Request for concept notes to advance adolescent sexual and reproductive health research – World Health Organization

Context

In 2010, the UN’s Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP) based at the World Health Organization (WHO), convened a technical consultation on the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of young people in developing countries. One central recommendation was to expand focus beyond 15-19-year-olds to address adolescents who are 10-19 years-old.

There was also a strong belief, in 2010, that programs and services directed at adolescents in general, and younger adolescents in particular (e.g., sexuality education), needed to be developmentally appropriate. Without research to base such recommendations , age became the proxy; and without sufficient data to the contrary, conservative age cut-offs were the norm.

In 2022, HRP decided to take stock of what had been learnt in the intervening years with a specific emphasis on young adolescents and sexual and reproductive health. Five priority papers were commissioned: 1. Trends in adolescent health over the past decade; 2. Risk and protective factors related to sexual health outcomes for young adolescents; 3. Laws and policies that have improved adolescent health; 4. Interventions that have made a difference for sexual and reproductive health outcomes and how have they worked; and 5. Research advances in adolescent health: principles and approaches. In September 2024, the papers were published open access in the Journal of Adolescent Health and launched at an event on the sidelines of the Summit for the Future.

This past year WHO undertook an exercise to solicit global input with the goal of identifying priority issues warranting investment and research that will advance adolescent health and most specifically sexual and reproductive health over the next decade. The priority research areas noted below have been derived from that process. 

Sexual and reproductive health research priorities for young adolescents 2025-2035

• How does the use of social media affect young adolescents’ SRHR – both positively and negatively? 
• What are the mental health challenges faced by young adolescents and how do these affect their SRHR? 
• How do the SRHR needs of young adolescents vary by subpopulations (e.g., different genders, displaced populations, ethnic minorities, people living with disabilities, or other marginalized populations)? 
• How can implementation of comprehensive sexuality education be strengthened among young adolescents?  
• What are the most critical modifiable factors that should be addressed to promote SRHR of young adolescents (including addressing early pregnancy, child marriage and gender-based violence)?  
• How can interventions/services be developed and delivered that meet the specific health needs of adolescents, taking into account age, developmental needs and the involvement of caregivers where appropriate? 
• Where do young adolescents seek information on SRHR (e.g., peers, school, teachers, caregivers, digital technologies)?  
• How can young adolescents be meaningfully engaged in the co-design of programmes and services that meet their needs? 
• What do young adolescents consider as positive aspects of SRHR in their lives? 
• How can access to training and resources for health care and educational providers be improved to inform high quality implementation of services for young adolescents? 

Purpose of the request for concept notes

The present request for concept notes is intended to advance the above priorities through research. Research can include: developing and testing a new intervention or replicating an existing intervention that has been shown to be effective in a new context (simply replicating an intervention is not in itself research). Both experimental designs and implementation research will be considered. Research can be descriptive such as undertaking a survey on knowledge, attitudes and perspectives of adolescents toward a specific issue or analyzing demographic data to answer specific questions or it can study how laws and/or policies impact populations of young people. Systematic and other types of literature reviews will not qualify in this RFP.  Pre-submission inquiries regarding the suitability of a proposal for this specific call are encouraged and can be directed to Sheri Bastien at srhrel@who.int.

Preparing your application

Applications must be in English using 11-point Times New Roman or similar font. Please limit your submission to no more than three pages. Applications must answer each of the following: 

1. What priority will be the focus of the study? (Applications must focus on one of the priorities stated above.) 
2. What are the research questions guiding the study? (1-2 research questions) 
3. What is the knowledge gap this research will aim to address and how might that knowledge improve adolescent health? 
4. What is the potential for the study to have impact at the national, regional or global level? 
5. What is the population of focus in the research? (Although the intent of this RFP is on young adolescents under age 15 years-old, proposals can include older adolescents as well.) 
6. What methods will be used to conduct the study?  Given that determinants of adolescent health and wellbeing often cross disciplinary boundaries (for example, health and education), a multidisciplinary approach is strongly encouraged. 
7. What are the resources required to undertake the study (financial, ethical approvals, expertise, access to specific populations etc.)? 
8. Who are the collaborating partners/ organizations (if any)?  
9. Who will be on the research team (please provide names and titles/ affiliations)? 
10. What are the problems/ barriers and/or ethical concerns that might arise doing this research and how will these be addressed? 

Eligibility

Any individual or team member from the following is eligible to apply:

There is no restriction as to settings for the research. For example, any of the following are all potential settings: clinics, schools, community organizations, sports and recreational settings, religious institutions and prisons (these are only examples). The settings for the study should be determined by the research question(s).  

Budget

If the study is selected through this RFP, US$2500 will be provided to the lead applicant. This is intended to contribute to the further development and articulation of the research proposal.

Important dates

February 21st: all applications must be submitted by 11:59PM (23:59) CET (Geneva time). All applications must be submitted via email to: srhrel@who.int . NOTE: Late applications will not be accepted (no exceptions).

March 14th: The lead applicant will be notified at the email address provided that their proposal was selected as a finalist and that a representative from the team is invited to a workshop. Further workshop details will be provided at this time. Travel costs to the meeting are to be covered by WHO/HRP. NOTE: We are unable to notify all applicants who are not finalists; neither are we able to provide feedback on all applications as to why they are not finalists.

March 18th: Lead applicant of application confirms receipt of notice and confirms availability to attend the workshop planned for all finalists.

May: A three-day workshop is planned for all finalists to assist in preparing award-winning proposals.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The issues highlighted in the article relate to the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of young adolescents, which align with SDG 3. Additionally, the article mentions the need for developmentally appropriate programs and services, which connects to SDG 4. The article also emphasizes the importance of addressing the SRHR needs of different subpopulations, including gender minorities, displaced populations, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities, which relates to SDG 5 and SDG 10. Lastly, the article mentions the involvement of caregivers and the need for meaningful engagement of young adolescents, which aligns with SDG 16.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
• SDG 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including among others through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
• SDG 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights as agreed in accordance with the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of their review conferences.
• SDG 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.
• SDG 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels.

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are related to ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health services (SDG 3.7), promoting education for sustainable development and gender equality (SDG 4.7), ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights (SDG 5.6), reducing inequalities and eliminating discriminatory laws and policies (SDG 10.3), and promoting inclusive and participatory decision-making (SDG 16.7).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 3.7.1: Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods
• Indicator 4.7.1: Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development (including climate change education) are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment
• Indicator 5.6.1: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care
• Indicator 10.3.1: Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law
• Indicator 16.7.1: Proportions of positions in public institutions (national and local legislatures, public service, and judiciary) compared to national distributions, by sex, age, persons with disabilities, and population groups

The article does not explicitly mention indicators, but the identified targets can be measured using the indicators mentioned above. These indicators can help track progress towards ensuring access to family planning, integrating education for sustainable development and gender equality, promoting informed decision-making in reproductive health, reducing discrimination and harassment, and achieving inclusive representation in public institutions.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: who.int