Technical Brief #4: Enhancing Adolescent Wellbeing, Learning and Opportunities

There are over 1.2 billion adolescents in the world today, an all-time high. The vast majority of these 10-to-19-year-olds live in lower and middle-income countries (LMICs). Adolescence is a transformational phase of human life, but also a period of heightened risk and vulnerability. International literature identifies quality secondary education as a pivotal factor in raising the future opportunities for adolescents.

The brief showcases VVOB’s work across Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, Cambodia, Ecuador, and Suriname, illustrating how professional development for teachers and school leaders creates pathways for adolescents to succeed. The publication focuses on three interrelated levers of change—creating safe and supportive schools, ensuring equity, and enabling smooth transitions to work and further learning—showing how these align with SDG4 targets for quality education and lifelong learning.