World Bank2024-05-312024-05-312024-05-31https://hdl.handle.net/10986/41636Overlapping crises such as climate change, the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, regional conflicts and rising global food insecurity exacerbate the inequalities faced by adolescent girls, making them particularly vulnerable in these critical times. For many girls, these circumstances force them to make decisions about employment and their fertility at an early age, limits their access to formal education, and further exposes them to restrictive social norms. Additionally, domestic responsibilities limit adolescent girls’ time in school and educational achievement, in turn curtailing their ability to enter the labor force. With 60 percent of the total population of Africa under the age of 25, investing in empowering adolescent girls is critical to accelerate economic growth and reduce intergenerational poverty.en-USCC BY-NC 3.0 IGOAFRICA GENDER POLICYGENDER INNOVATION LABWOMEN AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENTGENDER EQUALITYSDG 5DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTHSDG 8EDUCATION ACCESS AND EQUITYADOLESCENT HEALTHYOUTH EMPLOYMENTGENDER AND GROWTHGOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEINGSDG 3QUALITY EDUCATIONSDG 4BriefWorld Bank10.1596/41636