YHP Angola

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are an increasing public health challenge in Angola and across the African region, contributing to growing pressure on health systems and population wellbeing. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory disease are among the leading causes of NCD-related illness and death, while risk factors including tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity continue to rise.¹

Adolescence is a critical period for prevention, as many behaviours linked to future NCD risk are established during these years. Across low- and middle-income countries, young people face increasing exposure to risk factors including smoking, substance use, poor nutrition, inactivity and poor mental wellbeing, yet adolescent-responsive prevention approaches and services remain limited.²

In Angola, barriers including unequal access to health information and youth-friendly services — particularly for young people in underserved communities — have reinforced the need for stronger prevention, earlier intervention and greater investment in adolescent health and wellbeing.³

The programme is structured around three interconnected pillars: awareness, empowerment and action.

1. Awareness

The Programme worked with government and local partners to strengthen adolescent awareness of non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention, healthy lifestyles and access to youth-friendly health information and support. Activities combined community outreach, youth-friendly services and digital engagement to help young people better understand health risks, prevention behaviours and referral pathways.

In 2025, community health screening and sensitisation activities in Huíla province reached 2,000 young people, helping raise awareness of early detection and healthcare referrals. A further 54 young people participated in targeted workshops covering health topics including NCD awareness.

Also in 2025, youth-friendly spaces in Huíla and Cuanza Norte provinces enabled 25,486 young people to access information on NCD prevention alongside counselling on mental wellbeing and reproductive health.

The Programme also used digital platforms to extend its reach. In 2025, 7,500 young people accessed guidance on substance use and mental wellbeing through U-Report, demonstrating the potential of digital tools to support scalable adolescent health engagement.

2. Empowerment

The Programme supported young people to become advocates for adolescent health and non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention by strengthening youth leadership, peer engagement and community participation. Activities focused on building advocacy skills, supporting youth-led networks and creating safe spaces where adolescents could discuss health and wellbeing issues relevant to their lives.

In 2025, the Programme worked with three youth associations to deliver a Regional Youth Workshop, bringing together 170 young people from six provinces. Participants received training on advocacy, community mobilisation and integrated NCD prevention, before engaging in dialogue with representatives from government and civil society.

The Workshop also contributed to the launch of the Angolan Network of Youth Organisations on Health and Gender Equality, creating a stronger national platform for youth engagement on adolescent health and wellbeing.

In 2025, the Programme also supported the creation of three youth-led community support networks and expanded the ‘Roda de Conversa’ initiative within schools, helping create safe spaces for adolescent participation and peer discussion. Across these spaces, 15 trained peer educators acted as local entry points for health discussions and referral support.

3. Action

The Programme supported youth participation in national policy development and helped strengthen adolescent-responsive approaches within Angola’s health and NCD prevention systems. By embedding young people’s perspectives within policy processes, the Programme contributed to stronger prevention, earlier intervention and healthier environments for adolescents.

In 2025, three young representatives contributed to the development of the Adolescent Integrated Health Strategy 2026–2030, helping identify gaps in adolescent-friendly services that were subsequently reflected within national priorities. Youth representatives also participated in the development of the Multisectoral Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs (2025–2030), helping ensure adolescent priorities — including risk factor prevention, early detection and healthier lifestyles — were integrated across sectors.

In total, 178 young people participated in policy-related advocacy activities in 2025, including four structured policy dialogue events with policymakers.

The Programme also contributed to strengthening Angola’s National NCD Prevention Plan 2024–2027 by embedding youth-led risk reduction measures into what had previously been a largely adult-focused NCD strategy. This helped integrate earlier intervention approaches across schools and community spaces, supporting more adolescent-responsive NCD prevention efforts.

2025 achievements

• Reached 35,080 young people through adolescent health and NCD prevention activities.
• Supported 185 young people through youth leadership, advocacy and engagement initiatives.
• Enabled 178 young people to participate in policy advocacy activities and dialogue with policymakers.
• Expanded youth-friendly health engagement through community outreach, youth spaces, U-Report and Peer Educator networks.

Phase One achievements (2019–2025)

• Helped strengthen Angola’s National NCD Prevention Plan 2024–2027 by embedding adolescent-responsive and youth-led prevention approaches within national NCD policy.
• Supported development of the Adolescent Integrated Health Strategy 2026–2030 with direct youth participation and input.
• Contributed to the establishment of the Angolan Network of Youth Organisations on Health and Gender Equality to strengthen youth engagement on health and wellbeing.
• Expanded the ‘Roda de Conversa’ initiative to create safe spaces for adolescent participation and peer-led health discussions in schools and communities.