A knowledge sharing and learning initiative for all 33 countries implementing Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) programme across Sub-Sahara Africa.
Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) programme
Imagine a sub-Sahara Africa where all adolescents and young people attain positive health, education, and gender equality outcomes.
This is the future UNESCO envisions through Our Rights, Our Lives, Our Future (O3) Programme. This vision can only be realised through consistent reduction in new HIV infections, early and unintended pregnancy, gender-based violence, and child marriage.
The O3 programme commenced in 2018 and supports delivery of good quality comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) that empowers adolescents and young people and builds agency, while developing the skills, knowledge, attitudes and competencies required for preventing HIV, reducing early and unintended pregnancies, and eliminating gender-based violence. The programme follows a three-tier system with Programme Acceleration at the top, followed by Focus, and Networking countries. The three-tier system allows countries to learn from each other as they work towards national coverage, while institutionalizing the CSE programmes will ensure governments provide domestic funding and contribute to fully scaled-up CSE interventions.
The O3 builds on current efforts by UNESCO to improve sexual and reproductive health, as well as gender and education outcomes for adolescents and young people.
The objectives of the programme are:
To secure and sustain political commitment for adolescents and young people’s access to CSE and SRH services across sub-Saharan Africa
To deliver accurate, rights-based and good quality CSE that provides knowledge, values and skills essential for safer behaviours, reduced adolescent pregnancy, and gender equality
To support delivery of safer, healthier and inclusive schools and community environments for all young people
By 2022, the O3 programme is expected to reach 24.9 million learners, in 72 000 primary and secondary schools, 51 000 pre-service teachers, and 402 000 in-service teachers. Additionally, 30 million people (parents, guardians, religious leaders, and young people out of school) will be reached through community engagement activities and 10 million young people through social and new media platforms
The O3 programme benefits from the generous support of governments of Sweden, Ireland, Norway, France and Packard Foundation.
