furthest behind.
“It is with such HackLabs that we reimagine the delivery of our programmes and spearhead innovative solutions to accelerate progress for women and girls, by disrupting inequalities and removing the barriers between women and girls and their rights and choices.”
UNFPA pledged continued support innovations for youth in contributing to the acceleration of recovery from COVID-19 and achieving the 2030 Agenda.
Adam Kahsai Rudebeck – Head of Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden in Uganda decried limited access to reproductive health services, and deeply entrenched cultural norms which all contribute to the high rates of teenage pregnancies and GBV incidents.
He said that the vice has dire consequences like health risks, interrupted education, and perpetuation of cycles of poverty.
He noted that they have continuously been involved in development cooperation efforts to support initiatives in tackling teenage pregnancy through several and improving access to sexual reproductive health services, access to justice, increasing access to contraceptives and promoting gender equality.
“These efforts are aimed to empower young people and particularly girls with the knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about reproductive health.”
Mr. Rudebeck added, “The concept of ending teenage pregnancy HackLab has truly emerged as a very important contribution to our collective efforts. It’s exploring innovations that will accelerate efforts toward achieving transformative results and ensure the protection and fulfillment of girls’ rights.”
Dr. Angela Nakafeero, Commissioner, Gender and Women Affairs, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development commended UNFPA and partners for their efforts geared at improving the wellbeing of the girl child in Uganda.
She reechoed the need for male involvement “because these girls are not defiling themselves these girls are not forcing themselves into early marriages.”
“So I’m looking forward to really looking at a project that can mobilize men and boys to say no to sexual abuse in this country.”
She congratulated the winners and encouraged all other participants to remain firm and will be able to win in the future.
“I’m looking forward to being part of the program that will see the implementation of the programs that are coming out as winners of this process.”
Ms. Teddy Nalwanji co-founder, Bulamu Bridge AI, narrated that their company uses digital technology to solve the critical issue of unintended pregnancies among teenagers in Uganda.
“The tech offers a period tracker that enables teenagers to document their menstrual circle and learn about fertility and safe days. It also has a virtual consultation feature that allows teenagers to consult certified health practitioners, providing them with counseling on family planning and also helping them to make informed decisions about reproductive health.”
This App, she noted has an online stock that enables these teens to order for contraceptives without judgment which enables them to make choices that improve their well-being,
She noted that they came up with an idea during the Covid-19 pandemic when the government imposed travel restrictions.
“As medical doctors (her and her colleague, Sseremba Patrick), we couldn’t sit down. We went and volunteered in Nakaseke district where we observed teenagers as young as 14 and 17 years dying due to complications related to pregnancies because they were not seeking the appropriate care. We engaged these communities and provided advice on the use of family planning but along the way we realized we can’t reach all of them, hence coming up with this innovation.”
Ms. Nalwanji thinks the uniqueness of their innovation led them to ouster all others.
She, however, decried data bundle prices that seek hiking every day but also the lack of smartphones among these teenagers.
“We are going to develop a USSD code where those that cannot afford smartphones or data can use it to access SRHR services.”
Mr. Hirary Odeke and his colleague Gerald of Ndaba Innovation Hub based in Mbale noted that their innovation was informed by reality since their area has a relatively high rate of teenage pregnancies.
“We have seen a girl child being abused in the spaces like hostels. You find girls being itemized as objects of pleasure. We believe that people live in dire circumstances because of a lack of information and whatever we are going to do, we want to provide reliable information so that every decision that young people come up with is informed.”
“Having won this, we believe that districts of Amuria and Kaberamaido are in the 17 schools we earmarked to begin with. We are going to set clubs, send information and start bridging the gap because most girls don’t think of consequences when they are going to do it [have sex]. We also believe that the ambassadors that we are going to create within these girls are going to impact many students in various schools.”
