Kathmandu, Oct 5 (IANS): Nepal launched a national development plan Friday to address the challenges and development needs of adolescents in the country, Xinhua reported.

The National Plan of Action (NPA) on Holistic Development of Adolescents was launched here to mark the International Day of the Girl Child, which is observed around the world Oct 11.

The day was observed a week ahead in order to avoid collision with the upcoming Dashain festival, the biggest festival in the country that sees seven days of national holiday, said UNICEF, a key partner of the government in launching the plan.

The NPA was finalised following consultations with 2,000 adolescents and 1,000 adult stakeholders from all over the country.

An inter-ministerial task team under the leadership of the National Planning Commission (NPC) along with several NGOs assisted actively in the process.

Once implemented, the NPA aims to create an enabling policy environment, develop a sensitive and responsive system and streamline coordinated efforts to address the harmful social norms, challenges and development needs of adolescents.

UNICEF country representative Hanaa Singer said adolescents constitute 24.19 percent of Nepal's total population of 26.49 million.