The Adolescent and Young Adult Health Unit (AYH) leads and coordinates WHO-wide efforts to improve the health and well-being of adolescents and young adults. AYH focuses on developing evidence-based guidelines, norms and standards, and on supporting regions and countries in their adaptation, implementation and monitoring. AYH supports translation of WHO guidance into national strategies and plans and strengthening of national and sub-national health systems to adequately respond to the needs of adolescents and young adults. 

Priority areas include evidence-based policy and programme implementation at country level, school health, quality of adolescent health care, and standardizing monitoring and measurement of adolescent health.

The AYH Unit leads strategic initiatives such as the implementation of the Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents (AA-HA!), of Global standards for quality health-care services for adolescents, the development of Global standards for health promoting schools, and the Global Action for Measurement of Adolescent health (GAMA) technical advisory group.

The AYH Unit’s work is done in close collaboration with other WHO Departments, including, for example, in the areas of alcohol and substance use, environment, health promotion, HIV/AIDS, injury, mental health, mortality, nutrition, physical activity, sexual and reproductive health, and violence. The AYH Unit also works closely with UN and external partners to improve the health of adolescents and young adults globally.