Welcome to Think Tank Launch

The Africa Think Tank on Youth and Adolescent Health, a transformative initiative to advance the health and well-being of young people across the continent, is set to be officially launched on June 25th, 2024, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This pivotal initiative is a key component of the ARISE-NUTRINT Initiatives, aimed at driving innovative research and policy development to address critical health challenges faced by adolescents and youths in Africa.

Introduction to the Africa Think Tank

Hosted at the University of Ibadan Research Foundation (UIRF) in collaboration with the African Academy of Public Health (AAPH), Tanzania, the Africa Think Tank is designed to bridge the knowledge gap and foster innovations for healthy living among young Africans. The Think Tank will harness the expertise of a Core Think Tank Committee and Special Thematic Working Groups (STWGs) to conduct comprehensive research and develop actionable policy recommendations.

Special Thematic Working Groups (STWGs)

The STWGs are the driving engine of the Africa Think Tank, focusing on three critical health domains:

Nutrition & Physical Activity: Promoting nutrition fluency and physical activity among youths and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Sexual & Reproductive Health: Enhancing SRH literacy and access to services, addressing challenges like social norms, contraceptive use, and menstrual health.

Mental Health & Violence: Improving mental health literacy, access to services, and addressing violence through innovative approaches like comic strip interventions.

Each STWG will consist of domain experts, a PhD student or a Postdoc, and will be coordinated by a member of the Policy Imperative Working Group (PIWG). The groups will conduct systematic reviews of research, assess policy challenges, highlight scientific advances, identify research gaps, and develop policy options for enhancing adolescent and youth health in Africa.

Inaugural and Periodic Meetings

The foundational meeting of the Core Committee will take place on June 25 to 26, 2024, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This meeting will define the scope of the Think Tank's activities and establish a roadmap for future research and policy development. Annual revisions and additional meetings will ensure the Think Tank remains responsive to global health developments

Conclusion

The Africa Think Tank on Youth and Adolescent Health represents a significant step forward in addressing the health needs of young people across Africa. By leveraging the expertise of leading health professionals and institutions, the Think Tank aims to create impactful, evidence-based policies that will improve the lives of adolescents and youths across the continent.