wiv INVEST IWADOLESCENTS PL ee Adolescence is a transitional period between childhood and adulthood which encompasses rapid physical growth and ssoxual maturation combined with motional, social and cognitive development. Whila UNICEF recognizes that indvidual diversity makes it diffcul to define a universal age for the start or end ofthis critical period, defining a specific age span is essential for monitoring progress across contexts and across time. Therefore, UNICEF follows the WHO definition of adolescents which is ‘persons from 10 through 19 years of age’. Ths allows UNICEF to align its adolescent programming ‘with other global data, policy and programme frameworks. Within UNICEF's focus on adolescants, however, program- ming efforts frequently include young people above 19 years as partners, advocates, key influencers and change makers, ‘who support the delivery of programmes for chiliren and adolescents. Annex 1 presents the different stages of adolescence and young adulthood in terms of physical growth as well as brain, social and emotional development. Early Mid Childhood Childhood > Age PROGRAMMING WITH AND FOR ADOLESCENTS 9