“The first-ever USAID Youth in Development Policy (PDF) … provides important opportunities to involve global youth in shaping our development agenda and advancing their health and rights,” the Youth Health and Rights Coalition writes in USAID’s “IMPACTblog.” Given that “nearly half of the world’s population — some three billion people — is under the age of 25 … the policy is particularly timely and critical,” the blog states, adding, “It rightly acknowledges that in order for young people to realize their potential and contribute to the development of countries, they must be able to access information and services that protect their rights and promote their sexual and reproductive health throughout their life span” (1/16).