International Development Grant

Promoting Greater Access to University for Girls

Project Number: CA-3-P007271001

Status: Operational

Country/Region:

Ethiopia 100.00%

Maximum Contribution: $13,925,529.00

Start Date: May 21, 2020

End Date: December 31, 2025

Duration: 5.6 years

Project Description

The initiative aims to improve the academic performance leadership and self-determination of high school girls in the remote region of Benishangul-Gumuz in Ethiopia and develop their academic capacity for higher education. Project activities include: (1) increasing community and familial encouragement of girls' enrollment in formal education; (2) improving academic performance leadership abilities and autonomy of girls; and (3) enhancing regional zonal and district-level governance administration and delivery of gender-equitable education for girls. The project supports the enhancement of academic social and soft skills for adolescent girls and strengthens the capacity of teachers and educational institutions to deliver quality and gender-sensitive education. It will adopt a holistic and transformational approach to address barriers to girls’ higher education including through community engagement.

Expected Results

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased community and familial encouragement of girls' enrollment in formal education; (2) improved academic performance leadership abilities and autonomy of girls; and (3) enhanced regional zonal and district-level governance administration and delivery of gender equitable education for girls.

Progress & Results Achieved

Results achieved as of March 2024 include: (1) increased community members’ awareness of the importance of girls' education to 87.7% surpassing the 80% target; (2) 98.4% of community members parents and guardians reported to have positive attitudes toward girls’ education exceeding the target by 122.9%; (3) 88.5% of girls reported an improvement in their soft skills nearing the 92% target and showing a big improvement from the baseline of 76%; (4) allowed 73.3% of the target families to adopte technical agricultural innovations almost reaching the 75% target; and (5) 86.5% of target families reported an increase in economic resources surpassing 2023 to 2024 fiscal year target of 65%. This achievement is crucial for dismantling financial barriers to education access for marginalized girls.

Key Information

Executing Agency:
Cuso International

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
YFMInternaAssistPartnershp&Programing Br

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Secondary education 50%
Higher education 50%

Aid Type: Project-type interventions

Collaboration: Bilateral

Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation

Selection Mechanism:
Call for Proposals

Policy Markers
Level 2 Gender equality
Level 1 Youth Issues
Level 1 Disability
Major Funding (>$1M)
Budget Breakdown
2019-04-01 to 2020-03-31 $13,925,529 CAD
Geographic Information
292
Reference ID: 784