Stigma-free care empowering adolescent girls in Sub-Saharan Africa against unintended pregnancy, HIV and sexual violence

Across Sub-Saharan Africa, millions of girls face the dangerous "triple threat" of unintended pregnancy, HIV and sexual violence. By removing barriers to health care access, Tiko lets adolescent girls take control of their futures.

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Three people are gathered outside near a brick building. One is seated, pointing at a Tiko pamphlet held by another person, who is smiling. The mood is engaged and friendly.

Project
Description

Big Idea

In Sub-Saharan Africa, one in four girls becomes pregnant before turning 18. At the same time, one in five experiences sexual violence and, in the region, adolescent girls and young women account for 63% of new HIV infections. While all parts of this “triple threat” are interconnected, fewer than half of girls in the region are able to access the sexual and reproductive health care they need. Limited sexual health knowledge, social stigma, high out-of-pocket costs and fragmented services create significant barriers to care. But Tiko has a bold plan to connect adolescent girls to the contraception of their choice, testing and treatment for HIV, and screening and support for sexual violence by linking them with trusted peer educators and quality clinics — backed by simple technology and Tiko miles behaviour change incentives that make services easier to find and providers accountable. Since 2019, their model has delivered more than 3 million family planning and 1 million HIV prevention and treatment services, preventing nearly 1 million unintended pregnancies. Their holistic intervention is ready to scale.

Plan

Tiko’s platform acts as a single, safe entry point to connect girls to a full range of free sexual and reproductive health services. By embedding family planning, HIV services and sexual violence response within one coordinated system, Tiko moves beyond siloed solutions to deliver comprehensive, continuous care — along with real-time data that improves how governments make decisions on health care spending, planning and delivery. By 2030, Tiko will expand access to care to reach 3.5 million of the most vulnerable girls annually across Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa and Burkina Faso. This will avert 3.6 million unintended pregnancies, reduce incidence of HIV and improve outcomes for sexual violence survivors, while also increasing the share of clinics delivering high-quality care. With global aid cuts threatening public health, Tiko’s model is more urgent than ever to support girls' agency and protect the futures of an entire generation.