The three are Phalombe Youth Arm Organization, All for Youth and Youth Initiatives for Community Development.

Team Leader for the organization, Andrew Bwanali, has told Zodiak Online on Wednesday that most young people lack knowledge on budget processes, literacy and tracking, a development which is affecting provision of quality youth friendly health services.

Bwanali says it is high time youths in the country effectively influenced and advocated for adequate resource allocation at local and national levels.

“We would want to equip youth with skills so that they can track and influence resource allocation towards Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights at district level,” said Bwanali.

He disclosed this during a two-day training on Youth Health Budget Advocacy held in Dowa district.

One of the participants, Rehema Patricks has described the training as crucial, saying it has equipped her with knowledge and insights on how youths can approach areas of advocacy on health-related services.

“Lack of knowledge on budget process and analysis is hindering youths in the country to lobby and track resource allocation at district and national level”, said Rehema.

Meanwhile, District Youth Development Officer, for Dowa, Monica Newa Banda, says the training will help youths to lobby for funding towards provision of health services.

Newa added that young people continue dropping out of school due to lack of knowledge on sexual reproduction health services and rights.

The two-day training which drew 15 participants from Dowa, Mwanza and Mzimba North was conducted with financial support from Global Financing Facility (GFF), through Population Action International (PAI).