1. THE CASE FOR
GIRLS
SARA POSADA
NIKE FOUNDATION

2. WE START WITH
THE GIRL
TO UNLOCK POTENTIAL

3. We believe in the girl effect: the powerful social and economic change brought about when girls have the opportunity to participate.
We have seen it, BRAC has taught us much about it, and the research confirms it, too.

7. 7

8. SHE’S FALLING FAST 60% 50% 76% 50% pregnancy
OF SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA’S ILLITERATE POPULATION ARE GIRLS AND WOMEN
OF ALL BIRTHS IN LATIN AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN AND SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA ARE TO ADOLESCENT GIRLS
OF HIV+ TEENS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA ARE GIRLS
OF ALL SEXUAL ASSAULTS WORLD-WIDE ARE AGAINST GIRLS YOUNGER THAN 15
IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR GIRLS IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD
50%
76%
50%
pregnancy

9. RIGHT AND SMART AN EDUCATED GIRL… MARRIES LATER
IS MORE LIKELY TO SURVIVE CHILDBIRTH
HAS HEALTHIER CHILDREN
EDUCATES HER SONS AND HER DAUGHTERS
A HEALTHY GIRL…
SURVIVES CHILDBIRTH

10. INVESTING IN GIRLS = ECONOMIC GROWTH

11. GIRLS PROTECT INVESTMENTS
IMMUNIZATION
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
EDUCATION
NUTRITION
WEALTH CREATION
FOOD SECURITY
CHILD MARRIAGE
EARLY PREGNANCY
SCHOOL DROP-OUT
HIV/AIDS

13. WHAT STANDS IN OUR WAY? 13

14. DISAGGREGATED BY SEX BUT NOT AGE
HIV/AIDS 14

15. WE DON’T REACH GIRLS BECAUSE
WE THINK WE HAVE

16. YOUTH PROGRAMS MISS THE MARK TOO 10 – 14 15 – 19 20 + AGE GENDER 16
Source:  Weiner, Adam “Assessing equity of access in youth programs,” Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief no. 28. New York: Population Council. 16

17. CHILD ≠ GIRL YOUTH WOMEN Our key learning here has been simply this:
Girls between have a unique set of circumstances that set them apart from conventional categories of development.
In sum, in order to realize the girl effect, we must address the unique challenges that girls face and the roadblocks that face the sector in reaching them.

18. STOP POVERTY BEFORE IT
STARTS