Over the last 25 years, the world has made tremendous strides in shaping a more gender-equal world. Still, millions of adolescent girls and young women face barriers to realizing their health and rights. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has created new setbacks and widened the gulf for girls and women, the Generation Equality Forum (GEF),which began in Mexico City in March and culminates in Paris in June, affords us a unique opportunity to accelerate progress for all.

Adolescent experiences following covid-19 lockdowns in low- and middle-income countries

As part of AGIP’s advocacy strategy within Generation Equality, we have organised a number of virtual engagements, dialogues and meetings with girl and youth-led organisations, adolescent girls, youth networks and groups to craft strategic messages on adolescents girls priorities within each of the 6 Action Coalitions of GE.

In May 2020, AGIP (Adolescent Girls Investment Plan) initiative drafted a joint paper ‘adolescent girls at the centre‘, calling for concerted efforts to put adolescent girls at the centre of developing the Action Coalition process as part of Generation Equality. AGIP highlights priority areas for the movement to be responsive to adolescent girls in the current pandemic and beyond. The joint paper is authored by the following members of the Adolescent Girls Investment Plan (AGIP): Girls Not Brides, Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE/ODI), ICRW, IPPF, Malala Fund, Plan International, Women Deliver.

Covid-19 risk pathways for adolescent girls in low and middle income countries