Scheduled to end in 2007, the Movah! project has been operating in Bangladesh and Cambodia to raise the voices of adolescents in rural communities to advocate for their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs under the UNFPA Asia Regional ASRH Project (RAS5R205), since 2004.

From 8th to 10th February, Dr. Noor Mohammad, National Program Officer, Youth and Education, UNFPA Bangladesh, Md. Sayeduzzman Pathan, Project Director, Dept. Youth Development, Ministry of Health, Dr. Vandara Chong, National Program Associate, UNFAP Cambodia, and Dr. Hemmunnary Hou, Youth Program Manager, RHAC, took part in a Movah! pre-evaluation meeting at JOICFP.

The final evaluation will be conducted in mid-2007 by an independent expert, and the meeting was held to review project progress to date, discuss and prepare for the final evaluation, including confirming verifiable indicators to measure effectiveness of the project, and schedule major activities for 2007.

The strategies of Movah! are "youth initiative" and "community advocacy" for adolescent SRH. In both countries, actions have been taken to bring about favorable changes for ASRH in the community by youth advocates called "youth initiators" and adult supporters.

For example, through the advocacy efforts by a youth-adult community advocacy team in Cambodia, the Commune Health Center Management Committee has started discussions to make ASRH service free for adolescents and young people, while ASRH issues are being prioritized in a commune development plan.

In Bangladesh, youth initiators advocate toward the community with assistance from the local support team, while they also deliver voices of young people in the community by linking with national level advocacy action.

Besides the evaluation, the outcomes of Movah! will be compiled in a process document to share the technology and lessons learned regionally and globally.

The participants actively exchange opinions