Many unhealthy behaviors often begin during adolescence and represent major public health challenges. Substance abuse has a major impact on individuals, families, and communities, as its effects are cumulative, contributing to costly social, physical, and mental health problems.

Adolescent health and development are key foundations for a country's economic development and political stability.

West and Central Africa (WCA) is the region of the world with the largest percentage of young people and the highest gender disparity in education. A number of factors are responsible for the persistent gender disparities in education.

Early adolescence, age 10 to 14, is a pivotal moment in the lives of young girls and boys around the world.

This annotated inventory contributes to strengthening linkages between HIV/AIDS and SRH programmes by providing access to relevant programming tools for fostering such linkages, and pointing out gap areas where tools need to be developed.

This discussion series is produced by the Health, Nutrition, and Population Family (HNP) of the World Bank's Human Development Network. The series provides a vehicle for publishing preliminary and unpolished result of HNP topics to encourage discussion and debate.