Center 4 Public Awareness and Digital Development

The specific problem that we are working to solve is the lack of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information, commodities and services for young women and girls in Northern Nigeria, who are facing multiple challenges and barriers due to insecurity, poverty, and gender inequality. This problem affects the health, well-being, and empowerment of young women and girls, as well as their families and communities.

The scale of the problem in the communities is alarming, as Northern Nigeria has some of the worst SRHR indicators in the country and the world. According to the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, region has the lowest contraceptive prevalence rate (6.7%), the highest total fertility rate (6.6 children per woman), the highest maternal mortality ratio (1,549 deaths per 100,000 live births), the highest adolescent birth rate (204 births per 1,000 women aged 15-19), and the highest prevalence of female genital mutilation (30.4%) among the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The region also has the highest proportion of women who have experienced physical violence (28.3%), sexual violence (6.3%), and emotional violence (9.5%) since age 15. Furthermore, the region has been affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, which has displaced over two million people, mostly women and children, and exposed them to increased risks of sexual and gender-based violence, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV/AIDS.

Globally, the problem of poor SRHR among young women and girls in humanitarian settings is also significant, as there are an estimated 35.6 million women and girls of reproductive age living in emergency situations, and 500,000 of them are pregnant and require urgent care. However, only 0.5% of the total humanitarian funding in 2018 was allocated to SRHR, and only 43% of the SRHR funding requirements were met. This indicates a huge gap and a low priority for SRHR in humanitarian response.

The factors contributing to the problem of poor SRHR among young women and girls in Northern Nigeria relate to my solution in various ways. include:

• Lack of accurate and comprehensive SRH information and education, due to low literacy rates, limited access to media and internet, and social and cultural norms that discourage open discussion of SRH issues.

• Lack of availability and accessibility of SRH commodities and services, such as contraception, safe abortion, maternal health, HIV/AIDS testing and treatment, and gender-based violence prevention and response, due to inadequate health infrastructure, shortage of trained and supportive health workers, and high costs and distances to access health facilities. 

• Lack of acceptability and quality of SRH commodities and services, due to stigma, discrimination, and judgment from health workers, community members, and religious leaders, who may have negative attitudes and beliefs about SRH issues, especially for unmarried and sexually active young women and girls.

• Lack of agency and empowerment of young women and girls, due to patriarchal and traditional norms that limit their decision-making power, autonomy, and rights over their own bodies and lives, and expose them to harmful practices such as early marriage and sexual and gender-based violence.

Our solution takes three-dimension approaches, they are. 

1. Outreach SRH campaign. We Established youth friendly SRH corners within existing health facilities, where young people are receiving confidential, respectful, and non-judgmental SRH services from our volunteers trained and supportive health care providers. Providing mobile or outreach SRH services to reach young people in remote, rural, or hard-to-reach areas, where they may face barriers such as distance, cost, or lack of transportation to access SRH services.

2. Digital Platforms. We Developed digital platforms, website, app, Telemedicine, and chatbot, where young people are accessing accurate and comprehensive SRH information, counselling, referrals, and commodities engagement at their convenience and privacy. 

3. One to tell ten SRH Services youth engagement. We Engaged young people as peer educators, advocates, or service providers, (volunteers) who are sharing SRH information and messages with their peers, mobilizing them to seek SRH services, and deliver SRH services in their communities. 

Centre for public awareness and Digital Development CEPADD staffed by trained and supportive health workers, Communities youth boys and girls, Religious and communities' leaders who can provide a range of SRH services, such as contraception, safe abortion, maternal health, HIV/AIDS testing and treatment, and gender-based violence prevention and response, Arly marriage advice. 

The Digital Platforms are connected to a network of Our volunteers SRH facilities and stakeholders, such as health Service providers, Consultant, Women advocate groups, religious leader. This network can facilitate the referral, coordination, and collaboration of the SRH services for young people (young women and girls).

How Digital Platforms works.

1. Registration: Young women and girls need to register on the platform by creating an account. This process may involve providing personal information and agreeing to the platform’s terms and conditions.

2. Platform Navigation: Once registered, users can navigate through the platform to explore the available features and services. They can access AI tools that help them interact and solve their SRHR-related problems.

3. AI Tools Interaction: Users can engage with the AI tools to seek information, ask questions, and receive personalized recommendations. The AI tools are designed to provide accurate and helpful guidance based on the user’s specific needs and concerns.

4. Real time Engagement with Health workers: The platform provides a provision for real time engagement with health workers. Users can connect with healthcare professionals through video calls, online chat messaging, or telephone calls. This allows them to seek advice, discuss their health concerns, and receive guidance from qualified professionals.

5. Stakeholder Engagement: The platform also facilitates engagement with other stakeholders, such as organizations working in the field of SRHR. Users can access additional resources, participate in discussions, and connect with like-minded individuals or groups.

The solution uses a combination of technology and human resources to enhance the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of SRH information, commodities and services for young people in Northern Nigeria. The solution aims to improve the health and well-being of young people.

The Digital platforms were developed using modern technologies such as mobile app development frameworks, cloud computing, machine learning, Django, Angular, Express and ASP. Net.

Our solution serves young women and girls in Northern Nigeria, who are facing multiple challenges and barriers in accessing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information, commodities and services. Our solution aims to impact their lives by improving their health, well-being, and empowerment.

The target population of our solution are young women and girls aged 15 to 24, who live in the three states of Borno, Yobe and Bauchi, in the northeastern region of Nigeria. This region has been affected by insecurity, poverty, and gender inequality, which have negatively impacted the SRHR situation of young women and girls. Some of the challenges and barriers they face include:

• Lack of accurate and comprehensive SRH information and education, due to low literacy rates, limited access to media and internet, and social and cultural norms that discourage open discussion of SRH issues.
• Lack of availability and accessibility of SRH commodities and services, such as contraception, safe abortion, maternal health, HIV/AIDS testing and treatment, and gender-based violence prevention and response, due to inadequate health infrastructure, shortage of trained and supportive health workers, and high costs and distances to access health facilities.
• Lack of acceptability and quality of SRH commodities and services, due to stigma, discrimination, and judgment from health workers, community members, and religious leaders, who may have negative attitudes and beliefs about SRH issues, especially for unmarried and sexually active young women and girls.
• Lack of agency and empowerment of young women and girls, due to patriarchal and traditional norms that limit their decision-making power, autonomy, and rights over their own bodies and lives, and expose them to harmful practices such as early marriage, female genital mutilation, and sexual and gender-based violence.

Our solution addresses the needs of young women and girls by providing them with a three-dimensional approach that combines outreach SRH campaigns, digital platforms, and youth engagement programmes. Through these approaches, our solution aims to:

• Increase the availability and accessibility of SRH information, commodities and services, by establishing youth-friendly SRH corners within existing health facilities, providing mobile or outreach SRH services to remote, rural, or hard-to-reach areas, and developing digital platforms, such as website, app, telemedicine, and chatbot, where young women and girls can access SRH information, counselling, referrals, and commodities at their convenience and privacy.
• Increase the acceptability and quality of SRH information, commodities and services, by training and supporting health workers, community members, and religious leaders to provide confidential, respectful, and non-judgmental SRH services to young women and girls, and by using AI tools that provide accurate and helpful guidance based on the user’s specific needs and concerns.
• Increase the agency and empowerment of young women and girls, by engaging them as peer educators, advocates, or service providers, who can share SRH information and messages with their peers, mobilize them to seek SRH services, and deliver SRH services in their communities, and by connecting them with other stakeholders, such as organizations working in the field of SRHR, who can provide them with additional resources, opportunities, and support.

My team and I are well-positioned to deliver this solution because we have the relevant expertise, experience, and empathy to address the SRHR needs of young people in Northern Nigeria.

Our team consists of professionals from various fields, such as health, education, technology, and social work, who have been working in the region for several years. We have a deep understanding of the local context, culture, and challenges that young people face in accessing SRH information, commodities and services. We also have strong connections and partnerships with the communities, local authorities, religious leaders, and other stakeholders who are involved in SRHR issues.

We are also representative of the communities we are serving, as we have team members who are from the same ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds as our target beneficiaries. We have team members who are young women and girls themselves, who have faced similar barriers and difficulties in accessing SRH services. We have team members who are survivors of gender-based violence, early marriage, and unsafe abortion, who can relate to the experiences and emotions of our beneficiaries. We have team members who are passionate and committed to improving the SRHR situation in Northern Nigeria, who can inspire and motivate our beneficiaries to take action.

We are also constantly engaging with the communities we are serving, as we believe that they are the experts of their own needs and solutions. We use participatory methods and tools, such as surveys, focus group discussions, interviews, and feedback sessions, to understand the needs, preferences, and expectations of our beneficiaries. We also involve them in the design and implementation of our solution, by soliciting their input, ideas, and suggestions on how to improve our digital platforms and outreach campaigns. We also empower them to take ownership and leadership of the solution, by training them as peer educators, advocates, or service providers, who can sustain and scale the solution in their communities.

Therefore, we believe that we are the right people to design and deliver this solution, as we have the knowledge, skills, and attitude to create a positive and lasting impact on the SRHR of young people in Northern Nigeria.

We have been conducting an outreach campaign in three states of Borno, Yobe and Bauchi, where it has visited 32 communities and served 2,573 young women and girls across the communities. We also registered 17,000 users on our digital platforms in six months and mobilized 37,879 people through our youth engagement program.

Our solution is innovative because it uses a combination of technology and human resources to enhance the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of SRH information, commodities and services for young women and girls in Northern Nigeria. Our solution could catalyze broader positive impacts from others in this space by creating a model of SRHR intervention that is scalable, sustainable, and adaptable to different contexts and needs. Our solution could also change the market by creating a demand and supply for SRH commodities and services that are affordable, convenient, and user-friendly.

Our solution leverages new technologies, such as mobile app development frameworks, cloud computing, machine learning, Django, Angular, Express and ASP. Net, to develop digital platforms, such as website, app, telemedicine, and chatbot, where young women and girls can access SRH information, counselling, referrals, and commodities at their convenience and privacy. The digital platforms use AI tools that help users interact and solve their SRHR-related problems, by providing accurate and helpful guidance based on the user’s specific needs and concerns. The digital platforms are also connected to a network of our volunteers SRH facilities and stakeholders, such as health service providers, consultants, women advocate groups, religious leaders, who can facilitate the referral, coordination, and collaboration of the SRH services for young women and girls.

Our solution also leverages a new application of an existing technology, which is the use of mobile phones and internet to provide mobile or outreach SRH services to remote, rural, or hard-to-reach areas, where young women and girls may face barriers such as distance, cost, or lack of transportation to access SRH services. The mobile or outreach SRH services are delivered by our volunteers trained and supportive health care providers, who use mobile phones and internet to communicate, document, and report their activities and outcomes.

Our solution also leverages a new business model or process, which is the engagement of young women and girls as peer educators, advocates, or service providers, who can share SRH information and messages with their peers, mobilize them to seek SRH services, and deliver SRH services in their communities. The engagement of young women and girls as agents of change is based on the principle of participatory and empowerment-based approach, which recognizes the potential and capacity of young women and girls to address their own SRHR issues and challenges.

Therefore, our solution is innovative because it uses a combination of technology and human resources to enhance the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of SRH information, commodities and services for young women and girls in Northern Nigeria.

Our impact goals for the next year and the next five years are:

• By the end of the next year, we aim to reach and serve at least 10,000 young women and girls in the three states of Borno, Yobe and Bauchi, with SRH information, commodities and services, through our digital platforms and outreach campaigns. we also aim to train and engage at least 500 young women and girls as peer educators, advocates, or service providers, who can share SRH information and messages with their peers, mobilize them to seek SRH services, and deliver SRH services in their communities. we also aim to establish and strengthen partnerships with at least 50 SRH facilities and stakeholders, such as health service providers, consultants, women advocate groups, religious leaders, who can facilitate the referral, coordination, and collaboration of the SRH services for young women and girls. we also aim to monitor and evaluate the impact and outcomes of my solution, using indicators such as contraceptive prevalence rate, unmet need for family planning, maternal mortality ratio, adolescent birth rate, prevalence of female genital mutilation, prevalence of gender-based violence, and satisfaction and feedback from the beneficiaries and stakeholders.
• By the end of the next five years, we aim to scale up and replicate our solution to other states and regions of Nigeria and beyond, where young women and girls face similar challenges and barriers in accessing SRH information, commodities and services. we also aim to reach and serve at least 100,000 young women and girls with our solution, and train and engage at least 5,000 young women and girls as peer educators, advocates, or service providers. We also aim to establish and strengthen partnerships with at least 500 SRH facilities and stakeholders, who can support and sustain my solution.

We plan to achieve my impact goals by implementing the following strategies:

• Developing and improving our digital platforms, such as website, app, telemedicine, and chatbot, using modern technologies, such as mobile app development frameworks, cloud computing, machine learning, Django, Angular, Express and ASP. Net, to ensure that they are user-friendly, reliable, secure, and scalable.
• Conducting regular and systematic outreach campaigns, using mobile phones and internet, to provide mobile or outreach SRH services to remote, rural, or hard-to-reach areas, where young women and girls may face barriers such as distance, cost, or lack of transportation to access SRH services.
• Recruiting, training, and supporting young women and girls as peer educators, advocates, or service providers, who can share SRH information and messages with their peers, mobilize them to seek SRH services, and deliver SRH services in their communities, using participatory and empowerment-based methods and tools.
• Establishing and strengthening partnerships with SRH facilities and stakeholders, such as health service providers, consultants, women advocate groups, religious leaders, who can facilitate the referral, coordination, and collaboration of the SRH services for young women and girls, using effective communication and networking strategies.
• Monitoring and evaluating the impact and outcomes of our solution, using quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods.

Our theory of change for my solution is as follows:

• Our activities are the three-dimensional approaches that we use to deliver our solution, which are: outreach SRH campaign, digital platforms, and youth engagement program.
• Our outputs are the immediate results or products of my activities, which are: SRH information, commodities and services provided to young women and girls through my digital platforms and outreach campaigns; young women and girls trained and engaged as peer educators, advocates, or service providers; and partnerships established and strengthened with SRH facilities and stakeholders.
• Our outcomes are the intermediate or long-term changes or benefits that my outputs lead to, which are: increased availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of SRH information, commodities and services for young women and girls; increased agency and empowerment of young women and girls; and improved health, well-being, and rights of young women and girls.

• Our logical links are the causal relationships or assumptions that connect my activities, outputs, and outcomes, which are: by providing SRH information, commodities and services through our digital platforms and outreach campaigns, We expect to increase the availability and accessibility of SRH information, commodities and services for young women and girls, who may otherwise face barriers such as distance, cost, or lack of transportation to access SRH services; by training and supporting health workers, community members, and religious leaders to provide confidential, respectful, and non-judgmental SRH services, by engaging young women and girls as peer educators, advocates, or service providers, and by connecting them with other stakeholders, such as organizations working in the field of SRHR, we expect to increase the agency and empowerment of young women and girls, who may otherwise lack decision-making power, autonomy, and rights over their own bodies and lives; and by increasing the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality of SRH information, commodities and services, and by increasing the agency and empowerment of young women and girls, we expect to improve the health, well-being, and rights of young women and girls, who may otherwise suffer from poor SRHR outcomes, such as unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, and early marriage.

• Our evidence is the data or information that supports the existence and strength of my logical links, which are: third-party research, such as the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2018, the Barriers and facilitators for the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people in refugee contexts globally: A scoping review, and the Women and Girls in Emergencies, which show the current SRHR situation and challenges of young women and girls in Northern Nigeria and globally, and the need for innovative and comprehensive solutions; findings from a process or impact evaluation, such as the baseline and endline surveys, focus group discussions, interviews, and feedback sessions, which measure the changes and improvements in the SRHR indicators and the satisfaction and feedback from the beneficiaries and stakeholders; 

We have the following numbers of people working on our solution:

• Full-time staff: 10
• Part-time staff: 5
• Contractors or other workers: 3
• Volunteers: 45

My full-time staff include:

• A project manager,
• A technical lead,
• A health lead, 
• A youth lead, 
• A partnership lead,  
• A monitoring and evaluation lead, 
• A finance and administration lead, 
• A communication and advocacy lead,
• A security and logistics lead,
• A technical assistant, 

My part-time staff include:

• A web developer, 
• A mobile app developer, 
• A telemedicine developer, 
• A chatbot developer, 
• A graphic designer, 

My contractors or other workers include:

• A consultant,
• A researcher, 
• A translator,

I have been working on my solution for about two years, since 2021. I started working on my solution as a personal project, inspired by my own experience as a young man living in Northern Nigeria, who sees our sisters' challenges and barriers in accessing SRH information, commodities and services. I later formed a team with other professionals from various fields, who shared my vision and passion for improving the SRHR situation of young men and women in Northern Nigeria. We registered our organization, Center for Public Awareness and Digital Development (CEPADD), as a non-governmental organization in 2022.

My approach to incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusivity into my work is based on the following principles and practices:

• Diversity: I value and respect the diversity of my target population, which is young women and girls in Northern Nigeria, who have different backgrounds, experiences, needs, and preferences. I also value and respect the diversity of my leadership team and my solution team, who have different skills, perspectives, and contributions. I strive to ensure that my solution is responsive and relevant to the diverse needs and preferences of my target population, and that my solution team reflects the diversity of my target population and the communities that we serve. I also strive to create a culture of diversity and inclusion within my organization, where everyone feels welcome, valued, and respected.
• Equity: I recognize and address the inequities and disparities that affect the SRHR of young women and girls in Northern Nigeria, who face multiple challenges and barriers due to insecurity, poverty, and gender inequality. I also recognize and address the inequities and disparities that affect the participation and representation of young women and girls in the design, implementation, and evaluation of my solution. I strive to ensure that my solution is accessible and affordable to all young women and girls, regardless of their location, income, or status. I also strive to ensure that my solution is empowering and supportive to young women and girls, regardless of their age, marital status, or sexual orientation. I also strive to create a culture of equity and justice within my organization, where everyone has equal opportunities, rights, and responsibilities.
• Inclusivity: I involve and engage young women and girls as active and meaningful participants and partners in my solution, from the ideation, to the development, to the delivery, to the evaluation. I also involve and engage other stakeholders, such as health service providers, consultants, women advocate groups, religious leaders, who can support and sustain my solution. I strive to ensure that my solution is participatory and collaborative, and that it fosters a sense of ownership and belonging among young women and girls and other stakeholders. I also strive to create a culture of inclusivity and dialogue within my organization, where everyone can express their opinions, ideas, and feedback, and where everyone can learn from each other.

• Value proposition: we offer an online platform that provides information, education, and services related to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for young people in rural communities in Northern Nigeria. we help them to access accurate and confidential SRH services and counseling through our online platform, where they can make appointments with real consultants who can offer them guidance, support, and referrals. we also create a safe and supportive online community where they can share their experiences, questions, and concerns with other users or consultants. 
• We aim to improve the health and well-being of young people in rural communities, especially women and girls, by reducing the incidence of unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, maternal deaths, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and gender-based violence (GBV).
• Customer segments: our primary customers are young people in rural communities in Northern Nigeria, especially women and girls, who need SRH information, education, and services. our secondary customers are the consultants who provide SRH services and counseling to our primary customers through our online platform. our tertiary customers are the stakeholders who influence the attitudes and behaviors of young people towards their SRH, such as parents, teachers, religious leaders, community leaders, health workers, etc.
• Revenue streams: We generate revenue from different sources, such as:
  • Charging a fee for the use of our online platform and some of its features, such as making appointments with consultants, accessing premium content, or joining online groups or forums.
  • Charging a commission or a referral fee from the consultants who provide SRH services and counseling to our primary customers through our online platform.
  • Selling advertising space or sponsored content on our online platform to relevant organizations or businesses that want to reach our customer segments.
  • Seeking grants and donations from donors and partners who support our mission and vision.
• Cost structure: We incur costs for different aspects of our solution, such as:
  • Developing and maintaining our online platform, such as web hosting, domain registration, software development, security, etc.
• Key resources: We need various resources to run our solution effectively, such as:
  • A team of skilled and passionate staff who can manage the different aspects of our solution, such as web development, content creation, marketing, monitoring and evaluation, etc.
  • A network of trained and trusted consultants who can provide accurate and confidential SRH services and counseling to our primary customers through our online platform.
• A strong relationship with our stakeholders who can influence the attitudes and behaviors of young people towards their SRH.

• Key activities: We perform various activities to deliver value to our customers and stakeholders, such as:
  • Developing and maintaining your online platform to ensure its functionality, usability, accessibility, security, etc.
  • Training and mentoring the consultants who provide SRH services and counseling to our primary customers through our online platform to ensure their competence, professionalism, confidentiality, etc.
  • Promoting our online platform and SRH services to attract and retain our primary customers and consultants, as well as to raise awareness and advocacy among your stakeholders.

• We will charge a fee for the use of our online platform or some of its features, such as making appointments with consultants, accessing premium content, or joining online groups or forums. This fee is based on a subscription, a pay-per-use, or a freemium model, depending on the affordability and willingness to pay of our primary customers. We will also offer discounts or waivers for those who cannot afford the fee or who belong to vulnerable groups.
• We will charge a commission or a referral fee from the consultants who provide SRH services and counseling to our primary customers through our online platform. This commission or fee is based on a percentage of the service fee, a flat rate per consultation, or a performance-based incentive, depending on the agreement and quality standards we have with the consultants.
• We will sell advertising space or sponsored content on our online platform to relevant organizations or businesses that want to reach our customer segments. These include health product manufacturers, insurance companies, educational institutions, NGOs, etc. we will also offer them opportunities to co-create content or campaigns with our that align with our mission and vision.
• We will seek grants and donations from donors and partners who support our mission and vision. These include multilateral agencies, such as the World Bank Group, bilateral donors, foundations, corporations, etc. We also participate in competitions and challenges that offer prizes or awards for innovative solutions in SRH.
• We will diversify our revenue streams by offering other products and services that complement our online platform and SRH services. These include training courses, e-books, merchandise, events, etc., that provide additional value to our customers or stakeholders.

We will also use various strategies to reduce your costs and increase your efficiency, such as:

• Leveraging existing platforms or technologies that can support the development and maintenance of our online platform, such as web hosting, domain registration, software development, security, etc.
• Outsourcing or automating some of the tasks or processes involved in creating and updating the content for your online platform, such as using artificial intelligence, crowdsourcing, freelancers, etc.
• Partnering with other organizations or networks that can provide SRH services and counseling to our primary customers through our online platform, such as local health facilities, NGOs, professional associations, etc.
• Negotiating with suppliers or vendors who can offer us discounts or favorable terms for the materials or equipment we need our online platform and SRH services, such as internet connection, devices, contraceptives, etc.
• Optimizing our marketing and promotion strategies by using low-cost or free channels, such as social media, word-of-mouth, referrals, etc., and targeting the most effective segments or audiences.