To empower youth aged 15-29 years especially female youth in the 11 selected districts to adopt and maintain safer sexual practices by 2014

In line with Botswana national goal of eliminating new HIV infection by 2016, ACHAP is in the process of developing innovative evidence based interventions focused on empowering young women 15-29 years adopt safe and healthy sexual practices. The Epidemiology reveals that young women in Botswana are hyper vulnerable to HIV. While prevalence declines have been recorded among young women aged 15 -24, (18.2% in 2004 to 10.7% in 2008) after two decades prevention interventions, and nine years of a successful public treatment programme, the epidemic remains severe, and incidence levels are high.

HIV prevalence increases with age over a span of 10 years from 5% in 15 - 19, to 33.9 in the 25 - 29. Prevalence rates in the age group 15 - 29 are two to three times higher in young women than in their male counterparts. Incidence rates among young people increases from 0.7% in the 15 - 19 age group, to 3,3% in the 20 - 24 age group, rising to 5.4% in the 25 - 29 age group, with incidence being higher among females than males.