Empowering Girls Through Education: A Call to Action for Funding

On this year's International Day of the Girl Child, the organization Education Cannot Wait (ECW) has joined forces with various strategic partners to advocate for significant new funding aimed at ensuring every girl impacted by crises can pursue a full 12 years of quality education. The statistics are staggering: as many as 133 million girls around the globe are currently out of school. This includes those in war-torn regions such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the State of Palestine, Sudan, and Ukraine, where armed conflict, forced displacement, and climate change continue to hinder access to education. In Afghanistan, oppressive governmental policies create even more severe barriers, denying girls their rights to education and a brighter future.

Access to education is not just a fundamental right for girls; it serves as a catalyst for better life outcomes, improved income levels, and lower rates of child marriage. The World Bank estimates that if every girl were to complete her secondary education, countries could collectively gain between approximately $15 trillion to $30 trillion in productivity and earnings over their lifetimes.

The ECW's investments are already making a palpable difference in the lives of many girls affected by crises. To date, more than 14 million children have benefited from ECW programs, with a commendable share of 50% being girls. This holistic approach encompasses improving enrollment and attendance rates, easing the transition from non-formal education programs into formal schooling, and fostering both academic and socio-emotional skills required for success.

Recent reports highlight that three out of four ECW-supported programs show gender-equitable improvements in participation. For instance, in Uganda, an ECW-funded initiative has significantly enhanced literacy among conflict-affected girls. The basic reading skills of lower primary students surged from 18% to 34%, notably with girls outperforming their male counterparts. At the upper primary level, reading proficiency nearly doubled, leading to near parity in reading competency between girls and boys.

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be realized without persistent and increased funding aimed at girls' education. Investing in girls is undoubtedly one of the most effective ways to build a better world. Currently, various advocacy efforts aim to mobilize fresh financial resources and ensure that girls are not left behind due to their circumstances.

In summary, the call to action is clear: we must prioritize and invest in girls' education for a future where all girls have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. As we commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child, let us reaffirm our commitment to global girls' education and work collectively to realize this vision.