International Development Grant
Promoting African Grassroots Economic Security Through Education and Skills (PAGES)
Project Number: CA-3-S065006001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $15,653,875.00
Start Date: August 11, 2010
End Date: September 30, 2015
Duration: 5.1 years
Project Description
The project aims to improve access to basic education and sustainable livelihoods for more than 200 000 children and youth men and women by reducing the intergenerational effects of household poverty. The three programming components aim to increase the access of girls and marginalized children to quality basic education to improve vocational and entrepreneurial skills of women and youth and to improve the access of women and youth to microfinance and productive assets. A rights-based approach is used that places a heavy emphasis on participation of children youth and families. Plan International Canada implements the program in partnership with the seven Plan country offices that in turn partner with the government and local non-governmental organizations. The public engagement in Canada component aims to engage the development understanding and involvement of 150 000 youth in issues of basic education and sustainable livelihoods.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of September 2013 include: (i) 77% of village savings and loans associations (VSLA) members are satisfied with VSLA services and 99% of members have stayed in the groups (ii) 57% of members in VSLA groups now hold loans; (iii) VSLA groups adhere better to global gender policy obligations; (iv) the average score for the quality and inclusiveness of the classroom learning environment is 34.9/50 (approaching the target of 35/50); (v) child protection and gender equality are being incorporated into school policy; and (vii) enrolment rates are 80% for girls and 90% for boys in grade one and 90% for both in grade 5. In Senegal (i) film and theatre productions raised awareness on children’s rights in hundreds of school communities; and (ii) environmental education has improved (with harvests from school gardens financing community projects and tree planting in ten communities). In Ghana (i) community groups built and managed schools; (ii) poor and marginalised Fulani girls participated in five-day leadership camps for girls; and (iii) Fulani youth joined savings and loans groups to learn income-generating skills. In Mali (i) separate girls and boys latrines were built in seven schools; (ii) 189 Savings for Change groups were formed; and (iii) 135 women were trained in income-generating skills. In Ethiopia (i) classrooms rainwater harvesting tanks libraries water lines to latrines and teachers’ quarters were completed in seven schools; (ii) teachers and government education workers were trained on children’s rights and gender equality; and (iii) VSLAs were strengthened. In Tanzania (i) share value in VSLA groups increased likely due to increased confidence asset base and earning capacity; and (ii) loan disbursement increased and some members used their loans to purchase house plots connect water pipes for irrigation and open small food businesses. In Rwanda (i) a strategy to promote the enrolment of girls in vocational training
Key Information
Executing Agency:
Plan International Canada
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
YFMInternaAssistPartnershp&Programing Br
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Project-type interventions
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP