Building the foundations for sustainable development: a case for global investment in the capabilities of adolescents

Building the capabilities of adolescents is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

This article looks at interventions that aim to improve adolescent health and well-being in five areas - physical, mental, and sexual health; secondary schooling; child marriage; violence against women; and road traffic injury.

The research found that interventions targeting adolescent health and well-being - including those to reduce child marriage - had high social and economic returns, especially in low income countries.

The study calls for large-scale investments in adolescents in national and international policies.