Make Way Youth-Led Research

The barriers and opportunities youth with disabilities face in accessing SRHR services

Introduction

The Make Way Youth-Led Research (YLR) initiative is a multi-country effort led by young people with disabilities across Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, and Rwanda. Conducted between 2023 and 2025, the research explores the barriers and opportunities in accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services.

This initiative is part of the Make Way program, a partnership of Akina Mama wa Africa, The Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians, Forum for African Women Educationalists, Liliane Fonds, VSO, Wemos and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the program, Liliane Fonds established the first-ever Regional Council of Youth with Disabilities. The council empowers youth to lead and conduct youth-led research on their SRHR and service delivery, creating evidence for advocacy and building networks for change. The YLR marks a transformative shift in inclusive research, placing youth with disabilities at the center of inquiry and action.

Context

Youth with disabilities face systemic barriers to SRHR services, including inaccessible infrastructure, negative attitudes, financial constraints, and limited inclusive communication. These challenges are compounded by stigma, lack of awareness, and exclusion from decision-making.

The YLR studies reveal that young people with disabilities face similar barriers to accessing SRHR services, regardless of the country or region they live in. These include inaccessible infrastructure, negative attitudes, financial constraints, and limited inclusive communication. While the specific manifestations may vary—for example, in Rwanda, 61% of respondents felt SRHR services did not meet their needs; in Kenya, 50% of youth had to walk over 5 kilometers to access services; and in Ethiopia’s Internally Displaced People’s camps, compounded vulnerabilities severely limited access—the underlying challenges remain consistent. These findings highlight the urgent need for inclusive, intersectional approaches to SRHR that address these shared barriers.

From Research to Action

The YLR findings have already informed advocacy efforts. In Zambia, youth researchers used their data to support ratification of the African Disability Protocol. In Kenya, the research helped build networks with stakeholders. The studies also inspired inclusive forums like Ethiopia’s “inclusive coffee ceremonies” and highlighted the need for disability-inclusive training for healthcare providers.

The Make Way program continues to support youth-led civic research and aims to integrate these findings into policy advocacy, community engagement, and inclusive SRHR programming.

Learn More: Downloadable report

📄 Youth-Led Research Report (2023–2025)

This report summarizes the findings from the youth-led research conducted in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, and Rwanda. It explores barriers to SRHR access, stakeholder roles, opportunities for inclusive programming, and recommendations for policy and practice.

Contact

For inquiries about the Make Way Youth-Led Research:

Daphne Visser: Advocacy & SRHR Adviser
DVisser@lilianefonds.nl