Adolescent Girls Initiative in Kenya
Problems addressed
Violence against women
School dropout
Teenage pregnancy
Effectiveness

Effective

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Effective

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Life periods served
Teenagers (14 to 17 years)
Where the program was applied
Community (streets or community centers)
Country of application
Kenia
Description

This program comprises cross-sector interventions for the social, educational, economic, and health development of girls aged 11 to 15, and is also aimed at preventing teenage pregnancy.
The program has the following components:
1) Violence prevention: groups were set up in each community to discuss violence prevention, with a small fund to implement projects;
2) Education: the intervention funded some school expenses, a transfer conditional on school attendance, kits with school supplies and toiletries, and an incentive for schools based on the number of girls benefiting from the program;
3) Health: the initiative was implemented through weekly meetings with a tutor to discuss health, life skills, and nutrition;
4) Income generation: a module was included with weekly meetings to discuss financial education.

Impact evaluations

A Randomized Controlled Trial revealed improvements in contraceptive knowledge and skills, condom use, help-seeking, and social safety nets. The intervention had no effect on the acceptability of intimate partner violence or on gender equality.
A reduction in experiences of physical, emotional, and sexual violence was reported. Girls who actively participated in safe spaces (health and income generation) also had better academic results [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Austrian, K., Soler-Hampejsek, E., Mumah, J., Kangwana, B., Dibaba Wado, Y., Abuya, B., Shah, V. & Maluccio, J. (2018). Adolescent Girls Initiative–Kenya: Midline results report. https://doi.org/10.31899/pgy14.1026

Information source