Adolescents 360 was one of the most important moments in my career at CIFF. For us, it began as an idea sparked by a conversation between foundations. But many others were already exploring ways of supporting adolescent health, including sexual health, and we needed to learn. I believed philanthropy could add immense value to this space if we changed the way we funded, offered more flexibility, and encouraged greater risk-taking.
The work in western Tanzania showed A360 at its best. At a time when pregnancy could exclude girls from school, and defending contraceptive access was difficult, the A360 team was working with adolescents to design delivery, supported by local officials who were deeply committed to the work. The program was reaching tens of thousands of people, not only helping individuals but also having a wider impact by shifting skeptical views on whether this work could be cost-effective and scalable.
A powerful endorsement of this work is how it has continued to grow. While Tanzania had a different story, other countries adopted and scaled A360 or applied its lessons, such as RISE in Ethiopia and the multi-country WISH platform. That is the key: Success takes time, transitions are hard, and scale-up requires patience. Ten years on, Adolescents 360 remains an inspiration.
