Standards for Peer Education Programmes

Developed during a consultative meeting with peer educators, trainers, project managers, and technical experts from 22 countries, this tool aims to provide a framework of standards for peer education programmes, as well as tips and examples from around the world. Designed as a a tool for managers to use to monitor and improve their programme activities, it includes a description of 52 recommended standards under five categories: planning, recruitment and retention, training and supervision, management and oversight, and monitoring end evaluation. The standards tool is divided into four sections:

1. Introduction and Overview - discusses why peer education is important, issues in using standards in peer education, and how to use this guide.
2. Peer Education Standards Checklist - includes the 52 standards in the five categories, with a brief description of each. This section is reprinted in the separate checklist publication described above.
3. Peer Education Standards - a more lengthy section discussing each of the standards and providing tips and short lessons learned from field experiences.
4. Code of Ethics - includes a discussion of 10 recommended elements of a code of ethics for peer education programmes.

This standards tool resulted from a collaboration between the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Family Health International. It was produced for the Youth Peer Education Network (Y-PEER), a project coordinated by UNFPA as part of a Youth Peer Education Toolkit.

For hard-back printed copies, please send a request with an explanation of how you plan to use it in actual peer education activities. Limited copies are available, and will be mailed to those in the best position to apply it to their programmes.