The Y.E.A.H Initiative is organized to encourage ownership and participation among a broad spectrum of stakeholders from national to community level.

Y.E.A.H is managed by an Implementation Unit headquartered in Kampala, Uganda and operates regionally through 4 Regional Lead Organizations (RLOs) with affiliated Young People’s Advisory Groups (YAGs). A Technical Advisory Team provides advice and technical input on a regular basis.

Implementation Unit
The Implementation Unit is comprised of two Uganda-based communication organizations which work under the auspices of the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC)- Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU) and Straight Talk Foundation (STF). The Implementation Unit is responsible for the overall planning implementation, coordination and monitoring and evaluation of Y.E.A.H activities. Each organization is responsible for unique inputs. CDFU provides overall leadership through the Y.E.A.H Project Director, and is responsible for strategic design; training and community outreach; research, monitoring and evaluation; and media materials development and dissemination. Straight Talk Foundation is responsible for production of the Y.E.A.H centerpiece radio serial drama, Rock Point 256.

Technical Advisory Team (TAT)
The Technical Advisory Team is a voluntary, multi-sectoral group of individuals working in reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, young people’s programs and behavior change communication. The TAT includes representatives from the Uganda AIDS Commission, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development, the Population Secretariat, the religious community, civil society partners, representatives from the Regional Lead Organizations and the Young People’s Advisory Group, USAID, Health Communication Partnership, CDFU and Straight Talk Foundation. Chaired by UAC, the TAT meets regularly to design, review and give input to the Implementation Unit as it designs communication strategies, Rock Point 256; and other supporting media materials.

Regional Lead Organizations (RLOs)
Y.E.A.H works through civil society organizations contracted to lead the implementation of Y.E.A.H activities in Kampala and 4 main regions of Uganda. These organizations are Y.E.A.H’s Regional Lead Organizations (RLOs), selected based on their geographic coverage, willingness to partner with Y.E.A.H., and involvement in youth programmes. The RLOs and their respective regions are:

• Save the Children in Uganda (SCiU) – Central and Northern Regions
• AIDS Information Center (AIC) – Southwestern Region
• Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU) – Kampala

RLOs are contracted annually by Y.E.A.H. to plan, implement and monitor community based activities, and support regional Young People’s Advisory Groups (YAGs).

YAGs
Y.E.A.H relies on 5 Young People’s Advisory Groups to implement its activities at regional level and to provide input into communication strategies, materials and activities. YAG members are selected from Kampala and each of the four RLO regions. Members of each YAG are young men and women between the ages of 15-24, who work for youth-serving organizations and are selected by their peer during stakeholders’ meetings. With the guidance of the RLO, each YAG is responsible for developing annual activity work plans and budgets which typically include school outreaches; support to radio listening groups and promotion of RP256 listenership; and dissemination of Y.E.A.H materials. Two representatives from each YAG also participate in the TAT meetings. Y.E.A.H provides training and supportive supervision to RLOs and YAGs. The YAGs and RLOs report on their activities on a quarterly basis to the Implementation Unit.