Increased Investment Follows Tiko’s Record Performance, Establishing Pathway to Innovative Outcomes-Based Financing.
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA, 11 December 2025 — UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund is increasing its investment in Tiko’s youth-centred model following a year of exceptional results, marking a major milestone in strengthening national momentum to expand access to integrated sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services for adolescents and young people.
In 2025, Tiko Zambia surpassed its targets by reaching over 71,000 young people, achieving 140% of its goal, and delivering 119,000 essential SRHR services across the country. Tiko’s unique model, an ecosystem that combines community outreach, digital engagement, and performance-linked partnerships, has proven highly effective in reaching young people often missed by conventional health services, particularly adolescent girls and young women.
“Tiko Zambia’s results speak for themselves,” said Seth Broekman, UNFPA Country Representative. He noted that Tiko exceeded all service delivery targets in underserved urban areas in just one year, proving that integrated, community-driven SRHR services can be delivered at scale and with strong value for money. This ability to combine reach, quality, and measurable impact positions Tiko as a leading model for youth-centred SRHR delivery in the region. UNFPA is reinforcing this partnership to help unlock additional financing and strengthen Zambia’s SRHR ecosystem, ensuring that every young person can access the information and services they need to thrive.
UNFPA’s decision is strategically aligned with Zambia’s national SRHR priorities and global commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals.
Crucially, UNFPA is transitioning its support to core country budget support, which is intended to unlock additional capital and strengthen the broader SRHR ecosystem in Zambia. This strategic shift also lays the foundation for a 2026 bridging solution toward an innovative Outcomes-Based Financing (OBF) structure, in which funders commit to paying only for independently verified results.
Mwansa Njelesani-Kaira, Country Director for Tiko Zambia, highlighted the significance of the shift, stating, “This renewed partnership with UNFPA sends a powerful message to young people and to the wider SRHR community: evidence-based, youth-centred models work, and they deserve long-term investment”. She added that the core funding provides the necessary stability while creating a launchpad for the innovative financing structures of tomorrow.
An outcomes-based approach is designed to reduce financial risk, protect scarce public resources, and reinforce accountability, ensuring every kwacha delivers measurable, tangible benefits for adolescents and young people.
“With core support secured and a clear pathway to outcomes-based financing, we now have a real opportunity to scale a proven model that reaches more adolescents, integrates more services, and delivers measurable improvements in young people’s lives,” Njelesani-Kaira confirmed.
The real-world impact is clear. Grace Phiri, a Youth Advocate with Tiko Zambia in Lusaka, affirmed: “I’ve seen how Tiko helps my peers access contraception, HIV prevention, and the information they need to make informed choices. Continued support from UNFPA and new partners means we can reach even more young urban people especially those who are most at risk of being left behind”. This approach means young people, especially those most vulnerable, can continue to access high-quality, youth-friendly SRHR services that empower them to build healthier futures.
UNFPA Zambia and Tiko now extend an invitation to bilateral and multilateral donors, development banks, insurers, and impact investors to co-finance the next stage of Tiko’s impact in Zambia, focusing on delivering high-quality integrated SRH services for women and girls. The parties reaffirm their strong commitment to working with the government, civil society, communities, and partners to expand access to quality SRHR services for adolescents and young people across Zambia.
About the Partners
UNFPA is the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health agency. It serves as a lead partner in strengthening population data systems and advocating for the sexual and reproductive rights of all, including the prevention of STIs and HIV.
Tiko Zambia is a non-profit organization using tech and community networks to provide free sexual, reproductive, and mental health services to adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa, tackling issues like unintended pregnancy, HIV, and gender-based violence by connecting them to youth-friendly care through local partners.
Media Contacts:
UNFPA TIKO Zambia
Name: Christabel Chengo Chabwela Name: Sally Anyanga
Title: Communications Analyst Title: Communications Focal Point
Email Address: chabwela@unfpa.org Email Address: sally.anyanga@tiko.org