EXPLORE OUR WORK
Adolescence | HIV and AIDS | Food Security & Nutrition | Economic Development | Reproductive Health | Violence Against Women | Women's Rights
ADOLESCENCE
Research | Insight | Action & Advocacy | Projects
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Nearly half the world's population is younger than 25, with the largest proportion of young people living in the least developed countries. If international efforts to improve economic and health conditions in the developing world are to succeed, they must begin to engage adolescents today. The question is, how?
Research
ICRW has studied how best to improve the life options of adolescents for more than two decades, beginning with research on factors that affect young girls' school attendance. Our research today focuses on areas such as child marriage, son preference and adolescent reproductive health.
Our research clearly shows that investing in the health and well-being of adolescents will help unleash their power to transform their lives, their families and their communities. By changing gender norms that keep girls from reaching their full potential, ICRW research is leading to more effective policies and programs for adolescents.
Insight
We now know that effective programs must encompass all aspects of youth's lives — schooling, relationships, work and marriage — and involve parents and communities to change negative gender norms. Our research shows, for example that by working with community leaders, we can raise the age of girls at marriage and increase school attendance in both primary and secondary schools. Through working with boys, we can change concepts of masculinity that accept gender-based violence.
Insight & Action
ICRW's deep expertise in multidisciplinary, gendered approaches to adolescence has yielded significant research and action to immediately improve the lives of girls and boys.
ICRW works with policy-makers in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and the United States to help shape discussions about the special needs of these adolescents. Our work has resulted in state-level policy changes in India that will lead to better reproductive health for women and girls. We worked with parliamentarians from several sub-Saharan African countries to increase awareness of and funding for women's and adolescents' reproductive health. Our U.S.-based advocacy efforts have resulted in the introduction of legislation that could help curb child marriage around the world.
We continue to advocate for greater opportunities for adolescents to fulfill their potential.