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Comparable investments in sub-Saharan Africa could add hundreds of billions to the region’ s economies annually. Most importantly, capturing and maximizing a demographic dividend can lift millions of people out of poverty.
UNFPA is working with the World Bank and governments in the Sahel region of Africa to empower women and girls and accelerate the demographic transition. Special efforts focus on advancing the rights of adolescent girls and women, expanding girls’ education and access to reproductive health services including voluntary family planning, and eliminating child marriage.
With 1.8 billion young people aged 10 to 24 living in our world today, and nine out of 10 of them in less developed countries, it is time to make their needs, rights and participation a priority.
We can no longer afford to leave adolescents and young people behind.
With the right policies and investments, young people can be an immense source of productivity, innovation and creative dynamism to accelerate sustainable development and peace and stability. ■