Investing in young people
Investments in the health, education and employment of young people are among the most cost-effective development expenditures in terms of the social returns they generate.
For a large group of countries where fertility has declined sharply in the last two decades, the proportion of the working age population will increase relative to younger and older dependent populations over the next few decades. This shift offers a one-time window of economic opportunity. With appropriate investments, policies and governance that support young people’s health and development, countries can take advantage of this low dependency ratio, or ‘demographic bonus’, to launch economic, social, cultural and structural transformations.
At the policy level, UNFPA frames adolescent and youth issues within the larger development context of poverty reduction. At the programme level, it advocates for an essential package of social protection interventions for adolescents and youth. UNFPA supports building the capacity of young people, their networks and organizations to have a stronger voice in policy dialogue and decision-making processes.
Publications
- Ending Child Marriage: A Guide for Global Policy Action
- The Case for Investing in Young People as part of a National Poverty Reduction Strategy
- Investing when it Counts: Generating the Evidence Base for Policies and Programmes for Very Young Adolescents
- UN Joint Statement on Girls
- Adolescent Data Guides
- Beijing at 15
News and Features
- Intensified Efforts to Help Adolescent Girls
- Putting Needs of Young People into National Poverty Plans
Initiatives and Partnerships
- Youth Advisory Panel
- World Youth Conference
