Reaching Adolescent Girls and Young Women Most in Need of HIV and SRHR Services

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Eastern and Southern Africa continue to face a disproportionate burden of HIV, early and unintended pregnancy, and poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes—particularly during key life transitions such as leaving school, early pregnancy, migration, or exposure to violence.This implementation brief provides practical guidance on how programmes can more effectively identify, prioritise, and reach AGYW most in need of HIV and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services. It outlines four complementary targeting approaches—geographical, risk-based, programme-based, and individual—supported by strong referral systems and data use.Drawing on regional expertise and country examples, the brief supports policy makers, programme planners, and implementers to translate evidence into targeted, adolescent-responsive action that maximises impact in resource-constrained settings.