Nutrition a key pillar at the 2017 Global Adolescent Health Conference

From 16-17 May 2017, the Global Adolescent Health Conference: Unleashing the Power of a Generation, organised by the Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health, was held in Ottawa, Canada, and brought together nearly 400 development organisations and representatives from governments, academia and development from around the world.

Guided by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Every Woman Every Child Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, the Conference focused on four issue pillars: Nutrition; Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights; Mental Health; and Data. Participants include government officials, civil society leaders, academia and youth themselves.

Empowering our youth will be key if we are to ignite their potential to be the first generation to end poverty and the last to take climate action to stop irreversible damage to our planet.”

Amina J. Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General.

As part of the official conference programme, Nutrition International hosted a plenary panel titled, “Unlocking Potential: Scaling Up Nutrition for Adolescents” on 17 May, moderated by Katja Iversen, President and CEO of Women Deliver, to recognise both the fundamental importance of scaling up nutrition and the significant challenges in reaching adolescents with nutrition interventions.

The session offered first-hand insight into strategies for overcoming barriers and opening doors to improved nutrition with a focus on data and gender gaps, evidence based solutions to scaling up nutrition for adolescents, and building community support for nutrition interventions.

Learn more: Conference website, Nutrition International

Also launched during the conference was the “Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents (AA-HA!): Guidance to support country implementation”. 

Advocating for Change for Adolescents

The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) and Women Deliver launched the Advocating for Change for Adolescents Toolkit, developed by young people, for young people, at the conference. The toolkit includes interactive and practical exercises and aims to encourage meaningful engagement of youth and drive positive advocacy and accountability efforts.

Advocating for Change for Adolescents Toolkit: Download

Had very good meeting with HE Minister Bibeau #Canada; discussed her added value 4 @SUN_Movement as member of Lead Group. https://t.co/nJrZcqkf2K

— Gerda Verburg (@GerdaVerburg) May 17, 2017

Honoured to have welcomed @GerdaVerburg of @SUN_Movement in our Ottawa office today to discuss our partnership! @JoelCSpicer @Luz_De_Regil pic.twitter.com/NyNsEIVTvJ

— NutritionIntl (@NutritionIntl) May 16, 2017