Mapping and Assessment of Youth’s Access to Sexuality Education, Information and Reproductive Health Services in Africa

The Planned Parenthood Federation of America – International Program, for 40 years, has been working overseas to ensure that women, men, and young people in some of the world’s most neglected areas have access to the health care they need to control their bodies and their futures. By partnering with local advocates, medical service providers, and youth leaders and helping to build sustainable networks and organizations, we find innovative ways to deliver critical services and fight for more inclusive laws and policies.



The Capstone group is working with the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) to assess the policy environment for abortion and contraception in Ethiopia, where they do not currently operate. They are interested in understanding how certain laws and policies, including the 2004 liberalized abortion law and the 2009 restriction on NGO activity, affect the provision of reproductive health services for Ethiopia’s youth.

The PPFA Capstone team’s research was two-fold. The tean began with desk research on the status of youth access to contraception and abortion information and services and relevant laws and policies, including a recently passed liberalized abortion law and the Charities and Societies Proclamation which limits the scope of NGOs operating in Ethiopia. Next, they conducted on-the-ground research in four cities in Ethiopia through interviews with youth groups, domestic and international NGOs, government health workers, pharmacies, students, teachers, principals, and counselors.

The Capstone Workshop team’s final report to PPFA will begin with an Executive Summary of the main findings, takeaways, and recommendations from the research conducted over the duration of the semester. The report will highlight the methodology used, then proceed with relevant background information on Ethiopia; the laws, policies, and programs related to family planning; government health-related programs; the international aid landscape in the country; and providers of information and services. The framework used to guide our work will lay the foundations for the in-depth analysis of youth access to abortion and contraception. The report will conclude with a discussion of the current efforts to overcome existing challenges, and offer recommendations for PPFA for programming and advocacy in Ethiopia.