Power to You(th) project empowers adolescent girls and young women to increase their agency, claim their rights, address gender inequalities, challenge gender norms and advocate for inclusive decision-making. We focus our advocacy on persistent ‘key issues’ such as Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and child marriage, sexual and gender-based violence and unintended pregnancies.

In Ethiopia, we work to uplift adolescent girls and young women in underserved communities in Amhara and Afar Regions. We address key issues that impede youth development, providing skills, knowledge and opportunities to thrive.

Launched in January 2021, Power to You(th) Ethiopia is a five-year consortium effort funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The project is implemented in seven districts of the two regions, led by a consortium of three organizations: Amref Health Africa, Youth Network for Sustainable Development, and Hiwot Ethiopia, and works towards achieving its ambitions through four interlinked pathways:

• Strengthening young people to claim civic space to actively demand accountability and responsiveness on the key issues from societal and state actors.

• Strengthening Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to claim, protect, and expand the civic space at the (sub) national level, with connections to the global level.

• Changing social norms by engaging societal actors (reformists) to support and promote youth rights and progressive equal social norms concerning the key issues identified.

• Improving policies and policy implementation to protect adolescent girls and young women from the detrimental effects of harmful practices, sexual and gender-based violence, and unintended pregnancies.