10/11/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/10/2024 22:28
With nearly 122 million girls out of school worldwide, many of them in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, investing in the education and human capital of girls and young women remains a priority for the World Bank and is central to the institution's new Gender Strategy.
International Day of the Girl Child, October 11, is an opportunity to reflect on the urgent need to ensure equitable education for all girls and boys, especially in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
Gender gaps in education are acute, especially in low-income countries and places affected by fragility or violence. According to UNESCO, girls in fragile, conflict and violence (FCV) settings are 2.5 times more likely to be out of school compared to boys. And completion rates for secondary school stand at 33% for girls compared to 38% for boys.
Fatima Auwal, a young girl from Kano State, in northern Nigeria, shared her story with a World Bank team in 2023. She was among many girls facing an uncertain future. After losing her parents, Auwal moved in with her uncle but was forced to drop out of school due to rising costs. "There are many expenses associated with attending school-uniforms, books, footwear, food, and other necessities. I had to stop going to school when I could no longer afford them," she recalled.
A recent World Bank approach paper on addressing gender inequalities in fragile and conflict-affected situations emphasizes how cultural norms, security concerns and lack of infrastructure contribute to this disproportionate impact of fragility and violence on girls' education.
"Implementing activities [in educational settings] to address the issue of social norms is a life-changer for beneficiaries because it allows them to deconstruct the taboo around the word 'sex' and to build themselves up in terms of gender equality," said Josette Gaboton, in charge of teaching and pedagogy in the ongoing PROMESSE (Promoting a More Equitable, Sustainable and Safer Education) project in Haiti. The project supports gender-sensitive and inclusive teaching methods.
The negative impact of fragility on girls' education comes with a price-for the ones whose lives are set back and for entire country trajectories. For example, according to a 2018 World Bank study, limited educational opportunities and barriers to completing 12 years of education could cost countries between US$15 and US$30 trillion in lost lifetime productivity and earnings.
To tackle these challenges, the World Bank allocates a significant portion of its education funding to supporting girls' education. The approximate total spending for girls' education projects is US$12.47 billion. As of April 2024, an estimated US$3.46 billion goes to educating girls in FCV countries.
"These challenges demand transformative solutions," says Ekua Nuama Bentil, Senior Education Specialist, the World Bank's Edtech co-Lead and Gender thematic group lead in Education. "Fortunately, interventions that promote educational technologies and bridge the digital gender divide can significantly improve educational outcomes in these challenging FCV environments. Such initiatives empower adolescents to catch up and continue their learning, while also preventing an inadvertent widening of the gender gap," Bentil said.
Here are some highlights of the World Bank's support to girls' education in challenging contexts:
The World Bank's commitment to girls' education is unwavering, especially in fragile, conflict affected settings. Educated girls are the seed of success for every country. By investing in education and addressing the multifaceted barriers that girls face, the World Bank aims to create a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous future for all. In this respect, funding from International Development Association (IDA) is crucial in transforming the lives of girls in settings affected by fragility, conflict and violence, providing them with the opportunities and support they need to thrive and prepare for a brighter future despite the challenging circumstances.