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2nd Caribbean Congress on Adolescent and Youth Health

Anshu Mohan, Senior Strategic Advisor and Lead, Adolescent Well-Being

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There are 1.8 billion adolescents and youth in the world today:

the largest cohort of young people in history

Multiple challenges, yet current policy and investment approaches fall short of need

Insufficient social protection

Inability to exercise rights

Gender-biased discrimination

Malnutrition

Inadequate mental health

Poor sexual and reproductive health

School closures

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Background: A Case for Adolescent Well-Being

Advocacy efforts to include a specific focus on adolescents

Adolescents: The Missing Population in Universal Health Coverage (UNICEF, UNFPA WHO, IAAH & CHI and PMNCH)
Call to Action for Adolescents www.adolescents2030.org

Engage and empower adolescents
Go beyond the health sector, launching a powerful multisectoral response (an Adolescent Wellbeing Framework )
Strengthen political commitment & funding culminating in a Global Summit on Adolescents and country-level implementation of programmatic change.

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CONSENSUS BUILDING ON THE CALL TO ACTION FOR ADOLESCENTS

ADOLESCENT WELL-BEING FRAMEWORK

Adolescents thrive and are able to achieve their full potential.

Knowledge products include: BMJ Collection on AWB, AWB Indicators and Monitoring Framework, AWB Investment Case , MAYE PGR

YOUTH-LED CAMPAIGNING

#ADOLESCENTS2030 &

1.8 Billion Young People for Change

EVENTS LEADING TO A GLOBAL FORUM FOR ADOLESCENTS in 2023 and beyond

PATHWAYS TO IMPACT ON COUNTRY LEVEL, ENHANCED BY DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY

Political Engagement

Meaningful adolescent and youth engagement

Multistakeholder platforms

PMNCH`s Approach For Realizing Adolescent Well-Being

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This slide illustrates how we are taking a multi-pronged approach to realizing adolescent well-being. The Call to Action on Adolescents has mobilized the international community and national governments to deliver on six key commitments, many of which are already underway. The Call to Action drives political engagement, with support from:

YOUTH-LED CAMPAIGNING, which builds from the Advocating for Change for Adolescents toolkit, rolled out in several countries, as well as the global #Adolescents2030 campaign; and,
ADOLESCENT WELL-BEING FRAMEWORK: Building on the adolescent well-being definition and a conceptual framework which will inform the Global AA-HA! 2.0, Child Health Re-design, and help develop user-friendly evidence packages (articles, investment case, etc)

This will feed into EVENTS LEADING TO A GLOBAL FORUM FOR ADOLESCENTS in 2023: We will speak to how PMNCH will also organize a Global Forum for Adolescents leading up to the SDG Summit in September 2023 and the G20 in October 2023

Finally, we will ensure that the outcomes of the Global Forum drive impact at country level, enhanced by digital accessibility. This includes:

Uniting voices of adolescents to meaningfully engage in policy and programs;
Developing a digital tools suite to engage stakeholders for effective joint advocacy;
Digital training resources for in-country implementing partners;
Implementing an integrated advocacy campaign delivered through global and local champions

Notably, meaningful adolescent and youth engagement is a cross-cutting principle in all of our work, along with multi-stakeholder platforms at the country level.

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Achievements and work underway

September 2019

Call to Action for Adolescents launched

October 2020

Definition and Conceptual Framework for Adolescent Well-being published

March 2021

Heads of UN agencies, Heads of State, youth networks, professional associations

endorse the Call to Action published in the BMJ

May 2021

15 technical papers on Programming to Promote Adolescent well-being published

June-August 2021

8 regional multi-stakeholder consultations on “Effective Programming to Promote Adolescent Well-being” convened.

April 2022

Global summary report of the Multi-stakeholder Consultations on programming for adolescent well-being, launched at ECOSOC Youth Forum

MAYE Accountability Report

Launch of the #Adolescents2030 Social Media Campaign

November/December 2021

October 2022

Adolescent Well-being

BMJ Collection Bundle 1

Jan-Feb 2023

Adolescent Well-being

BMJ Collection Bundle 2

Convene a Global Forum for Adolescents:

Launch: a) Monitoring Approach for measuring adolescent well-being b) Investment Case for Adolescent Well-being c) Lancet Commission Report d) Revised Global AA-HA!

October 2023

Launch of MAYE Practical Guidance Resource

April 2023

Political advocacy at high-level events to mobilize member state support

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1.8 Billion Young People for Change: Supporting a multi-stakeholder campaign for more and better action for adolescent well-being

The Global Forum for Adolescents will expand and equip a growing global campaign for action on adolescent well-being through three main linked functions

Acting together to drive support for campaign demands – doing more together than possible alone

Sharing evidence and knowledge resources - new multi sectoral AWB evidence- based intervention and investment case

Engaging and equipping partners for action – capacitating and strengthening coalitions

Digital Experience

Programme

Partnerships & Communications

supported by 3 partner-led action groups

A multi-pronged, multi-year advocacy campaign, coordinated and developed by PMNCH, to help galvanize momentum for the movement

Oct 2023 global forum to bring partners together, elevate public visibility for asks -- nested within the campaign as a key deliverable

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Since the SAC met last, we have taken several steps forward in the planning of the Global Forum for Adolescents. We have always said, the forum is a means to an end, which is to raise the visibility of adolescent well-being and ensure it is given the attention and priority it deserves.

In line with this ambition, PMNCH has set the bold and ambitious target of coordinating a global campaign to mobilize more and better action for adolescent well-being. To support this youth-led movement, PMNCH will develop a multi-pronged advocacy campaign that will be coordinated by PMNCH and led by partners.

The Global Forum in October 2023 is a key mile stone in the campaign. will consist of a global virtual mainstage with a broad range of programming exploring the five domains of the Adolescent Well-Being Framework; champion and political engagement events; product launches; an Innovation Marketplace; youth awards and capacity building programmes; and a captivating digital media and creative arts programme

The execution of the forum will be supported by three main action groups – digital, programme and partnerships and communications. Overall, the forum is driven by the Global Coordination Committee.

Additionally, the Forum will expand and equip partners through three main functions – which will potentially serve as the red thread running through the themes in the programme.

With the forum, we aim to

- Share evidence and knowledge resources

Engage and equip partners to advocate for adolescent well-being overall
And ensure we act together to drive support for the campaign and ultimately for adolescent well-being.

To ensure we have a common identity we are all tied together through, we are also working on building a brand identity for the forum which will show you at the end of the presentation.

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Champions, campaigns and events – Global campaign on Adolescent well-being

The Global Forum will offer a highly visible stage for policymakers to present commitments to Adolescent Well-Being. The four campaign pillars to advance AWB political and financial commitments include:

1. High-level political engagement/mobilization (e.g., G20, UNGA SDG review, AU, Global Leaders’ Network) - Workplan deliverable 2.1, 2.2, 3.2

Grassroots Mobilization (e.g., grassroots demands articulated through a youth-led “Agenda for Action for Adolescents”), Workplan deliverable 1.2 & 2.2

Constituency mobilization, Workplan deliverable 2.2 2.4 & 3.2

Media mobilization, Workplan deliverable 3.3

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The Global Forum will offer a highly visible stage for policymakers to present commitments to Adolescent Well-Being. Countries will be supported in their efforts in doing so by all PMNCH structures and constituencies, guided by PMNCH’s strategic, multi-pronged approach to commitment mobilization and implementation¹. The PMNCH Strategic Advocacy Committee will provide guidance on campaign development and tools, while the PMNCH Partner Engagement in Countries Committee will provide guidance on country engagement and opportunities for action.

The four campaign pillars to advance AWB political and financial commitments include:

High-level political engagement
Grassroots mobilization
Constituency engagement
Media advocacy

As we move forward I would like to draw your attention to the second pillar – grassroots mobilization. This links intricately to Joy’s presentation, and is the pulse of the campaign and the forum. Through the forum and the campaign overall, it is our ambition and aspiration to mobilize partners (especially young people) at the country level. The various strands of work that we are currently undertaking as a part of the Forum and campaign are anchored in our effort to ensure that we are reaching audiences at global, regional and national levels.

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Objectives and Indicators of Success

Mobilize additional political and financial commitments

Spark greater long-term demand for action

Update evidence and data, as well as greater knowledge sharing

Improve engagement and consensus among PMNCH’s 1,300+ partner-organizations

Countries make pledges for AWB in response to the asks of the Agenda for Action

Shifts in national policy and programming initiated

Engage:1 million adolescents & young people, 10 head of states & 100 high level champions.

Indicators of success

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Familiar content -> move fast

The goal of the Forum is to contribute to progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through:

Mobilize additional political and financial commitments to improve adolescents' well-being.

Spark greater long-term demand for action in support of adolescents and youth at community, regional and global levels.

Update evidence and data on adolescent well-being and increase sharing of knowledge and adolescents’ lived experiences.

Improve engagement and consensus among PMNCH’s 1,300+ partner organizations on priorities, strategies and technical approaches to promote adolescent well-being.

Young people will be engaged in this effort leading up to, at and beyond the Forum creating a coalition of youth networks to carry this work forward.

Indicators of success will include:

Additional pledges registered from governments and other partners to shift policies, redesign programmes, allocate resources and strengthen accountability for adolescents and youth.

Shifts in national policy and programming initiated through national multi-stakeholder dialogues.

At least one million adolescents and young people engaged in a civic movement for adolescent well-being.

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The Forum at a glance

The world’s biggest gathering on adolescent well-being, October 2023

Coming together in a massive digital advocacy effort to drive community, national, regional and global change

The Forum brings together vibrant and innovative set of discussions, activities and events in countries, linked through digital advocacy hubs and shared on a global virtual stage

Knowledge, data, evidence and innovations -- shared among PMNCH constituencies and partners + other partners and platforms concerned with young people

Youth at the centre, speaking for their own health and well-being, empowerment and resilience, education and skills, and connection with people and planet

Building on the evidence behind the Adolescent Well-being Framework, the agenda will bring together the demands of 1m young people during October 2022 to October 2023 – developed into a tool for action to guide the political advocacy efforts of all partners

1 Million Adolescents and Youth

100+ Countries

NEW

Youth Voices

An Agenda for Action

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An estimated 1 million people will be engaged in a massive digital advocacy effort to drive global change, creating a massive civic movement for, by and with this important population group.

Simultaneously, in more than 100 countries around the world, PMNCH partners will activate a vibrant and innovative set of discussions, activities and events, linked together through digital advocacy hubs and shared on a global virtual stage. New knowledge, data, evidence and innovations will be shared among PMNCH constituencies and partners, including the private sector, UN, parliamentarians, academics, donors, media, and NGOs, as well as other partners and platforms concerned with young people.

At the centre of this effort will be the voices of young people themselves, speaking for their own health and well-being, their empowerment and resilience, their education and skills, and their connection with people and planet. An Agenda for Action – to be produced by PMNCH from the real-time input of hundreds of thousands of young people during October 2022 to October 2023 – will guide political advocacy efforts, targeting the window of political opportunity of the UN Sustainable Development Goals Summit in September 2023 and the G20 Summit in November 2023.

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Key features of the two-day programme

Key elements of the two-day main-stage programme

Certified, online advocacy capacity-building programmes

Concert, spoken word and video art

Digital Innovation Marketplace

Africa Regional Media Summit

Knowledge products: the AW Investment Case, Indicators & Monitoring framework, AA-HA! 2.0, Lancet Report, MAYE PGR

Awards and recognition for youth champions

Young parliamentarians Assembly + Ministerial dialogue

Inclusive youth-led events in countries, operated in real-time alongside global level events, curated and shared on a massive global stage

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Country events and products

Opportunity: Kickstart shifts in national policy and programme re-design through national multi-stakeholder dialogue

Inclusive, digitally powered approach to promoting adolescent well-being

PMNCH to support local planning efforts through resource packs and digital planning platforms

Forum messaging
1.8 billion young people for change branding
Activity suggestions
Social media + earned media templates
Knowledge and evidence products

INCLUSIVE youth-led events in countries, operated in real-time alongside global level events, curated and shared on the global stage

Agenda for Action for Adolescents a community engagement effort to capture the thoughts and opinions of young people

A digital crowdsourcing effort to engage young people in expressing what they want most for their own well-being.
Demands of more than one million young people captured chatbots + youth-led consultation exercises.

PMNCH partners in countries will plan and deliver national and sub-national Forum events for unprecedented political attention and public visibility for adolescent well-being

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There are several ways in which we will engage partners at the country level. This includes the national level forums and the Agenda for Action for Adolescents.

In the year leading up to the Forum, an Agenda for Action for Adolescents will be developed in partnership with young people to inform and drive advocacy efforts. As you know from the last SAC meeting, the AAA is overarching the entire campaign -- the "north star", if you will. So it is not specific to the Forum -- will be developed in the lead up and will be used to inform all of the policy dialogues and programming happening during the Forum. The Agenda will be based on an unprecedented digital crowdsourcing effort to engage young people in expressing what they want most for their own well-being. The demands of more than one million young people will be captured through a PMNCH Chatbot and complementary youth-led consultation exercises.

The global mainstage will live-cast key highlights of campaign events and activities happening in dozens of partner countries at the same time, organized by a broad range of PMNCH partners in countries. Connecting global programming with local programming will enable partners to share experiences and resources with each other, sending a powerful, inclusive message of action, everywhere, for adolescent well-being. Digital advocacy hubs at country level will facilitate local planning of activities and policy dialogues to facilitate commitment-making, docking into the wider PMNCH global Digital Advocacy Hub for Adolescent Well-Being, supporting the planning of the Global Forum overall.

Forum events in countries will engage youth in a big way – and will be operated real time alongside global level events, curated and shared on a global stage. National and municipal Forum events will be critical in gaining unprecedented political attention and public visibility for adolescent well-being.

They will serve as an opportunity for kickstarting shifts in national policy and programme re-design through national multi-stakeholder dialogue toward an inclusive, digitally powered approach to promoting adolescent well-being.

There will be immense support for these country led events for the country-based PMNCH partners and youth networks. This will include support through youth grants, a tailored online resource package of common Forum messaging, branding, activity suggestions, social media and earned media templates, and knowledge and evidence products to enable local planning and communication of events. PMNCH Digital Advocacy Hubs too will facilitate local planning process among partners.

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Recommendations emerging from AWF, the BMJ collection & multi-stakeholder consultations on frameworks for AAA

“Agenda for Action for Adolescents” to drive advocacy efforts

Governments and all stakeholders to protect adolescents in all their diversity, using principles of equity and equality, to promote the multi-dimensional nature of adolescent well-being in post Covid-19 and climate change affected world through data driven strengthened political commitment, policies and domestic resource mobilization and financing, supported by Official Development Assistance (ODA) to:

Ask 1: Promote agency and resilience through empowerment and engagement of adolescents and youth

Ask 2: Improve adolescent health and well-being

Ask 3: Prevent stigma and discrimination, and sexual and gender-based violence toward adolescents

Ask 4: Support adolescents to stay in school, invest in education and skill development

Ask 5: Foster connectedness, positive values and healthy relationships

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This is a snapshot of the asks that have been developed till date – and are currently loosely based on the 5 domains of the framework

Governments and all stakeholders to protect adolescents in all their diversity, using principles of equity and equality, to promote the multi-dimensional nature of adolescent well-being in post Covid-19 and climate change affected world through data driven strengthened political commitment, policies and domestic resource mobilization and financing, supported by Official Development Assistance (ODA) to:

Ask 1: Promote agency and resilience through empowerment and engagement of adolescents and youth from all communities in designing data driven and evidence-based policies & programmes, including programme implementation, governance, monitoring and evaluation

Ask 2: Improve adolescent health and well-being by addressing mental health & well-being issues, nutrition, reducing interpersonal violence, road injury, HIV and self-harm

Ask 3: Prevent stigma and discrimination, and sexual and gender-based violence toward adolescents through protection, sensitization, and education programmes including Comprehensive Sexuality Education

Ask 4: Support adolescents to stay in school, invest in education and skill development through targeted programmes and policies for all and especially those most at risk of dropping -out and non-enrollment;

Ask 5: Foster connectedness, positive values and healthy relationships through cohesive programming that focus on creating enabling environments at multiple levels e.g.,. the Community level, Familial level, School level and Digital Spaces.

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Suggested Programme tracks�5 domains including its interconnectedness (and sub-domains)

Track 1. Domain 1: Good health and optimum nutrition

Mental health
Nutrition
Physical health

Track 2. Domain 2: Connectedness, positive values and contribution to society

Mental health
Interpersonal skills and relationships: role of parents, peers, community

Track 3. Domain 3:

Safety and a supportive environment

SRHR
Gender Based Violence
Equity

Track 4. Domain 4: Learning, competence, education, skills and employability

Education
Employment

Track 5. Domain 5: Agency and resilience

Civic engagement
Self-identity
Disabilities

�

Humanitarian and Fragile Settings: a) Data or lack of data b) HFS and how these settings inhibit the achievement of the 5 domains
COVID-19: a) Effect of COVID-19 in achieving 5 domains of well-being: school closures, financial distress, digital technology
Digital Health & AI: a) Cyber security b) Tele-education, tele-medicine c) Digital divide
Climate Change: a) Civic engagement-agency and resilience b) Threat of climate change to the 5 domains
Youth Leadership & MAYE: a) Civic engagement- agency and resilience

€

Cross Cutting

themes

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PMNCH has submitted a vision paper to Government of India in support of an action plan for young people during the G20 Summit in Nov`23

The vision paper is designed to bring together the work of the G20 on young people through concerted multisectoral investment and action on health and well-being, education, and labour, to provide a comprehensive approach to developing the future generation.

The action plan is positioned as a landmark initiative for the 2023 G20, promoting investment in human capital, leveraging digital technology, artificial intelligence and advancing the development of the next generation.

It would advance the G20’s commitment to young people and build its reputation to deliver a concrete, pragmatic and essential initiative to support G20 societies and economies.

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Partner Engagement

The success of the Global Forum will be achieved by harnessing the power of the PMNCH partnership as well as by using digital technologies to engage a larger and more diverse audience in the movement for adolescent well-being.

Partners will be engaged through three main mechanisms:

PMNCH standing structures, including committees, working groups, constituencies

PMNCH partners at the national, regional and global levels who have volunteered to join Forum committees and/or engage in other ways

Community engagement

in developing the Agenda for Action for Adolescents

Youth leadership and inclusivity are critical to build a campaign that supports an equitable and sustainable adolescent well-being movement

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The campaign and the forum will truly be a partner-led initiative – where we will harness PMNCH's power of partnership, and engage partners far and wide to ensure that everyone who is passionate about adolescent well-being, is a part of this process. The global campaign and partner-led consultations are among the approaches that will be developed to foster intergenerational and multistakeholder engagement with the Forum and to support the meaningful involvement of marginalized groups such as young people in rural areas and young people with disabilities.

Like you can see on the slide, partners will be engaged through three different mechanisms:

a. The first - PMNCH standing structures:

We are working to leverage all of our 1,300+ member organizations to spark a movement. In addition to participation in Forum sub-committees and working groups, partners will be able to provide inputs and feedback through the Digital Advocacy Hubs and will be kept updated on progress through PMNCH’s communication channels.

b. Second, PMNCH partners at the national, regional and global levels.

In line with the suggestions of the Board and EC, partners will not only be engaged, they will be empowered to lead. Local planning efforts will be supported through resource packs (e.g., messaging, branding, activity suggestions, templates, knowledge and evidence products) and digital planning platforms. An online dashboard of results from the chatbot crowdsourcing effort will enable partners to develop national action agendas tailored to specific needs and contexts.

c. Third, Community engagement (grassroots mobilization)

Young people from different parts of the world are equal partners in this process. A "what youth want" approach will help draft The Agenda for Action for AY, which will guide the political advocacy efforts of all partners to strengthen commitments and accountability for Adolescent Well-Being. Digital technologies will be fully leveraged to enhance community engagement in the Forum and the wider campaign. To ensure no one is left behind, PMNCH-supported community youth and adolescent networks will engage digitally excluded communities through in-person activities and use technology to bridge the digital divide and connect these groups to the wider Forum.

Youth leadership and inclusivity are critical for us to build a movement, and they will underpin both the planning and realization at the global and national forums.

I will now hand over to Anshu to expand a little more on the partner led approach for planning the Forum.

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Adolescent well-being Advocacy Roadmap 2022-2023

2023

2022

HLPF July 5-15^th 2022

UNGA 13-27 Sept. 2022

Launch of the Adolescent Well-being BMJ Collection

12^th August International Youth Day: Launch of the MAYE Practical Guidance

10^th October World Mental Health Day

COP27

7-18 Nov.

Regional Forum for Sustainable Development March-April 2023

ECOSOC April 2023

Oct. 2023 PMNCH Global Forum for Adolescents

Launch of the Global AH-HA 2.0, MAYE Accountability Report, Professional Development Programme,

Adolescent Well-being

Investment Case

November 2023, G20, India

UNGA + SDG Summit + HLPF

12-25^th September

Launch of the Measurement Framework for Adolescent Well-being

Women Deliver 17-20 July 2023 Kigali

Rwanda

15^th July World Youth Skills Day

WHA

22-28 May

World Bank, World Youth Summit:

26-27 May

September 2022 TBC UNESCO Transforming Education Summit as part of the “Our Common Agenda Initiative”

One Young World’s Global Forum for Young Leaders 5-8^th September

International Conference on Family Planning Pattaya, Thailand�14-17 Nov 2022

PMNCH-led side event focusing on adolescent well-being

COP28

6-17 Nov.

9-13 October 145th Session of the IPU

IPU Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians,

May TBC 2022 in Egypt

Key

▲ Commemorative days

▲ UN milestones to socialize adolescent well-being agenda and the Forum and indicate launch of a product

▲Partner led events to socialize the adolescent well-being agenda and the Forum and mobilize support for it

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This is an advocacy roadmap which outlines a list of events and commemorative days we believe can be leveraged to socialise and mobilize support for the Forum. The events have been colour coded where

Green: Commemorative days that could serve as opportunity to work with partners
Blue and bold text: UN milestones to socialize adolescent well-being agenda and the Forum and indicate launch of a product
Purple: Partner led events to socialize the adolescent well-being agenda and the Forum and mobilize support for it

If this group would like to flag any other events then please let us know in the chat or during the upcoming discussion.

Goals:

HLPF July 5th-5th 2022 Goals: 1) agreed language on adolescent well-being included in the 2022 HLPF Declaration 2) Advocacy to secure adolescents as a focus area of the 2023 SDG Review Process
12th August International Youth Day: Launch of the MAYE Practical Guidance
UNGA 13-27 Sept. 2022 Goal: Promote MAYE and evidence on AWBI: launch of MAYE Practical Guidance and the Adolescent Well-being BMJ Collection.
Regional Forum for Sustainable Development March-April 2023 Goal: 1) Mobilize Member States to support the inclusion of language on adolescent well-being in the HLPF Declaration and outcome document. 2) Advocacy to ensure periodic review of progress on adolescents as part of the SDG review process.
ECOSOC April 2023 Goals: 1)Language on adolescent well-being is included in the 2023 HLPF Declaration. 2) Agreement to include periodic review of progress on adolescents as part of the SDG review process
Women Deliver 17-20 July 2023 Kigali Rwanda Goals: 1) Build on the momentum of the Women Deliver Conference to mobilize support for the Global Forum for Adolescents
HLPF July 2023: Goals: 1) Language on adolescent well-being included in the 2023 HLPF Declaration & 2) adolescents included in the 2023 SDG Review Process. Launch of the Measurement Framework for Adolescent Well-being.
Oct. 2023 PMNCH Global Forum for Adolescents: Goal: Global virtual event of 1m+ participants expands global movement for MAYE and adolescent well-being; equips partners with tools for action’ raises global visibility and demands for new commitments (e.g. G20); supports implementation of SDG Summit pledges by sparking country-level policy and programming approaches. Launch of the Global AH-HA 2.0, MAYE Accountability Report, Professional Development Programme, Adolescent Well-being Investment Case
November 2023, G20, India Goal: G20 members to launch signature financing initiative for Adolescent Well-being

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Thank you