Netherlands commits $16m to youth health in Uganda

What the report says

The Observer reported that the Netherlands has pledged more than $16 million to Uganda’s Strengthening Adolescents and Youth Rights and Empowerment programme, known as SAY Plus+. The agreement was signed on Thursday between the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Uganda and the United Nations Population Fund, adding the Netherlands to a donor group that already includes Denmark, Sweden and Iceland.

According to the report, the funding will expand a pooled financing arrangement for work on sexual and reproductive health and rights, prevention of gender-based violence, and broader youth empowerment through 2030. SAY Plus+ focuses on people aged 10 to 24, with priority given to adolescent girls, young women, out-of-school youth and refugees. Its activities include improving access to youth-friendly health services, HIV prevention, gender-based violence response, and life-skills information intended to help young people make informed choices.

UNFPA Uganda representative Kristine Blokhus described the Dutch contribution as an investment in Uganda’s future, noting that a large share of the country’s population is under 30. Bouwe-Jan Smeding, the Netherlands embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires, linked the support to his country’s long-standing emphasis on adolescent reproductive health, including comprehensive sexuality education and access to contraception.

The Observer said UNFPA will manage and technically lead the pooled mechanism, with implementation through government institutions, civil society groups and community structures. The programme is aligned with Uganda’s National Development Plan IV, the Universal Health Coverage Compact and district priorities, and is expected to reach more young people in underserved and humanitarian settings.