Who we are Films & stories News & views Publications Currency: AUD CAD EUR GBP USD Search website Economic development Why girls’ education What we do Ignite change Donate Open responsive nav Economic development Educating girls is the best investment we can make to alleviate poverty and create a safer world. In this section Social Justice Economic development See child menu items Climate action Women’s leadership Economic development depends on girls’ education: Every year spent in school increases a girl’s future earnings. With her income, she’ll invest in her children’s health and education, helping to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty for good. Evidence shows that universal primary and secondary education could more than halve the number of people living in poverty worldwide – improving the lives of 420 million individuals. Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the regions where inclusive, quality education could have the most transformative impact. Poverty is the greatest barrier to girls accessing an education In Malawi, 70.3% of people live below the international monetary poverty line of $1.90 per day. In Zambia, 57.5% of people live below the international monetary poverty line of $1.90 per day. In Tanzania, 49.1% of people live below the international monetary poverty line of $1.90 per day. While some countries have abolished school fees at primary and/or secondary level, household incomes often won’t stretch to covering the required school uniforms, stationery and other essentials. Where families have resources to support some but not all children, boys may be given priority, as they face fewer barriers to securing economic independence after school. Girls’ exclusion from education leads to women’s exclusion from the economy In Zimbabwe, 53.0% of the female youth population is not in education, training, or employment compared with 36.6% of males. In Ghana, 33.3% of the female youth population is not in education, training, or employment compared with 27.7% of males. When we invest in girls and women, we transform entire nations 2X Women with a secondary school education will earn twice as much, on average, as women without an education. World Bank (2018) 90% Educated women will reinvest 90% of their earnings back into their families, compared with 35% for men. Clinton Global Initiative 25% Educated women will earn up to 25% more per year of secondary school. Global Partnership for Education / World Bank (2014) CAMFED supports girls beyond the school gates to become independent, influential women. Through the CAMFED Association — our peer support and leadership network — we equip young women with financial literacy and business training, grants, mentoring and support. Business Guides Young women experienced in business, and in navigating the challenges and barriers imposed by gender and economic disadvantage in their communities, are trained as Business Guides, delivering a structured program of support to their peers. Linkages to business support services CAMFED also establishes linkages to business development services through our partnerships with local government, traditional authorities, private industry and financial service providers. These partners, in turn, can provide additional technical support, advice, and new opportunities for women to start and grow businesses. This multifaceted support is vital in a context where women are often expected to provide unpaid agricultural labor. Learning from the young women we serve Through surveys, research, and learning opportunities we listen and learn from CAMFED Association members running businesses, so that we can collectively support women to overcome the hurdles they face. Flexibility in a crisis The global pandemic further laid bare the need to respond flexibly to women’s needs — to address issues relating to loan repayments which can arise through health, economic, or climate crises; and to fortify young women’s livelihoods to withstand the longer term impacts of a crisis. This includes support to diversify businesses to meet local demand for goods and services, including basic sanitation supplies, and to pivot businesses to the agricultural sector and food production to tackle looming food insecurity. Results from our youth enterprise program in Zambia The 'Shaping My Future' program was delivered by CAMFED Association members in Zambia between 2013 and 2017. 3,922 young women who had been supported by CAMFED at school participated in the program soon after they graduated from secondary school. Participants received business and life skills training and were assisted to develop business plans. They received a seed grant and mentoring to help them launch and grow their businesses. As a result: 3K CAMFED Association members participating in the program created 3,000 new businesses 4K CAMFED Association members participating in the program created 4,000 new jobs 10K CAMFED Association members participating in the program supported 10,000 children to go to school Watch the TED Talk on CAMFED Association entrepreneurs uplifting communities CAMFED Executive Director Angeline Murimirwa introduces the revolutionary concept of ‘social interest,’ a whole new approach to lending, which allows young African secondary school graduates — considered ‘unbankable’ — to gain access to finance, paying forward their interest in service to vulnerable students and exponentially multiplying the impact of their loan. This is the concept behind the flexible loan facility CAMFED makes available to Association members through our partner Kiva. As young women volunteer their time as Learner Guides and Transition Guides, for example, they can take the opportunity to grow rural businesses. Watch Angie's TED Talk When girls learn and women earn, everything changes 33K 33,481 members of the CAMFED Association have started a business so far, bringing high-quality food, clothing, hygiene products and more to rural communities. 3 Each member of the Association, on average, supports another three girls to go to school with her own resources. Our evidence shows this philanthropy increases proportionately with her profit margin. 150K As part of an ambitious strategic plan we aim to create 150,000 new jobs so that more young women have secure livelihoods and more girls stay in school. Related News and Publications NEWS GHANA Sustainable business opportunities for women in northern Ghana JUNE 2021 Our exciting research collaboration with the International Labor Organization and the Mastercard Foundation reveals the agricultural value chains offering the greatest potential for female entrepreneurs. NEWS TANZANIA CAMFED Tanzania celebrates female pioneers on International Women’s Day MARCH 2020 Read about young women’s economic leadership in rural Tanzania, which is unlocking their growing power as local philanthropists. NEWS ZAMBIA Promoting young women’s entrepreneurship in Zambia MARCH 2020 See the highlights from CAMFED Zambia’s first ever business showcase, attended by partner organizations, government departments, the private sector and the media. NEWS GLOBAL Report launch: These young women are a powerful new force for development FEBRUARY 2019 Read the report about our CAMFED Association, which lays out the wider value of young women’s entrepreneurship for entire communities. NEWS ZAMBIA Women’s enterprise program shows transformative impact in rural Zambia APRIL 2018 This important study sheds light on the transformative impact that follows investment in youth enterprise, not least on the number of children in school. NEWS GHANA Ayisha and Esther scoop national business awards in Ghana FEBRUARY 2018 Celebrate two successful businesswomen in Ghana, recognized with national awards for helping to grow local and national economies. Invest in the next generation of rural entrepreneurs Send a girl to school, and help her on the road to economic independence. Support a girl to learn and earn Thank you to our generous recent donors Together we are breaking the cycle of poverty Donate Elizabeth Docherty £7 Don and Cheri Stock $100 Tim Huether $500 Sebastien Bonvalet-Nicolle $300 Reisa Mukamal $100 Lesley Holly £5 Richard Foskett £30 Lisa Mandarino $50 David Cockroft £100 Lynn Ferson £10 Günter Kowa €300 Rebecca Nesbit £75 Ronnie Gouz $100 Callie Hamilton $500 Richard Jones $600 Twitter twitter Instagram instagram Facebook facebook Linkedin linkedin Youtube youtube Send an Ecard Work for us Contact us FAQ Privacy Policy Child protection Contact us Accessibility policy Sitemap CAMFED USA 501 (c)(3) EIN 54--2033897 CAMFED Canada Charitable Registration:#84498 8659 RR00 CAMFED UK Reg 1029161 Subscribe to our newsletter Inspiring updates straight into your inbox Sign up now Charity web design by Fat Beehive Copyright © 2021 Economic development. All Rights Reserved. Over 90% of every dollar CAMFED spends goes to our programs. See how we do this. 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