USAID Contributes $15 Million to UK supported Education Programme in Somalia

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) recently announced a new $15 million contribution to the Uk- supported Addolescent Girls Education in Somalia (AGES) programme.

The programme operates in Banadir and in Hirshabelle, Jubaland and South West states and focuses on improving access to quality education for young Somali women and girls.

AGES is currently supporting 42,000 marginalised adolescent girls to access primary school, accelerated basic education and non‐formal courses tailored to their needs. With the additional USAID funding, nearly 40,000 more marginalised adolescent girls and young women aged 15‐24 who have never attended school will get the chance to improve their lives through the 11‐month non-formal education course.

The joint funding will also provide support to young women to engage in income-generating activities and civic education, in addition to providing linkages to other development opportunities.

The announcement comes ahead of the July 28-29 Global Education Summit. Along with Kenya, the UK will be co-hosting this event, aimed at raising $5 billion to ensure that all children, particularly those in developing countries including Somalia, have equitable access to quality education.

In a statement, British Ambassador to Somalia Kate Foster said that the UK-funded Adolescent Girls Education in Somalia programme has made significant contributions to the lives of tens of thousands of young Somali women. With this new USAID funding, they are expanding their approach to reach even more marginalised households and communities. This will build their resilience by providing young Somali women basic financial, literacy, numeracy and life skills.

On his part, USAID Somalia Mission Director Patrick Diskin said, “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.”

Access to primary education remains a major challenge in Somalia,particularly for girls. According to the 2020 Somali Health and Demographic Survey, only 27 percent of primary school‐aged children are receiving primary education, and only 25 percent of them girls.