Boost for young women programme in Somalia as US injects $15m

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: A UK supported programme targeting young women and adolescent girls in Somalia got a boost today thanks to a new contribution of $15 million by the US government.

The UK embassy in Mogadishu announced Monday the US’ international development arm, USAID was injecting $15 million to the UK-supported Adolescent Girls Education in Somalia (AGES) programme.

“With $17.6 million in UK Aid, AGES is currently supporting 42,000 marginalised adolescent girls to access primary school, accelerated basic education and non‐formal courses tailored to their needs,” the statement read in part.

The AGES programme targets young women between 15 and 24 years in Jubbaland, HirShabelle, South West and Banaadir region. These women who have not had a formal education will undergo an 11-month non-formal education course.

“The UK-funded Adolescent Girls Education in Somalia programme has made significant contributions to the lives of tens of thousands of young Somali women,” UK ambassador to Somalia Kate Foster said.

“With this new USAID funding, we are expanding our approach to reach even more marginalised households and communities. It will build their resilience by providing young Somali women basic financial, literacy, numeracy and life skills.”

IMPROVE LIVELIHOODS

The new funding will reach nearly 40,000 adolescent girls and young women to enable them to earn an income and actively participate in governance processes in addition to providing linkages to other development opportunities.

USAID Somalia Mission Director Patrick Diskin said the funds will improve livelihoods and empower women to participate in the country’s social and economic development.

“USAID is very excited to contribute to this successful UK-led initiative in order to provide more young Somali women with a foundational education they lack, yet so rightly deserve. These skills will provide women with increased livelihood and civic opportunities, which are critical for advancing Somalia’s economic and social development.”

Multiple barriers affect access to education for adolescent girls in Somalia. The combination of the COVID‐19 outbreak and economic conditions has further worsened the exclusion of the most vulnerable adolescent girls and young women from education opportunities.