The AA-HA! guidance aims to assist governments in deciding what they plan to do – and how they plan to do it – as they respond to the health needs of adolescents in their countries. It is intended as a reference document for national-level policy-makers and programme managers to assist them in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of adolescent health programmes. After a brief introduction which summarizes the main arguments for investing in adolescent health, the document details the key steps from understanding the country’s epidemiological profile, to undertaking a landscape analysis to clarify what is already being done and by whom, to conducting a consultative process for setting priorities, to planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating national adolescent health programmes, and ends with key research priorities. It provides case studies to illustrate that what is being recommended can be done, and in some cases has already been done.

The meaningful involvement of young people in all aspects of their own, and their communities’, development brings multiple benefits. From an operational perspective, adolescent participation contributes to better decisions and policies. It allows decision-makers to tap into adolescents’ unique perspectives, knowledge and experiences, which brings a better understanding of their needs and problems and leads to better solutions. Furthermore, respecting adolescents’ views regarding their health-care ensures that more adolescents will seek services and remain engaged in accessing them.

From an ethical and human rights perspective, the right of adolescents to participate in decision-making is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and reinforced in the recent General Comment on the implementation of the rights of the child during adolescence. Support for this right is a way to promote health equity. The underlying causes of inequities are the unequal distribution of power, money and resources. Therefore, the involvement, empowerment and meaningful participation of all adolescents – including both adolescent boys and girls and the most vulnerable adolescents – together constitute one of the mechanisms to achieve equity. Available in French, Portuguese, and Spanish from WHO, with additional materials in Arabic, Chinese, and Russian.