Zambia’s teenage pregnancy rate remains one of the highest in the world at 29% according to the 2018 Zambia Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS). To put this into context, it is estimated that at least one in every three girls becomes a teen mother by the age of 18. This situation is even more desperate in rural areas where several cultural and social norms continue to act as key drivers for adolescent pregnancy. If not addressed with a sense of urgency, adolescent pregnancy will continue to rob many girls of the opportunity to actualize their potential. This will further result in a perpetuated multi-generational cycle of poverty and gender inequality.

With funding support from the Government of Sweden, UNFPA and its partners are implementing the Gender, Adolescent Pregnancy and Social Norms (GAPS) Programme. The programme has an ambitious goal of ensuring that by 2024, adolescent pregnancy is reduced by 5% in Eastern and Southern Provinces of Zambia through addressing gender and social norms.  

Using the socio – ecological model, the programme recognises community driven action and the role of traditional leaders as instrumental to achieve the desired outcomes. In this regard, traditional leaders have been engaged to ensure their leadership and commitment to accelerate progress in reducing adolescent pregnancy.

During a recent traditional leader’s indaba in Eastern Province, eight traditional leaders from Petauke, Katete and Lumezi Districts pledged their commitment to accelerate progress to reduce adolescent pregnancy within their chiefdoms through the promotion of gender equality and transforming social norms.

“This was a very beneficial meeting which has given us the opportunity to commit to help adolescent girls to prevent pregnancy and secure a better future.” – Chief Chikomeni 

In demonstrating their commitment, the traditional leaders signed a meeting resolution which outlined key specific actions they will undertake. This included, developing and enforcing by-laws to promote gender equality and transform social norms that will reduce adolescent pregnancy; ensuring sensitisation and counselling of adolescents and young people on the dangers of unprotected sex, dangers of inappropriate use of technology, dangers of substance abuse as well as peer pressure; sensitisation of adolescents and young people on reproductive health, including hygiene and encouraging the involvement of other stakeholders such as NGOs, religious leaders, health workers and sports coaches in sensitization. Additionally, the traditional leaders committed to promoting empowerment and entrepreneurship activities including financial literacy, skills development and recreational facilities through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and other available mechanisms. 

“The meeting was very empowering for the chiefs and reminded us of the urgency to act on preventing adolescent pregnancy and early marriages in our chiefdoms.” - Chief Mbangombe.