Majuro, The Republic of the Marshall Islands, 21 August, 2025 – The Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has launched a new initiative to provide young people with accessible and accurate digital resources on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The project, made possible through the generous financial support of the Australian Embassy in RMI, aims to co-create sustainable digital solutions with Marshallese youth.

This innovative partnership brings together various government ministries, including Culture and Internal Affairs, Education, Sports & Training, and Health & Human Services, along with local government representatives, civil society organizations, and academic institutions. Together, these stakeholders co-led by young people will form a steering committee to guide the development and implementation of these new digital tools.

Young people live in a digital world and we need to understand their needs. This initiative is a crucial step toward empowering them with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about their health and well-being, said Hon. Jess Gasper Jr., Minister of Culture and Internal Affairs.

The well-being of the nation's youth is  one of the central concerns for the government and this initiative is the right step in empowering our youth, expressed Hon. Ms. Daisy Alik-Momotaro, Presidential Envoy for Women, Children and Youth

The initiative comes at a critical time for the RMI, where over half of the population is under the age of 25. The country has an unprecedented window of opportunity to harness the demographic dividend, provided strategic investments are made in the health, education and overall empowerment of young people. 

RMI has one of the highest adolescent birth rates in the region, with more than 70 births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19. This is significantly higher than the global average of 41.3. There is an urgent need for collective action to address SRHR and gender equality issues. UNFPA Pacific remains committed to work with all stakeholders to address this challenge, highlighted Ms. Bidisha Pillai, UNFPA Director for the Pacific Island Countries and Representative in Fiji. 

The initiative will begin with a feasibility study to identify the most preferred, culturally responsive, and sustainable solutions, co-created directly with Marshallese youth. The goal is to operationalize evidence-informed, youth preferred and sustainable solutions by August, 2026. 

The Australian Government is  pleased to support this initiative. It’s empowering Marshallese youth to design digital tools that will reflect and meet their needs, said Mr. Paul Wilson, Australian  Ambassador in RMI.

Media Contacts: 

Tairah Firdous
Communication Specialist, UNFPA Pacific Sub-Regional Office  
Phone: +6799907148
Email: Firdous@unfpa.org