This working document, drawn up on the basis of the World Bank report, focuses on Africa and more specifically West and Central Africa, and gives an overview of the efforts required in this part of the world with regard to a ‘catching-up’ strategy to stop it lagging further, the key development stakes and challenges it faces. It also underlines Africa’s comparative advantage compared to other regions of the world in terms of its large demographic potential.

This newsletter presents the highlights of the visit of the Director of UNFPA's West and Central Africa Regional Office to the Republic of Congo. During his visit to the Congo, Mr. Mabingue Ngom, had the opportunity, through field visits and meetings with partners, to see for himself the reality on the ground. Congo might be an orange country, but looking back at his visit, the Regional Director confessed that UNFPA Congo’s challenges are the same, if not worse, than those faced by red LIC’s.

नेपालको कानुनले २० वर्ष पूरा गरेपछि मात्र विवाहका लागि योग्य मानिएको भनिए पनि अझै २९ प्रतिशतको विवाह १८ वर्ष नपुग्दै हुने गरेको छ।  तसर्थ सन् २०३० सम्म नेपालबाट बालविवाह अन्त्य गर्ने लक्ष्यसहित नेपाल सरकारले बालविवाह अन्त्यका लागि राष्ट्रिय रणनीति २०७२ जारी गरेको हो । किशोरकिशोरीसँग सम्बन्धित सबै मुद्दा सम्बोधन गर्न र बालविवाह अन्त्यका लागि कानुन कार्यान्वयन गर्न यस रणनीतिले प्रभावकारी भूमिका निर्वाह गर्नेछ भन्ने अपेक्षा यूएनएफपीए राख्दछ ।

What the world will look like in 15 years will depend on our doing everything in our power to ignite the potential of a 10-year-old girl today.

The new United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its accompanying 17 Sustainable Development Goals aim for equitable, inclusive development that leaves no one behind. This 15-year plan promises to help transform the futures of millions of 10-year-old girls who have traditionally been left behind.