Why We Must Invest in Early Adolescence: Early Intervention, Lasting Impact

Over the past 20 years, we have seen global reductions in maternal mortality and gains in early childhood survival [1]. As world leaders are now increasingly focused on achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to ensure that all women, girls, and adolescents have equal chances of surviving and thriving, it is timely for us as funders to use our collective voice to heighten global attention and investment to one specific, and often understudied, group: young adolescents aged 10e14 years. As individuals move from childhood to adolescence, they enter a dynamic period of developmentda time when health attitudes and behaviors and gender norms are shaped [2]. The literature shows that early adolescence, in particular, is marked by an increase in restrictions placed on girls and greater independence afforded to boys. For both groups, there are strong social pressures to conform to existing gender norms. This early period of adolescence is a largely unstudied phase of life, yet evidence suggests that this is an opportune time for communities to encourage the development of positive health and equitable gender norms early in life that can be transformative both immediately and over the life course [3,4]. But, how does one develop positive social and gender norms among youth aged 10e14 years? Very little evidence guides us toward appropriate interventions. As funders, we are committed to investing in research and interventions that ensure young people live healthy and