This morning, the UNFPA, in partnership with the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and the TIKO Integrated Services Network, co-hosted the pivotal "Invest in Her Future" Roundtable Discussion.
The goal of this high-level convening was ambitious and urgent: to launch the co-creation of a new Outcomes-Based Financing (OBF) mechanism designed to address the critical challenges of unintended pregnancies and new HIV infections among South African adolescent girls and young women (AGYW).
A Powerful Commitment to Change
The success of the dialogue lay in the caliber of the participants. We are humbled to have brought together influential partners from the private and public sectors. Their presence signifies a powerful, collective commitment to moving beyond traditional funding models that often fail to guarantee measurable impact.
OBF is a mechanism built on accountability, where funding is tied directly to the achievement of pre-defined, positive social outcomes. The discussions focused on how to adapt this innovative model, drawing lessons from both local and global experiences, to ensure scalability and effectiveness in the South African context.
Re-Imagining Investment for Tangible Results
The critical necessity of adapting and learning was powerfully emphasized by our Country Representative, Mr. Yu Yu: "The future of South Africa rests on the potential of its adolescent girls and young women. Our commitment is to re-imagine investment models based on both local context and global experiences, ensuring every rand translates into tangible results for their health, education, and empowerment."
This is not a final product, but the start of a transformative journey. The roundtable successfully initiated the collaborative process necessary to build a financing mechanism that will truly deliver results for the AGYW who need it most. We thank all partners for their dedication to finding innovative, results-driven solutions and look forward to the next steps in co-creating this crucial future investment model.
