Balancing evidence-informed and user-responsive design: Experience with human-centered design to generate layered economic empowerment and SRH programming in Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Nigeria

In 2021, the Adolescents 360 (A360) project pursued a human-centered design (HCD) process to layer complementary economic empowerment components on top of its existing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) interventions targeting adolescent girls aged 15 19. Given volume evidence informing successful approaches for improving outcomes adolescents, we an intentionally evidence-informed gender-intentional process, while trying also respond directly user insights. In this open letter, share how utilized validated evidence-base applying core tenets HCD (empathy insights) holistic, layered programming girls. We describe three overarching categories which depict used new insights strengthen our process. Often base allowed us expedite finding solution that worked users. However, at times there was disconnect between what knew in users said they wanted. New build greater understanding users’ lived experiences where were gaps. aided by engagement technical partner, BRAC, who synthesized teams functioned as ‘on demand’ support mechanism questions challenges arose. Yet, information absorb almost guaranteed would miss out opportunity apply certain evidence-based practices. encourage researchers consider make more easily digestible practitioners whole community practice work together identify need be asked effectively operationalize local context.