Recently, with support from UNFPA, Sonke and other partners in South Africa have started to explore the idea of a MenEngage country network in South Africa that has a specific youth focus and which focuses on a broader range of sexual and reproductive health issues than only HIV. To date, provincial steering committees have been established in two provinces, the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
While MenEngage has been active around the world, with active country networks in 11 African countries, to date South Africa has not been one of these. There are a number of complex reasons for this, not least of all because there are a number of active networks and campaigns in South Africa seeking to engage men and boys, especially on HIV, including the South African National AIDS Council’s Men’s Sector and the Brothers for Life initiative.
In late 2011, Sonke hosted a Policy Dialogue with stakeholders across the board, to further explore this option.
