Girls’ Education Finance: Empowerment for Girls’ Education

Project completed implementation in August 2020

This project supported 28,898 girls, giving them the best possible chance to continue and complete their education using a market-driven approach to educational improvement. The project worked with 2,610 households and 132 schools to tackle economic and social barriers to girls' education.

It aimed to reduce absenteeism and drop-out rates and create improved learning environments with school improvement loans, enhanced school governance, and teacher training. The Education Quality programming brought together school cluster groups organised by, and for, schools, through a Self-Improving School System. Girls and their families were supported with tailored savings and school fee loans to help meet the cost of education. Girls' Clubs provided financial education, life-skills and entrepreneurship training to motivate and inspire girls to continue with, and ultimately finish, their education.

Activities

• Improved the quality of education through teacher training, curriculum development, mentoring and support for teachers from educational specialists
• Built girls’ self-esteem in Girls' Clubs through life-skills development, sexual reproductive health awareness and entrepreneurship training
• Provided school fee loans to households to assist girls’ in continuing their education, preventing drop-out, and improving transition rates from primary to secondary school
• Provided 132 school improvement loans to improve school infrastructure, water sanitation and hygiene facilities, and teaching resources
• Opened 2,350 child savings accounts to help girls save for their education and future

Opportunity International: https://opportunity.org.uk/