Malala Fund: Empowering Education for Millions of Girls

Major Milestone: 26 Million Students Supported

In its recent annual report, the Malala Fund announced a remarkable achievement: over 26 million students have benefited from its initiatives aimed at facilitating their education completion. This data pertains to the Fund’s fiscal year spanning 2024 to 2025 and signifies a powerful step towards global educational equity.

Financial Commitment and Global Reach

During this period, the Malala Fund invested an impressive $66.4 million to support its mission. This investment facilitated the empowerment of 123 education champions, 65 girls’ programme fellows, and various partner organizations dedicated to promoting academic access. The focus was primarily on six nations: Nigeria, Pakistan, Brazil, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. The Fund has been instrumental in advancing legislative changes that protect girls’ rights in these countries, especially notable in Nigeria, Brazil, and Tanzania.

Addressing Educational Inequities in Nigeria

Despite substantial progress, nearly five million adolescent girls remain out of school in Nigeria. To counteract this, the Fund’s partners have pushed for gender-responsive budgeting and critical policy reforms. Noteworthy achievements include:

• In Kano State, the BridgeConnect Africa Initiative successfully advocated for the implementation of the Gender Responsive Education Budgeting (GREB) framework. This framework has led to training over 50 government stakeholders and the formation of a 15-member GREB Committee, resulting in an increase in the education budget for girls from 19% to 35%. This shift has enabled the reopening of 15 girls’ secondary schools and improved access to essential resources like free transportation and uniforms.

• In Adamawa State, a partnership with the Center for Advocacy, Transparency, and Accountability Initiative (CATAI) led to the unveiling of the state’s first comprehensive education policy, focusing on reducing gender disparities through mentorship, safe school environments, and enhanced parental involvement.

A Global Movement for Girls’ Education

The Fund is also making strides in ending gender apartheid, particularly in Afghanistan, the last country to ban girls from secondary education. This mission aligns with a broader effort to reform global debt structures to facilitate educational opportunities for all.

The Malala Fund has awarded $10.2 million in grants to 57 organizations across ten countries, primarily focusing on its Education Champion Network (ECN), the Afghanistan Initiative, and girl-oriented programs.

Celebrating Impactful Collaborations

The Malala Fund’s Chief Executive Officer, Lena Alfi, highlighted the commitment of donor agencies, unlocking $7 billion for educational financing, which has allowed millions of students to continue their education despite numerous setbacks. The partnerships fostered through these initiatives have played pivotal roles in enacting laws that ensure educational rights for all children.

Notable legislative achievements include:

• Brazil’s constitutional amendment, which enhances education funding for marginalized girls.
• Nigeria’s Child Rights Act, which provides protections against child marriage.

Through initiatives aimed at returning adolescent mothers in Tanzania to school and boosting funding for teacher salaries and transportation in Pakistan, the Fund aims to transform educational landscapes continually.

Looking Ahead

As the fiscal year marks the end of the Fund’s 2020-2025 strategy, plans for the next five years are well underway, indicating a sustained commitment to championing 12 years of free, safe, and quality education for every girl around the globe.

For further insights, visit the Malala Fund website.