HIV and Adolescent Development and Participation
UNICEF supports the Government of Zimbabwe to close the HIV treatment gap and advance adolescent development through strategic policy support, systems strengthening, and youth engagement.
The Situation
UNICEF advanced youth civic engagement and empowerment, supporting 63,010 adolescents and young people to participate in platforms such as the Child Parliament, Junior Councils, the Advisory Committee for Adolescents and Youth (AYAC), and U-Report.
While Zimbabwe has exceeded the global UNAIDS 95:95:95 targets—achieving 97 per cent of people living with HIV aware of their status, over 95 per cent on anti-retroviral therapy (ART), and 96 per cent of those on ART virally suppressed—critical gaps remain for children, adolescents and pregnant women.
ART coverage for children aged 0–14 years stands at 73 per cent, an improvement from 69 per cent in 2023, but still far from optimal. Among pregnant women living with HIV, ART coverage increased from 89 per cent in 2023 to 93 per cent in 2024. However, adolescent girls and young women remain highly vulnerable, with new HIV infections occurring at triple the rate of their male peers. Adolescent pregnancy remains high at 22 per cent.
Broader challenges affecting adolescent development persist. Almost half (48 per cent) of adolescents and young people are neither in education, employment, nor training (NEET), with youth unemployment at 41 per cent. Drug and substance abuse is rising, and only 47 per cent of young people participate in decision-making processes, limiting their influence on matters affecting their future.
The solution
UNICEF supports the Government of Zimbabwe to close the HIV treatment gap and advance adolescent development through strategic policy support, systems strengthening, and youth engagement.
In 2024, UNICEF’s technical assistance enabled the rollout of the 2023–2026 Triple Elimination Plan for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. This included:
Development of the National Adolescent and Youth Health Implementation Plan (AHIP)
Review of the Country Plan under the Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children
Launch of the 2024–2030 Multi-Sectoral Framework to Prevent and Manage Adolescent Pregnancies
Formulation of Part A of the National HIV Response Sustainability Roadmap
Hepatitis B testing and treatment were integrated into antenatal care at high-volume sites, and data collection tools were revised to better track utilisation of services.
UNICEF’s advocacy and capacity building contributed to significant improvements in treatment coverage:
ART coverage among adolescents aged 10–19 living with HIV rose from 73 per cent in 2023 to 82 per cent in 2024
Continuity of ART among pregnant and breastfeeding adolescent girls and women increased from 88 per cent to 93 per cent
This was achieved through service integration across prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT), immunisation and nutrition platforms at the primary health care level. Additionally, 24 health care workers and 98 Young Mentor Mothers (YMMs) were trained to support the triple elimination initiative using updated tools and guidance.
Promoting Adolescent Participation
UNICEF advanced youth civic engagement and empowerment, supporting 63,010 adolescents and young people to participate in platforms such as the Child Parliament, Junior Councils, the Advisory Committee for Adolescents and Youth (AYAC), and U-Report. These platforms enabled young people to influence decisions in education, health, child protection, and climate action.
Insights gathered from the U-Report climate poll contributed to a report presented at the Expert Dialogue on Children and Climate Change at the Bonn Climate Conference, exemplifying how young voices are being integrated into global discussions.
Key Results (2024):
73% ART coverage among children aged 0–14
22% adolescent pregnancy rate
48% of adolescents and youth not in education, employment or training (NEET)
93% continuity of ART among pregnant and breastfeeding girls and women living with HIV
63,010 adolescents and youth engaged in civic and policy dialogue