Mombasa Project Evaluation

Breaking down stigmas and barriers to care for the most vulnerable

The Mombasa Project, implemented by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) since 2022, has made significant progress in improving healthcare access for Adolescents and Youth Populations (AYP), including key and vulnerable subgroups (AYKVP). It is also intended to serve as an anchor for delivering Emergency Preparedness (EPREP) activities in the coastal region, positioning MSF to respond effectively to public health emergencies.

Operating in partnership with the Department of Health (DoH) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), the project delivers a comprehensive package of services through facility-based clinics and community peer-led interventions. Over three years, the project has achieved notable successes, while also identifying areas that require strategic adjustment to maximize future impact.

Summary of key findings

The project remained faithful to its original proposal and committed to delivering its wide-ranging objectives. However, when translated into practice, this ambition led to an overly broad and diluted scope. While this affected the project's overall focus, it also highlights clear opportunities for greater
strategic alignment and improvements.

Future direction

At this moment, the Mombasa Project must sharpen its strategic focus, apply more decisive prioritization across target populations, service packages, locations, and models of care, identify opportunities within a rapidly changing funding landscape—precipitated by the sudden USAID stop order in February—and strengthen partnerships to remain impactful, delivering the greatest possible value in a context where others are either unable or unwilling to act.

The project would benefit from continuing to be implemented through a partnership-based approach, but with greater space for MSF to influence the reach and quality of services while staying true to its principles of inclusivity and non-discrimination. Such collaboration must not only be sustained but also urgently shaped and strengthened through immediate collaborative review discussions about the future of MSF in Mombasa to ensure that MSF remains relevant, drives impact, and continues learning from its experience.