YLabs

"Health is the human face of Climate Change." This powerful message echoed through the first Climate and Health African Conference in Harare last week. Our very own Aly Beeman, MPH shared how our work with Children, Cities, and Climate Project is centering voices often left out of urban development decisions — children and youth. We got to showcase how we’re bridging that gap by co-creating solutions alongside youth, city officials, and environmental leaders. The energy and ideas shared at CHAC highlighted the growing commitment and innovation happening in the climate-health space. As emphasized in the Harare Declaration, "Africa, on the frontlines of climate change, should no longer be a passive recipient of global solutions but a proactive architect of its own systems for improved health and well-being—shaped by a prioritization of scientific, local, and traditional knowledge, innovative solutions, and policy leadership."

We're thrilled to share that CyberRwanda received the Prix Galien Africa for Best Digital Technology, presented by His Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Faye at the Galien Forum Afrique 2024! Our colleague Zach Witkin, MPH accepted the award and shared three key takeaways: 1️⃣ Youth-led innovation transforms healthcare: Young innovators across Africa are revolutionizing healthcare delivery through AI and digital solutions like CyberRwanda, creating scalable approaches to bridge health access gaps. 2️⃣ Gender-smart climate resilience pays off: With women and girls bearing the heaviest climate burden, the Forum showcased investing in climate-resilient health systems delivers a 4x return on investment across the board.  3️⃣ Integration drives impact: Senegal's success in uniting early warning systems, healthcare delivery, and environmental monitoring proves that cross-sector collaboration is key to building resilient health systems. We’re so proud of our CyberRwanda team and the 1,000+ young Rwandans who made this platform possible! Together, we're building cool and impactful digital solutions. Dr. Jean Kaseya Jean Pierre Karabaranga Forum Galien Afrique / Prix Galien International #GalienForumAfrique #ClimateChange #DigitalHealth #GenderEquality #ClimateResilience

At the World Health Summit this week, the urgency of building climate-resilient health systems is clear — and too often, sexual and reproductive health is left out of the climate-health conversation. Did you know that over 14 million women and girls are at risk of losing access to modern contraception due to extreme climate events in the next 5 years? YLabs’ latest research reveals that zero countries have included rights-based contraceptive access into their climate resilience strategies. Only half of the 58 countries we analyzed even mention sexual and reproductive health in their climate adaptation plans. This gap puts decades of progress on gender equality at risk. That’s why we created the Climate Change x SRHR Evidence and Action Hub — to provide the data and solutions you need to take action. Together, we can build a climate-resilient and gender-equitable future. Learn more at climate-srhr.org 🌱 #ClimateAction #SRHR #WHS2024 #ClimateJustice #GenderEquality #SustainableFuture

We’re proud to join this all-star partnership led by EngenderHealth on USAID’s new global #FamilyPlanning and #ReproductiveHealth flagship program, ACCESS! Watch this space 🌍💪

We are honored to have CyberRwanda mentioned among so many other innovative health programs!

Today is #WorldContraceptionDay, and we’re sitting down with our very own Design Research Lead,Mireille U., to talk all things contraception access for young people. 🌍 Contraception gives young people the ability to make informed decisions about their health and futures. Mireille shares how CyberRwanda is breaking down barriers and making contraception access a reality for youth across the country. #worldcontraceptionday #contraceptionmatters #youthforchoice

YLabs in the news! Our very own Gary Layn was featured on CNBC Africa, discussing how CyberRwanda is making sexual health more accessible to young people. Reporting a notable increase in contraceptive use, Gary shared how this digital, youth-led platform is equipping teens with crucial knowledge. The lessons from CyberRwanda are already having an influence on projects across the globe, demonstrating the power of digital platforms to reshape sex ed. Watch the full interview here ▶️https://lnkd.in/dDPx-jAR

The climate crisis isn’t just a threat to our environment — it directly jeopardizes sexual reproductive health, rights, and gender equality. Over 14 million women and girls are at risk of losing access to contraception by 2030 due to climate disasters alone. Despite this, YLabs’ new analysis of nearly 60 countries’ climate adaptation plans found that ZERO countries include voluntary rights-based continuous contraceptive access as part of their climate adaptation approach. This is just one concrete example of how sexual and reproductive health and rights are too often overlooked and left out of the conversation. When it comes to climate change, knowing where to begin can feel overwhelming. That’s why YLabs developed the Climate Change x SRHR Evidence and Action Hub. It gives funders, implementers, and policymakers the data and tools they need to protect reproductive health and rights in the face of climate change. Gender equality and climate justice are intertwined. And we need climate solutions that reflect that. Visit www.Climate-SRHR.org to explore our findings, data, and tools to drive forward a climate-resilient, gender-just future. #SRHR #gender #climatechange #ClimateWeekNYC

❓ What can we do to support and improve #menstrualhealth in an increasingly #climate vulnerable world? ❓Do we focus on #DisasterResponse, #RiskReduction, or building #Resilience? ❓Do we focus on climate resilient #WASH, provision of #MenstrualProducts, imparting education, mobilizing communities and building peer support? Join Global Menstrual Collective and Uninhibited/MH Hub on 11 September to hear from four organizations on how they are meeting menstrual health needs during #ClimateCrises. 🌟 Viva Tatawaqa Tatawaqa, DIVA for Equality 🌟Lady Lisondra, IPPF ESEAOR 🌟Aly Beeman, MPH, YLabs 🌟Stella James 📅 Wednesday 11 September, 2024 ⏲ 11:00 am CAT | 02:30 pm IST | 05:00 pm MYT | 09:00 pm FJT Register here - https://lnkd.in/gxavpjcf Ina Jurga WASH United Therese Mahon WaterAid Diana Thompson Nelson Days for Girls International Dilip Pattubala Lillian Bagala Chrissy Cattle Irise International Irise Institute East Africa Marije Broekhuijsen UNICEF Meron Negussie Lowri Davies African Coalition Menstrual Health Alexandra Lundqvist The Case for Her Chelsea Huggett Hannah Tamata Bhuvana Balaji Arundati Muralidharan

Just in: CyberRwanda featured in Nature Magazine! 🚨 We’ve summed up the top 3 lessons from one of the largest studies on teen sexual health across Africa. Co-created with over 1,000 Rwandan youth, the Nature study shows that sexually active teens using CyberRwanda reported a significant increase in contraceptive use — proving the power of digital health tools created for, and with, young people. Young people using CyberRwanda had improved in knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in seeking reproductive healthcare, which is often stigmatized. CyberRwanda is a digital platform funded by USAID and developed by YLabs in collaboration with Society for Family Health Rwanda and with guidance from the Rwanda Biomedical Center. Evaluated by University of California, Berkeley, it’s transforming how Rwandan adolescents access critical reproductive health information and services. Read more about CyberRwanda’s groundbreaking impact ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dRn4NR6X Thanks to all our amazing partners Society for Family Health Rwanda, University of California, Berkeley, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Agency Fund, and the Rwanda Biomedical Center!