UK-funded girls education programme in Somalia receives major boost
Over 52,000 marginalised girls in schools across rural and urban Somalia will continue to have access to quality education.
United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced new partnership on the 15th November to support and improve access to quality education for Somali young women and girls.
USAID is contributing $5 million to DFID’s already existing $33.7 million Girls’ Education Challenge - Transition (GEC-T) program, a global program working in 27 countries. In Somalia, GEC-T is improving the lives of Somali girls, helping Somalia achieve its commitments under the Sustainable Development Goal 4 - equal access to education for boys and girls by 2030.
With these funds, over 52,000 marginalized girls in 365 schools and 19 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp schools across rural and urban Somalia will continue to have access to a quality education.
Dr. Phil Evans, Head of DFID Somalia, said:
We are proud of GEC-T’s achievements in Somalia. The gains made in attendance, learning and sustainability are significant. With these new funds, we can expand our approach to ensure a focus on transition to upper primary and secondary schools, and sustainability at the school, community and system levels.
Jeffrey N. Bakken, Mission Director for USAID/Somalia, said:
We look forward to this expanded partnership with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education. We know that when girls go to school, this directly translates into brighter economic prospects for them and their families in the future.