Despite progress in various areas, young people in Malawi still encounter significant obstacles when trying to exercise their fundamental right to access sexual and reproductive health information and services. These challenges stem from multifaceted restrictions at community, societal, institutional, and political levels, which impede their ability to claim their sexual rights and participate fully in decision-making processes. As a result, many youth lack access to comprehensive Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) education and services tailored to their specific needs, hindering their capacity to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

In response to these pressing gaps, ECOSID has taken proactive steps to address the issue by collaborating with grassroots youth-led civil society organizations and networks in Malawi. Their joint initiative aims to amplify the voices of out-of-school adolescents, fostering increased participation and facilitating improved collaboration among youth CSOs in Nkhotakota district. By fostering a cohesive youth movement, the project seeks to bolster advocacy efforts focused on enhancing young people's access to sexual and reproductive health services and information.

The recent meeting convened by ECOSID served as a pivotal platform for youth empowerment, focusing on capacity-building in advocacy techniques, fostering district-wide networking, promoting collaboration among diverse youth CSOs, and emphasizing evidence-based advocacy strategies. Through this concerted effort, ECOSID and its partners are working to strengthen the reproductive rights advocacy landscape, ultimately empowering Malawi's youth to claim their rights and access the sexual and reproductive health services they deserve.