Johannesburg: The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities will convene the Adolescent Pregnancy Indaba, a national multi-stakeholder dialogue aimed to strengthen South Africa’s response to the alarming rising rate in adolescent pregnancies and associated social, health, developmental and economic challenges. South Africa continues to record persistently high numbers of pregnancies among girls aged 10-19. These trends have far-reaching and devastating implications for disrupted education outcomes, increased maternal health risks, a deepening cycle of poverty, and heightened vulnerability to gender-based violence (GBV).
According to South African Government News Agency, the urgency of the crisis demands coordinated national action grounded in evidence, community participation, and long-term policy commitment. Taking place from 28-29 November 2025 at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Boksburg, Johannesburg, the two-day Indaba will bring together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including policymakers, government leaders, civil society organisations (CSOs), traditional leaders, researchers, health and education practitioners, youth organisations, caregivers and development partners. Their collective aim is to develop a coordinated and evidence-based response that meets the scale of the challenge.
The key focus areas of the Indaba include reaffirming national commitment to ending adolescent pregnancy and fostering collaboration and coordination among government departments, development partners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), CSOs, the private sector, and communities. This includes building on existing successful legislative and policy frameworks while exploring the potential for new innovative solutions anchored within the South African context.
Another critical focus is increasing awareness and ensuring mutual understanding of the latest statistics and data gaps, along with a deeper exploration of the drivers and consequences of adolescent pregnancy in South Africa. Reviewing evidence-based strategies to prevent adolescent pregnancy and reduce the adverse effects of early pregnancy is also on the agenda. Participants will compare this evidence with current South African practices to identify areas for alignment and improvement.
The Indaba will also focus on integrating the voices and perspectives of adolescents and young people in shaping solutions for adolescent pregnancy. Furthermore, it will review and workshop the draft high-level goals, outcomes, outputs, and indicators that will provide the framework for the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for Adolescent Pregnancies, which will guide national efforts through the medium-term development plan up to 2030.