The HSRC hosted a peer review meeting of the Second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing in Cape Town from 4–8 December. At the meeting, 29 commissioners, 4 senior peer reviewers and 5 youth peer reviewers from 21 countries considered the initial report, which had been 3½ years in the making. Working across 12 topics, the report will focus on key actions needed to ensure positive outcomes for the young people of today, the next generation of adults, and their children.

Given current demographic shifts and the likelihood that half of the world’s young people will be growing up in sub-Saharan Africa by the end of the century, the Commission emphasised the participation of commissioners living and/or working in Africa. It has also adopted an innovative intergenerational partnership approach to Commission membership with workstreams co-led by senior academics, emerging and early-career research leaders, and youth advocates. The final report will be released in late 2024 and will catalyse several Lancet publications as well as government–civil society dialogues. Professor Sharlene Swartz from the HSRC’s Equitable Education and Economies (EEE) division is a Commissioner of the inquiry.

On the first day of the meeting, data on South African youth were presented. Researchers and key stakeholders from the South African government and NGOs discussed and debated trends, and made inputs to improve the quality of data available and to ensure appropriate disaggregation for meaningful analysis in the report. Dr Andrea Juan (EEE) led this sub-national data meeting, also attended by HSRC staff, Dr Ben Roberts, Dr Mokhantso Makoae (DCES) and Dr Lehlogonolo Makola (PHSB). Three of the HSRC’s emerging researchers, Hlumisa Xakaza, Leya Mgebisa and Zimingonaphakade Singenu (all EEE), also participated in the engagement as observers.