Project profile — Promoting Greater Access to University for GIRLS

The initiative aims to improve the academic performance, leadership and self-determination of high school girls in the remote region of Benishangul-Gumuz in Ethiopia. It helps them develop their academic capacity for higher education. Project activities include: (1) increasing community and familial encouragement of girls' enrollment in formal education; (2) improving academic performance, leadership abilities and autonomy of girls; (3) enhancing regional, zonal and district-level governance, administration and delivery of gender-equitable education for girls; (4) supporting the enhancement of academic, social and soft skills for adolescent girls; (5) strengthening the capacity of teachers and educational institutions to deliver quality and gender-sensitive education; and (6) adopting a holistic and transformative approach to addressing barriers to girls’ higher education, including through community engagement. With the additional COVID-19 funding, the project aims to reach 131,286 students (70,609 young men and 60,677 young women); 3,232 teachers (2,290 men and 942 women); and 235 school administrative officials (150 men; 85 women). The project benefits a total of 673,765 indirect beneficiaries, which include 656,430 students’ parents; 16,160 teachers; and 1,175 school administrative officials.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased community and familial encouragement of girls' enrollment in formal education; (2) improved academic performance, leadership abilities and autonomy of girls; and (3) enhanced regional, zonal and district-level governance, administration and delivery of gender-equitable education for girls. The project also expects to improve the prevention of COVID-19 outbreaks in target project secondary schools.

Results achieved as of March 2022 include: (1) everyone surveyed, students, teachers and school heads, increased their knowledge of COVID-19 prevention practices; (2) provided COVID-19 prevention gear. This included 250,000 face masks, 7,600 sanitizers and 100 infrared thermometers; and (3) provided schools and the region’s education bureau with more learning resources. For example: 1,500 desks, 8,320 reference books and 200 blackboards. These provisions helped about 134,000 schools and community members; of these, 10,975 students (52% girls).