G20 Flagship projects

Description of the project:

Child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) is a widespread and harmful practice that threatens the lives and future of young girls around the world. Using open, distance, and technology-based learning (ODL), the project is offering secondary education and skills training for girls (unmarried or married). It aims to break the cycle of CEFM and to help create enabling conditions for their sustainable livelihoods in four Commonwealth countries with a high prevalence of child marriage: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The project is articulated around three dynamic and mutually reinforcing pillars: individuals (economic opportunities for women and girls), communities (awareness building and establishment of rapport), and institutions (organizational capacity building).
The expected outcomes for this project are: 1) increased access to safe, quality, gender-sensitive, open, distance, and technology-based learning opportunities for girls/women in rural areas; 2) increased equitable participation in quality ODL by disadvantaged girls/women in rural areas; and 3) enhanced economic leadership and family decision-making for disadvantaged girls/women in rural areas.
The project is implemented by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), an intergovernmental organization with a mandate to promote the development and sharing of open learning and distance education knowledge, resources and technologies.

Impact of the project:

By the end of 2018:
-25,000 women and girls will have successfully completed lower secondary and skills courses.
-15,000 women and girls will have successfully completed life skills courses, including financial literacy and entrepreneurship.
-8,000 women and girls will have applied for employment.

Area of focus of the project:

• non-formal training opportunities for women and girls in ICT (coding schools)
• information and awareness-raising campaigns