The following are examples of ways Youth Incentives is putting a rights-based approach into practice:
RAP-rule
As our guiding principle, the RAP-rule informs and directs all of our work at Youth Incentives. It helps us stay focused and ensure that our activities are grounded in a rights-based framework. The RAP-rule starts from the premise that programmes addressing the sexual and reproductive health of young people should promote (a) sexual and reproductive rights, (b) acceptance of young people’s sexuality, and (c) active participation of young people at all programme phases.
RAP-tool
We developed the RAP-tool, an assessment tool grounded in the RAP-rule to help assess the sexual and reproductive health needs and rights of young people in a given area (community, region or country), generate information to guide programme development, and to be a first step in monitoring and evaluating implementation of the RAP-rule. The RAP-tool, uses qualitative and quantitative research methods to collect input from young people, parents and experts through a combination of surveys, interviews and community discussions conducted in stages. Our partners in Rwanda, Bangladesh, Tanzania, Eritrea and Malawi have used the tool. We have drawn on their experiences and feedback to refine the tool to improve its usability and relevance for programme development.
What about sex?
Youth Incentives undertakes activities to push boundaries, stimulate debate and encourage openness about sexuality. An example of such an activity was the 2006 “What about Sex?” conference organized by Youth Incentives and the World Population Foundation. Over 200 participants from 31 countries in five continents, representing 89 different organizations attended the event. Presentations, workshops, discussions and participatory activities fostered dialogue about a rights based approach, with special attention to the role of breaking down barriers for talking about sex and the importance of focusing on the positive aspects of sexuality. Refer to the conference Call for Action for more information, including a list of recommended actions.
Youth Advisory Group
The Youth Advisory Group (YAG) is an initiative launched by Youth Incentives with the aim to promote and increase youth involvement in the organization. The YAG members represent multiple countries and youth organizations. They are an invaluable partner for Youth Incentives, offering input and advice on policies, projects, programmes and materials. The young people that make up the YAG participate in discussions and provide feedback through a virtual forum and an annual meeting in the Netherlands. Youth Incentives and the YAG have a reciprocal relationship. Youth Incentives benefits from the knowledge and experiences of the YAG members. At the same time, we strive to ensure that the young people themselves gain from their participation through sharing ideas with one another, building an international network and gaining new personal and professional skills.
Youth Incentives Fund
The Youth Incentives Fund is an independent trust fund which was established in 2005 to support innovative programmes promoting the sexual and reproductive health needs and rights of young people. Capacity development, local ownership and youth participation are central principles guiding how the fund is administered, as well as defining characteristics of the programmes supported by the fund. Current participants in the Youth Incentives Fund include family planning associations in Bangladesh, Rwanda, Tanzania and Malawi. Unlike many other funding streams, the Youth Incentives Fund begins by providing financial support for members to undertake a needs assessment to explore the unmet sexual and reproductive health needs and rights of young people in the area in which the programme will eventually be implemented. Based on the needs assessment results, a programme proposal is developed and submitted. This funding approach helps ensure that programmes and funding are focused more effectively. Programmes supported by the fund must be implemented in partnership with a local youth organization. Another unique characteristic of the Youth Incentives Fund is that the fund recipients have a voice in the decision-making process, including approving project proposals. This helps lay the ground for a strong partnership and promotes local ownership. Members come together for board meetings to discuss their progress, challenges and successes and to learn from one another. You can read more about the specific projects supported by the Youth Incentives Fund .
