MAU 29 – The globe is at risk of losing $110 trillion between this year and 2050 if no investments are allocated to the adolescent age group.
According to the Adolescents in a changing world–The case for urgent investment report, individuals in the age group of between 10 and 19 now face unprecedented challenges amidst a rapidly evolving world, calling for greater investments in adolescent well-being.
The data finds that failure by stakeholders to increase investment in their programmes equates to $4.1 trillion per year, or 7.7 percent of the GDP of the countries included in the research for the report, which covers about 80 percent of the world’s population.
“With just about five years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, progress lagging, and the adolescent population increasing, the urgency of investing in adolescents’ well-being cannot be overstated,” says Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand and the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) Board Chair.
“A multi-pronged and multisectoral approach to investment – anchored in meaningful adolescent and youth engagement, accountability, transparency, and multi-stakeholder collaboration is crucial,” she commented, adding that “the time for action is now to ensure that today’s adolescents can thrive and contribute positively to future generations.”
The report was released at the 77th World Health Assembly and was commissioned by PMNCH, working with the Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies at Victoria University in Australia, WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA.
The benefits of investing in adolescent well-being, however, are significant, with benefit-to-cost ratios (BCRs) in most cases showing economic and social returns at least 10 times the initial investment and in many cases significantly higher.
It has recently been estimated that a broad package of health services for adolescents is likely to yield a return of $9.6 for every dollar invested, while investing in education and training for adolescents is likely to yield a return of $28.6 for every dollar invested.
“Empowered with skills and opportunities, young people will put us on course to a more sustainable world for all,” Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),said.
Catherine Russell, Executive Director, UNICEF, says, “Evidence shows that investing in adolescent girls is a game-changer for everyone.
“With resources and opportunities, the world’s 600 million adolescent girls can become the largest generation of women leaders and change-makers the world has ever seen.”
While progress has been made in some areas of improving adolescent well-being, the report says significant challenges persist, placing the well-being of adolescents at risk.
They include a high mortality rate, mental health, adolescent pregnancy, education, and employment, as well as climate and environmental hazards.
“Investing in adolescent well-being is crucial because it lays the foundation for a healthy, productive future generation,” says David Imbago, Director, YIELD Hub and Chair, PMNCH Adolescents and Youth Constituency.
“A rights-based approach ensures that every young person can access the resources and opportunities they need to thrive, respecting their dignity and empowering them to be active participants in their own development and their communities,” Imbago adds.
The report’s central conclusion is that the world urgently needs a new investment programme to improve the well-being of adolescents.
This must be a global initiative, but it should be carried out at the local level with initiatives tailored to the realities of individual countries, it says.
Bruce Rasmussen, Director, Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies at Victoria University, Australia, says: “The returns to investing in adolescent well-being are high and will give adolescents the opportunity to look forward to decent jobs and a confident healthy life. The time for investment is now.”
