Y-ACT Project (2022)

Youth in Action (Y-Act) was an initiative of AMREF that aimed to mentor, support, and increase the capacity of youth advocates to influence youth policies and resource priorities in gender equality and Sexual, Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) at national, sub-national, and grassroots levels in Kenya in the year 2022. The project was implemented under health programmes with two-fold objectives: To Advocate for elimination of the challenges of inadequate access to menstrual hygiene management (MHM) information and services by girls and young women in Kilifi County and create linkages for women groups in business to access funds in the county.

Through this project, DAYO conducted a Women's Economic Empowerment Symposium involving women from groups engaging in business activities and Kilifi County Government officials in exploring ways of accessing funds from the government to start up, grow or scale up their businesses. DAYO later led an Organization Development and Systems Strengthening (ODSS) among coalition members using peer review methodology thereby enabling members to identify points of synergy and partnership amongst the network.

The Economic Empowerment Symposium reached 36 women in business and 10 county officials. It led to an improved access to business funds by women groups in Kilifi County and increased the linkage between the women groups and the County Government towards ensuring access to support for registration and access to funds. Three women groups reported accessing support as a result of the symposium.

Through the ODSS, DAYO successfully mobilized a total of 393 leaders (M- 39, F-362, PWDs- 07) from thirteen organization from Kilifi County Government, Women Groups and Youth serving organizations including Leadership for Impact, Sema Nami Mama, Angaza Initiative, DSW, Safe Community, Reasons to Smile, KYMDO, Youth Sustainability for Development, Connect to Retain, Jamii Kwanza, Kilifi Jijenge Youth Initiative and Amref into a coalition for growth and development through Peer Review Mechanism