Key partners: Health Research for Action
Donor: FCDO
Scope: Bungoma, Busia, Homa Bay, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kilifi, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, Mombasa, Nairobi, Nakuru, Nyamira, Siaya, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga. Programming in Uasin Gishu was halted in June 2021 and programming was started in Machakos
The In-Their-Hands (ITH) project in Kenya has been implemented by Triggerise since April 2017. From 1st September 2020 to 28th February 2022 a scale-up of the project in 16 counties was supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) with a development impact bond (DIB) issued to the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF).
Objectives
- To increase demand for contraception and services for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV testing, among adolescent girls (age 15-19)
- To provide sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information, products, and services that are tailored to adolescent girls
- To improve community support for SRH among adolescents
The ITH project generates demand for contraceptive and SRH services among adolescent girls who are provided with information from a variety of sources, including peers, mobilisers, and through online campaigns. The girls are encouraged to sign up for a digital platform (branded as ‘Tiko’), where they can access health information and information about service providers. Girls in need of health services, including contraception and HIV testing, are directed to a network of ITH partners that included pharmacies and franchised private or faith-based health facilities, and they are encouraged to rate the services they receive. The ITH partner facilities provide the services free of charge to clients and are reimbursed by Triggerise.
The consortium of Hera and International Centre for Reproductive Health Kenya (ICRHK) was tasked with independently verifying the achievement of the ‘payment metrics’ of the DIB project, namely:
- Service uptake: Number of adolescent girls receiving SRH services (1st time ITH and repeat ITH users)
- Cost effectiveness: Total cost of the programme divided by number of visits
Couple of years of protection (CYP): Estimated protection provided by family planning (FP) services during one year (based on the volume of contraceptives provided) - Number of estimated unintended pregnancies averted: Model calculation based on the volume of SRH services and method mix provided
- Modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR): Proportion of 15 to 19-year-old adolescent girls who practice any form of modern contraception
Impact
This process enhanced transparency, strengthened accountability, and ensured the credibility of reported results. As a result, donors and investors gained confidence in the accuracy of the outcomes,
