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West and Central Africa’s population is predominantly young, representing a huge resource for the region. However, a lack of access to health, education and employment is holding these young people back.
 
UNFPA recognizes the critical importance of investing in adolescents and youth to harness the demographic dividend in West and Central Africa. The potential of the youth population to positively contribute to the realization of the demographic demographic will only succeed if there are significant investments in lowering fertility rates, improving maternal mortality rates and educating and empowering young people.
 
UNFPA’s West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) has embraced this strategy and is using the organization’s four modes of engagement: high-level advocacy and policy dialogue; knowledge management; service delivery and capacity development to bring about the necessary changes.