USAID Adolescent Health Skills Strengthening Activity

The United States Agency for International Development in Bangladesh (USAID/Bangladesh) is seeking applications for a three year Cooperative Agreement from qualified U.S. and non-U.S. organizations to implement an activity entitled “USAID Adolescent Health Skills Strengthening Activity”. This activity is expected to improve the health and well-being of Bangladeshi adolescents by improving community attitudes regarding the delay of early marriage and by improving access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and other health information and services. The goal of the activity is to empower female and male adolescents to advocate for their own needs and desires in order to delay marriage until at least ages 18 and 21, the legal marriage age for girls and boys respectively, and delay first birth until the age of 20 for girls. The expectation is that this will improve the health and well-being of girls and boys, especially girls as they develop into adults and prepare for motherhood; and ultimately, enable healthier babies to be born to healthier mothers. The activity will achieve two inter-related intermediate results (IRs): ● IR1: Increased skills capacity and community support for unmarried adolescents. ● IR2: Increased provision and utilization of SRH and other health information and services.