Building Bridges to Economic Success Empowering Adolescent Girls in Africa

by Ajayi, Kehinde; Koussoubé, Estelle

• ISBN13: 9781464820618
• ISBN10: 1464820619
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2024-04-01
• Publisher: World Bank Publications

Summary

'Building Bridges to Economic Success' focuses on the economic empowerment of adolescent girls in Africa, recognizing the crucial fact that adolescent girls are not a homogenous group. Adolescent girls vary along multiple dimensions, such as school attendance, engagement in work, transitions to marriage, and childbearing. Additionally, they live in diverse contexts marked by varied cultural, social, legal, and economic environments. These differences in their experiences and contexts have significant implications for their levels of economic empowerment, emphasizing the need for tailored program and policy design. Going beyond the examination of common obstacles to economic well-being, this report highlights gender-specific constraints that uniquely impact adolescent girls. Drawing on rigorous analysis and a review of existing evidence, the report outlines evidence-based approaches to support adolescent girls, their households, and their broader environments, enabling girls to achieve their fullest potential. Furthermore, this report aims to analyze various segments of adolescent girls to identify strategies for maximizing the impact of programs and policies. Finally, the report offers practical guidance for policymakers to address existing challenges to adolescent girls' empowerment and set them on a pathway to economic success.