CyberRwanda
A sexual health platform co-designed by 1,000 Rwandan teens, and proven to change behavior.
Project:
CyberRwanda
Location:
Rwanda
Funders:
USAID, Packard Foundation, The Agency Fund
Partners:
Society of Family Health, YTH
Category:
Sexual & Reproductive Health
Challenge
One in four young people globally have never received any form of sex education. So they turn to the internet where what they find is mostly inaccurate, judgmental, or impossible to act on.
But information alone doesn't solve the problem. Young people who do know where to get contraceptives or HIV testing still face stigma, shame, and bias at the point of care. CyberRwanda was built to close both gaps: accurate, youth-friendly information paired with direct pathways to services.
Innovation
CyberRwanda is a digital platform co-designed with over 1,000 Rwandan teens to support urban and peri-urban adolescents at every step of their healthcare journey. The platform includes narrative storylines, an advice column, animated videos on sexual and reproductive health, a youth-friendly pharmacy locator, and a crisis support feature with content now spanning mental health and climate-related challenges too.
Every element, from character names to visual design to content tone, was shaped by young people, alongside 200 parents, teachers, healthcare providers, and community leaders. All content has been reviewed, validated, and approved through the appropriate technical working groups within the Rwandan government. The platform is accessible online and via mobile, so young people can engage privately, on their own terms.
Project Evolution
CyberRwanda was implemented in Rwanda by YLabs in close partnership with Society for Family Health – Rwanda, with guidance from the Ministry of Health, Rwanda Biomedical Center, and the Rwanda Education Board. Evaluation partners included the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Rwanda. Additional collaboration with adolescent health stakeholders helped ensure that content and approaches were aligned with national health priorities.
The platform was introduced through a pilot and randomized controlled trial in schools and youth centers, testing multiple delivery models including self-guided access and facilitated group engagement. Following evaluation, CyberRwanda was made publicly accessible.
Today, the platform remains live online and via mobile. While not in active implementation, it continues to offer lessons in how digital platforms can support young people's health and holds clear potential for expansion with renewed investment.
Project Achievements
Randomized Controlled Trial completed:
CyberRwanda was rigorously evaluated through a randomized controlled trial to assess its impact and cost-effectiveness in supporting adolescents’ health and livelihoods.
Evidence generated and published:
Midline and endline findings from the evaluation were published, contributing to the global evidence base on digital approaches to adolescent health and behavior change.
Award-winning digital solution:
CyberRwanda was recognized as the Best Digital Solution at the 4th Prix Galien Africa Awards (2024), highlighting its innovation and impact in advancing youth-centered health solutions.
Youth-centered design at scale:
The platform was co-designed with over 1,000 young people and continuously refined through user feedback, ensuring relevance, usability, and trust.
Integrated service pathways:
CyberRwanda successfully combined engaging digital content with direct access to products and services, helping bridge the gap between knowledge and action.
Publications
Exposure and Engagement Drive Impact: Results From a Large-Scale Trial of a Digital Family Planning and Reproductive Health Intervention in Rwanda
Journal of Adolescent Health | 2025
Effect of a digital school-based intervention on adolescent family planning and reproductive health in Rwanda: a cluster-randomized trial
Nature Medicine | 2024
Digital self-care for improved access to family planning and reproductive health services among adolescents in Rwanda: preliminary findings from a pilot study of CyberRwanda
Sexual & Reproductive Health Matters | Volume 29, 2022
Using Human-Centered Design to Develop, Launch, and Evaluate a National Digital Health Platform to Improve Reproductive Health for Rwandan Youth
Global Health: Science and Practice | November 2021
Design and impact evaluation of a digital reproductive health program in Rwanda using a cluster randomized design: study protocol
BMC Public Health 20 | Article 1701 (2020)
