Africa: Too Young to Ask? Young Researchers Challenge How Africa Talks About Sexuality Education

What the report says

At a MenEngage Africa SRHR Learning and Exchange Symposium in Mombasa, Kenya, young researchers from Malawi, Uganda and Ethiopia described a participatory study on comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and the barriers young people face when trying to discuss sex, relationships and reproductive health. The AllAfrica report, published on 17 August 2026, says the project was led with support from Sonke Gender Justice and involved 1,232 participants across the three countries.

The researchers said they were trained in ethics, focus group methods and report writing before going into their own communities to gather evidence. Their approach was designed to shift young people from being merely the subjects of policy debates to active contributors to data collection, interpretation and advocacy. Speakers at the event, including Ahmed Kasule and UNESCO’s Dr Remmy Shawa, framed that model as important for strengthening evidence on youth health and education.

According to the report, one major finding was that many students do receive some CSE in school, but the material is often limited to biology, HIV and AIDS, and abstinence. The researchers also found that young people outside school may be missing from formal education altogether, while those seeking more practical guidance often struggle to ask questions openly. The article says this matters because gaps in accurate, age-appropriate information can leave young people relying on peers or other informal sources. The report also quoted Austria’s ambassador to Kenya arguing that better research is needed if policymakers want to address issues such as sexually transmitted infections and teenage pregnancy.