02/10/2026
๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐น๐ถ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด
The Young People's Network on Health and Wellbeing (YPNHW) took part in the Parliamentarians HIV and AIDS Sensitization Meeting, convened by the National AIDS Council at Kadoma Hotel and Conference Centre on 25 and 26 September 2026. Ten YPNHW members attended.
On Day 2, we presented our asks to members of nine Portfolio and Thematic Committees of Parliament and briefed members on Zimbabwe's ICPD commitments. These are the country's pledges under the International Conference on Population and Development on sexual and reproductive health, gender equality and youth wellbeing. Parliament's role in budgeting, lawmaking and oversight is what turns those pledges into services young people can actually reach.
The meeting adopted cross-cutting commitments to advocate for 15% of the national budget for health in line with the Abuja Declaration and to strengthen accountability for health-related levies and taxes. Committees also undertook to support a Youth Budget Statement, request a costed HIV financing transition plan and conduct quarterly oversight.
Young people aged 15 to 35 make up about a third of Zimbabwe's population. With domestic HIV co-financing at 12% against the 2030 target of 30% set out in ZNASP V, meaningful youth inclusion in budget and policy decisions is essential. YPNHW will present its full report at the Youth Inclusive Budget Conference this weekend and at the national budget consultations running across the country from next week.
We thank Robert Carr civil society Networks Fund, Unesco Regional Office for Southern Africa and the National AIDS Council of Zimbabwe for their support.
UNESCO UNAIDS UNFPA Zimbabwe Parliamentof Zimbabwe SANOP Eswatini UNFPA Safeguard Young People Programme UNITED Movement
