Nairobi, Kenya (June 9, 2026) — Today, the Evidence to Impact Symposium — “Shaping Adolescent-Centered Policies and Programs in Eastern and Southern Africa” — opens in Nairobi, bringing together 300+ attendees from more than 20 countries. With sessions spanning research, policy and practice, the symposium will examine the challenges adolescents face and offer solutions to improve their health and wellbeing.
Co-hosted by the Population Council’s GIRL Center, the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), Restless Development, and the Kenya National Council for Population and Development, the symposium pairs rigorous research with policy action. Sessions throughout the conference focus on all aspects that make up adolescent lives, including improving their health and wellbeing; creating education and economic opportunities; safely navigating and benefitting from digital and technological transformations; and addressing and responding to the impact of climate crises, conflict, and humanitarian emergencies. The sessions also have a particular focus on the adolescents most often left behind, including child domestic workers, adolescent mothers, and those impacted by overlapping crises.
The Evidence to Impact Symposium takes place June 9–11 at the Movenpick Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. Media are invited to attend all sessions.
Partner quotes
“We have come a long way in understanding what works to improve adolescents’ lives, but we need to be scaling and funding these solutions to reach young people everywhere. Discussions this week are highlighting practical, inclusive solutions—especially for adolescents too often overlooked—that are evidence-based and grounded in young people’s everyday lives,” said Dr. Karen Austrian, Director, GIRL Center, Population Council. “As the first conference in the region focused on linking evidence to policy action for adolescent health and wellbeing, we are bringing together a mix of people who, together, are best positioned to drive change.”
“It’s exciting to be here at the Evidence to Impact Symposium. My hope is that through our shared ideas and commitment, we can ensure every adolescent in the region has the support they need to thrive. APHRC will drive critical conversations on safeguarding adolescent SRHR, putting a spotlight on very young adolescents aged 10-14, and strengthening support for pregnant and parenting adolescents. We are committed to turning evidence into real change for adolescents in the region through partnership and collective action,” said Dr. Caroline Kabiru, Research Scientist and Head, SRMNCAH Unit, African Population and Health Research Center.
“The Evidence to Impact Symposium comes at a critical moment, bringing together researchers, program implementers, and policymakers to share the latest evidence and practical lessons on improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health. In the wake of COVID-19 and significant funding cuts, both of which have disrupted access to essential services for young people, this convening provides a timely platform to confront these twin challenges. More importantly, it sets the agenda for actionable solutions to protect and advance adolescent health outcomes across the region,” said Dr. Anthony Ajayi, Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center.
“The Evidence to Impact Symposium is an important step towards strengthening Africa’s capacity to translate research into tangible development gains for adolescents. By bringing together diverse actors across research, policy, and practice, it reinforces the need for locally grounded evidence to guide investments in health, education, and livelihoods. As a co-convener, we value this platform for elevating African voices, fostering collaboration, and promoting sustained engagement between evidence producers and decision-makers to ensure that policies and programmes are responsive to the realities of young people across the region,” said Naa Dodua Dodoo, Director for Human Capital Development, African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP).
“Meaningful participation is not simply about inviting young people into the room, it is about ensuring they have real influence over decisions that shape their lives. Across Africa, young people tell us that they want to move beyond tokenistic consultations to become equal partners in policy making. As we strengthen the vital link between evidence and action, we must also commit to sharing power with young people and investing in their leadership to drive lasting change. Convenings like the Evidence to Impact symposium provide an important platform to demonstrate the value of meaningful youth participation in shaping inclusive and responsive policies. They also create spaces for honest reflections on persistent gaps and actions needed to ensure that the participation of youth and adolescents isn’t tokenistic,” said Juliet Nakazibwe, Head of Programmes and Partnerships, Restless Development.
“NCPD is the agency entrusted with managing Kenya’s population dynamics. The Council recognizes that our prosperity is linked to the well-being of its youthful population. This symposium serves as link between population data and transformative action. By placing the youth in our policy frameworks, NCPD is ensuring that programs for young people are well-intentioned and strategically designed to improve the quality of life for all Kenyans,” said Ms. Lucy Kimondo, Ag. Director General, Kenya National Council for Population and Development.
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About the Population Council
The Population Council is a leading research organization dedicated to building an equitable and sustainable world that enhances the health and wellbeing of current and future generations. We generate ideas, produce evidence, and design solutions to improve the lives of people around the world.
The Girl Innovation, Research, and Learning (GIRL) Center is a global research hub that envisions a gender-equitable world where girls and boys make a healthy and safe transition into adulthood and reach their full potential.
Learn more at https://popcouncil.org.
About the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a premier research-to-policy institution, generating evidence, strengthening research and related capacity in the African research and development ecosystem, and engaging policy to inform action on health and development. The Center is Africa-based and African-led, with its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, and a West Africa Regional Office (WARO), in Dakar, Senegal. APHRC seeks to drive change by developing strong African research leadership and promoting evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) across sub-Saharan Africa.
About the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP)
AFIDEP is a regional non-profit research and policy institute that works to strengthen the use of evidence in public policy and decision-making across Africa. AFIDEP generates and translates research, builds capacity, and engages policymakers and stakeholders to advance sustainable development and improve people’s lives through evidence-informed policies and programmes.
About Restless Development
Restless Development is a globally connected, locally led network powering youth-led change. For 40 years, we’ve supported young people to take on the world’s biggest challenges, from gender and sexual rights to education, livelihoods, democracy, and climate change. The global network has reached more than 10 million young people around the world, with countless stories of change; from influencing the Sustainable Development Goals, leading community initiatives for girls rights, youth entrepreneurship, and community mobilization on health. Whilst our approach is always context specific, the core model is always the same: we shift power and resources directly to young people, equipping them with leadership skills, and connecting them with their peers and decision makers to drive long-term change.
Learn more about Restless Development at: https://restlessdevelopment.org/about-us/
About National Council for Population and Development (NCPD)
National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) is a Semi- Autonomous Government Agency (SAGA) within the National Treasury and Economic Planning charged with the responsibility of promoting and coordinating population and development programmes in Kenya. The Council is guided by the vision of “A Well Managed Population for a Prosperous Kenya. The Mission Statement is to achieve this long-term goal by Providing Leadership in Population Policy Management for Improved well—being of all Kenyans. www.ncpd.go.ke