As the first Commitment featured at the Opening Plenary of the Clinton
Global Initiative Annual Meeting Wednesday, Former President William
Clinton announced the Adolescent Girls Initiative, an innovative
public-private partnership between the World Bank, the country of
Liberia and the Nike Foundation. Those present to announce the
partnership included Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of
Liberia, World Bank Managing Director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Maria
Eitel, President of the Nike Foundation. Also joining in the Commitment,
though not present, is Ulla Tørnæs,
Denmark’s Minister for Development Cooperation.
This significant Commitment and collaboration, which will be launched at
the World Bank on 10 October, aims to increase economic opportunities
for adolescent girls as part of the effort to reconstruct Liberia after
14 years of war.
The program targets girls specifically because of the girl effect –
the ability of adolescent girls in developing countries to bring
unprecedented economic and social change to their families, communities
and countries. For example, research has shown that girls and women will
reinvest 90% of their income back into their families, as compared to
35-40% for males. Because girls are central to the intergenerational
transfer of wealth the collaboration intends to focus on programs and
services designed specifically for them.
“We are thrilled to have the support of the
World Bank, Denmark and the Nike Foundation and expect this
collaboration to serve as a model for Africa and the world. As powerful
economic actors, girls represent our nation’s
future; this partnership is essential to Liberia’s
post-conflict recovery,” explains President
Johnson Sirleaf.
The Adolescent Girls Initiative will identify employment needs in
Liberia, and provide relevant skills training to adolescent girls,
matched to paying jobs. The training offered to girls aged between 16
and 24 will focus on technical skills, as well as the integration of
life-skills training to address some of the crucial barriers to the
development of adolescent girls’ economic
independence. Employment in high-growth and high-need sectors, such as
agriculture, entrepreneurship, emerging industries, urban services,
infrastructure, public works and health care, is a major focus.
Initially designed to reach 1,500 adolescent girls and young women, the
partners aim to see the work brought to scale in Liberia and replicated
in other developing countries.
“There’s a strong
argument for investing in girls.
