In West and Central Africa, 64 per cent of the population is below the age of 24 years.1  If this population were educated, healthy and employed, the region could benefit from the demographic dividend. However, one of the major obstacles to capturing the demographic dividend is the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of adolescents and youth2 in the region, which is characterized by high rates of adolescent pregnancies and a high proportion of unmet family planning needs.