25 years. Four countries.
One powerful evidence-base.

Young Lives Ethiopia has launched initial findings from its sixth round of qualitative longitudinal research (Qual 6).

The report Experiences of Young Lives During Crises in Ethiopia, draws on over 20 years of longitudinal research, capturing young people’s lived experiences as they face multiple, overlapping crises—conflict, COVID-19, rising living costs, and climate shocks—and the impacts on their health, well-being, education, work and migration.

When conflict erupted in northern Ethiopia in 2020, Young Lives was the only longitudinal study collecting real-time data in Tigray and Amhara.

Read the University of Oxford's latest feature on how Young Lives captured first-hand accounts of how conflict affects young people’s lives—and the study’s recommendations for governments, donors, NGOs and community groups.

Only days after the high-level launch of findings from Young Lives Ethiopia's sixth wave of qualitative longitudinal research (Qual 6) in Addis Ababa, Young Lives Ethiopia Country Director Alula Pankhurst met with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper to share Qual 6 findings on migration, at an event organised by FCDO Ethiopia. 

Young Lives’ latest impact case study shows that effective policies must be broad and inclusive to meet the diverse needs of disadvantaged children and young people. That means combining sustainable, pro-poor economic growth; inclusive social protection; and long-term investment in social sectors.

But evidence alone isn’t enough - real change happens when research is turned into action, backed by strong, long-term relationships with policymakers.

Young Lives Senior Quantitative Researcher Alan Sánchez recently spoke at the LSE Student Union alongside Jaime Saavedra (The World Bank Regional Director for Human Development for Latin America and the Caribbean and former Minister of Education of Peru) in front of an audience that included the former Minister of Finance of Peru Luis Miguel Castilla Rubio.

Socialprotection.org Podcast: Social Inclusion Series Ep. 1 | Supporting Adolescent Girls Through Social Protection: a Turning Point for Inclusion.

Young Lives' Deputy Director Kath Ford discusses why investing in adolescent girls is essential for building inclusive, resilient, climate-adaptive societies.

The Naked Scientists Podcast | 10 April 2026, Time stamp: 09:36

Young Lives Director Marta Favara discusses the power of longitudinal studies with Dr Chris Smith.

By tracking lives over time, this research provides governments and international organisations with robust, objective data to better tackle inequality and improve outcomes for individuals. In particular, Young Lives' holistic approach highlights the need for more cross sectional intervention.

Experiences of Young Lives During Crises in Ethiopia Initial Evidence from the Sixth Wave of Qualitative Research (Qual 6)

This report presents key research findings from initial analysis of Young Lives Ethiopia's sixth wave of qualitative longitudinal research (Qual 6). It examines related trends identified through the Young Lives Round 7 quantitative survey conducted in 2023–24 and highlights key changes since both Round 7 and the previous Young Lives qualitative study (Qual 5) in 2019.

Literature Review of Health Services and Trends in Health Expenditure and Health Outcomes in Ethiopia

Published as part of Young Lives Ethiopia's sixth wave of qualitative longitudinal research (Qual 6), this report uses uses data from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS), the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and UNICEF to provide essential background information for the research.

When choice matters: The asymmetric effects of precommitment implementation on healthy food choice

This paper investigates the role of precommitment (making a choice in the present to ensure a future course of action) in making healthy food choices, using a lab-in-the-field experiment embedded in the Young Lives longitudinal study in Peru. 

Strengthening Resilience of Young Lives in Ethiopia in Times of Crises

This policy brief presents recommendations based on initial findings from Qual 6, as well as more than two decades of Young Lives longitudinal research. The recommendations are designed to inform policies and programmes aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable young people and their families during times of crises in Ethiopia. 

Love thy neighbour? Violent armed conflict and trust: Evidence from Ethiopia

This study investigates the effects of exposure to violent conflict on trust among young adults in Ethiopia, using data collected via audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI).

Economic inequalities in adolescents’ internalising symptoms: longitudinal evidence from eight countries

Research, mainly conducted in Europe and North America, has shown an inequitable burden of internalising mental health problems among adolescents from poorer households. Using Young Lives data in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam, as well as data from longitudinal studies in Australia, Mexico, South Africa and the UK, this report investigates whether these mental health inequalities differ across a diverse range of countries and multiple measures of economic circumstances.

Adolescents’ Relationships With Their Parents and Peers as Mediators Between Economic Circumstances and Emotional Symptoms: A Multi-country Longitudinal Analysis

Using Young Lives data from Peru, Ethiopia and Vietnam, this report investigates whether adolescents' relationships with their parents and peers mediate the association between their economic circumstances and emotional symptoms.

Factors Associated with Mental Health among Young Adults: Cross-Country Longitudinal Evidence from Ethiopia, India, and Peru

Using data from over two decades of Young Lives research in Peru, India and Ethiopia, this paper shows that risk and protective factors accumulate over the life course. The evidence underscores the need for comprehensive, context-sensitive, gender-sensitive mental health policies that address risks from early stages.

The March CYW-RPF Newsletter is now available!

Explore research on child domestic work, women’s migration in Ethiopia and the latest Qual 6 report on youth well-being amid overlapping crises.