There are 3.1 billion people aged 0-24 worldwide. Children and youth make up 42.31% of the world population. What is more, compared with 1990 when 11.9% of children and youth lived in least developed countries (LDCs), 18.4% of children and youth now live in LDCs as of 2015. This trend is going to continue, given wide-spread and accelerating changes in the demographic structures of many developing countries. The demographic dividends associated with these developments represent important opportunities for future growth, but require prioritizing and bolstering public investments in child-focused programs and services today.
The Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA) recognizes that investing in children and youth is essential for achieving the agenda 2030’s wider goal of inclusive and sustainable development. This language moves beyond previous financing agreements of Monterrey and Doha, by treating children and youth as active agents of future growth and development, rather than just passive recipients of social assistance. The AAAA also includes a range of additional commitments for children and youth, such as under the new social compact (12), with regard to youth employment and the promotion of national youth strategies (16), access to technology and science for youth and children (114), in global partnerships (77) and education (78), with regard to the human rights of girls (78) and migrants (112), and as part of responsible business (37).
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