Project Example

Diva Centres Project, Zambia

A teens-only approach to contraception is getting girls the services they need to make the choices that are right for them.

In Zambia, a radical new approach to contraception is giving adolescent girls the information and services they need to make their own choices and take control of their futures. At the Diva Centres, girls do their nails while having informal conversations about boys and sex. They hang out with friends, learn about contraception in their own terms from trained peers, and, when they’re ready, receive counseling and access to a variety of short and long-term birth control methods in a safe and judgment-free environment from a trained professional. In this safe environment, girls begin to connect birth control with their future aspirations and get the information they need to make smart decisions from a safe and trusted resource.

By taking a human-centered approach, and spending weeks immersed in the lives and aspirations of Zambian teens, the team designed a multi-touchpoint approach to getting girls the contraception they need.

For girls who visited one of the three Diva Centres, 82% got contraceptive services and 36% returned for another visit.

Source: IDEO, Marie Stopes Zambia

Date of Publication: March 25, 2019