Netherlands Commits USD 16 Million For Youth Empowerment

The Kingdom of the Netherlands has pledged USD 16 million to the Strengthening Adolescents and Youth Rights and Empowerment (SAY Plus+) program. This commitment aligns the Netherlands with Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland in a multi-donor initiative aimed at enhancing the health, rights, and well-being of young people in Uganda.

The funding agreement was officially signed on Thursday between the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), expanding support for one of Uganda’s flagship programs focused on adolescent and youth empowerment.

The additional funding strengthens a pooled financing mechanism that supports Uganda’s national efforts to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), prevent gender-based violence (GBV), and create opportunities for adolescents and young people through 2030.

The SAY Plus+ program targets individuals aged 10 to 24, with a particular emphasis on adolescent girls, young women, out-of-school youth, and refugees. It aims to increase access to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services, protect young people from gender-based violence, and equip them with the life skills and knowledge necessary to make informed decisions about their health and futures.

During the signing ceremony, UNFPA Representative in Uganda Kristine Blokhus welcomed the Netherlands’ participation, describing it as a significant investment in Uganda’s future.

“As UNFPA, the UN agency focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights, we are thrilled that the Kingdom of the Netherlands has joined the SAY Plus+ initiative alongside Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland, contributing a USD 16 million investment,” Blokhus stated.

“This funding supports Uganda’s youth, who represent 73 percent of the population under 30. The initiative aims to unlock the country’s economic potential by investing in youth sexual and reproductive health and rights, preventing school dropouts due to pregnancy or violence, and ensuring that they are healthy and empowered to take the lead.”

Bouwe-Jan Smeding, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda, remarked that the partnership reflects the Netherlands’ longstanding commitment to improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health.

“The Netherlands consistently ranks among the countries with the lowest teenage pregnancy and birth rates globally. This notably low rate of adolescent pregnancies in the Netherlands can be attributed to comprehensive, non-judgmental sexuality education and universal access to modern contraceptives,” Smeding said.

“We are pleased to support the SAY Plus+ program, which focuses on these critical issues, and we look forward to this four-year journey and the lasting change we can create together.”

According to UNFPA, the program will enhance youth-friendly health services, including HIV prevention and responses to gender-based violence. It will also engage communities, parents, cultural leaders, and local institutions to address harmful social norms, reduce teenage pregnancies, and prevent child marriages.

Moreover, the program seeks to improve coordination among development partners through a pooled funding model managed and technically led by UNFPA Uganda.

SAY Plus+ builds on the successes of its first phase and aligns with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV, the Universal Health Coverage Compact, and district development priorities. It is implemented through government institutions, civil society organizations, and community structures.

UNFPA noted that the expanded partnership with the Netherlands would enable the program to reach more adolescents and young people, especially those living in humanitarian, fragile, and underserved communities. This effort will contribute to Uganda’s broader development and youth empowerment agenda.