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Because I Am a Girl a I Am Because Because I am a Girl I am Because Because I am a Girl ‘I am honoured to write for Plan’s ‘Because I am a Girl 2009’ THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S GIRLS 2009 Report. The report adds evidence on the importance of investing in girls in the developing world. But it is more than that: it is also a call for action, for each of us to do our part – Girls in the Global Economy: Adding It All Up those of us in governments, in NGOs, in international agencies and elsewhere, especially during this challenging economic climate. Investing in girls is undoubtedly the right thing to do. It is also the smart thing to do. We still have a long way to go to promote economic and social progress through empowering girls, and the goal is only achievable if we act now.’ Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Managing Director, World Bank ‘…women and girls (are) disproportionately affected by this current economic crisis. We need to ensure that the energy, WORLD’ THE OF STATE THE skills, strength, values and wisdom of women become an integral part of the re-modelled economic infrastructures now being developed by global leaders. Empowering and investing in girls and young women is part of a global solution for us all, now and in the future.’ Graça Machel President of the Foundation for Community Development Chair of the GAVI Fund Board S GIRL S 2009 plan-international.org 978-0-9550479-8-5 Football practice in El Salvador. PHotograpH: ALF BERG Because I am a Girl THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S GIRLS 2009 Girls in the Global Economy: Adding It All Up Because I am a Girl THE STATE OF THE WORLD’S GIRLS 2009 MARTIN DIXON / DIXON DEUX YEUX Girls in the Global Economy: Adding It All Up Advisory Panel: Abiola Tilley-Gyado Plan (Strategic Framework for Africa) Ann-Kristin Vervik Plan (Norway) Anne-Marie Goetz chief advisor of Governance, Peace and Security, UNIFEM Caren Grown Economist in Residence, Department of economics, American University Christine Allison Plan (UK) Diana Rivington Director of Gender Equality: Strategic Policy and Performance Branch CIDA Dolores McLaughlin Plan International Francisco Cos-Montiel Senior Program Specialist, Women’s Rights and Citizenship, IDRC Jacinthe Ibrahim Plan (Egypt) Judith Bruce Senior Associate Population Council Lesley Bulman-Lever Formerly of World Association of Girl Guides and Girls Scouts Lucero Quiroga Academic Coordinator, Centro de Estudios de Género-INTEC Liv Elin Indreiten Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, UNIFEM Lucy Lake Deputy Executive Director, Camfed International Marie Staunton CEO, Plan (UK) Mima Perisic Advisor, Adolescent Development Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP), UNICEF Naila Kabeer Research Fellow, IDS Nazneen Damji Programme Manager, Gender equality and HIV/AIDS, UNIFEM Nicola Piper Senior Lecturer and Associate Director, Centre for Migration Policy Research, Swansea University Noreen Khan Gender Specialist, UNICEF Pauline Otti Obasi Prof. of Jos (Nigeria) and Consultant to the UN Payal Dalal Americas Head, Group Public Affairs Standard Chartered Bank Rosemary McCarney CEO, Plan (Canada) Ruth Pearson Director, Centre for Development Studies, School of Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds Rawwida Baksh Program Leader, Women’s Rights and Citizenship Program, IDRC Seodi White National Coordinator of Women and the Law in Southern Africa Research and Education Trust, Malawi Srilatha Batliwala Research Fellow, Hauser Centre for Non-Profit Organization, Harvard University Input was also received from among others: Alisha Miranda (Standard Chartered Bank), Andrew Morrison and the PRMGE team (World Bank), Angela Penrose, Cheryl Gregory Faye (UNGEI), Eva Halper (Credit Suisse), Jennefer Sebstad, Kate Grosser (International Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility, Nottingham University Business School), Katherine Hall (UN Foundation), Mari Marcel Thekaekara, Meg Greene (ICRW), Stan Thekaekara, Alf Berg (Plan Norway), Matthew De-Galan (Nike Foundation), Paul Bode (Plan), Pauline Lane. Primary school in Sierra Leone. Steering Group – Plan International: Alemayhu Konde, Anna Konnen, Deepali Khana, Deepali Sood, Don McPhee, Dreeni Geer, ray Fadimata Alainchar, Gary Walker, Haiyan Kong, Hasan Emrul, Hellen Tombo, Jeanette McKenna, Jon Martin Forland, nick Lydia M. Domingo, Marketa Evans, Rosanna Viteri, Silje Bundeng, Stefanie Conrad, Steve Theobald, Terence McCaughan, Tina-Maria Levamo, Zinnat Afrose Acknowledgements Plan Offices that contributed to the 2009 Report: Plan Senegal, Plan Philippines, Plan USA, Plan El-Salvador, Plan Timor Leste, Plan Tanzania, Plan Ecuador, Plan WARO, Plan Egypt This report was made possible with the advice and contributions of many people and organisations. Principal writer and editor: Jonathan Blagbourgh Contributors for main chapters: Chapter 1: Prof. Ruth Pearson and Dr. Marilyn Thomson Additional Writing: Nikki van der Gaag Chapter 2: Prof. Bahira Sharif-Trask and Sarah Hendriks Chapter 3: Giselle Mitton and Nikki van der Gaag Report team: Feyi Rodway – advocacy and policy; Keshet Bachan – project coordinator; Chapter 4: Dr. Elizabeth Katz Sarah Hendriks – gender specialist and lead researcher; Sharon Goulds – project manager Chapter 5: Dr. Marketa Evans and Dr. Pauline Lane Picture Research: Simone Schneider Special features: Ana Bleahu: ‘Roma Girls in Europe’ Research: Courtney McCarney, Jo Holmes, Rachel McManus, Shreya Agarwal Anita Gurumurthy (ICT for Change): ‘Information Technology for Girls’ Bernadette Fischler (WAGGGS): ‘Girl Guides Survey’ Special thanks to the girls and young women from across the world who contributed testimonials and drawings for use in the report Dr. Nicola Piper: ‘Girls, Young Women and Migration’ and the families who agreed to take part in the ‘Real Choices – Real Lives’ cohort study. Dr. Vandana Shiva: ‘Girls, Agriculture and Globalisation’ Thank you also to Professor Geraldine Van Beuren for her special contribution on girls, poverty and law. Erica Hall (Children’s Legal Centre): ‘Girls’ Economic Rights and Empowerment under the Law’ Nikki van der Gaag: ‘Pushed into Poverty: How might the current economic crisis affect girls and young women?’ Printed by Amadeus, Italy on recycled paper ISBN: 978-0-9550479-8-5 Sarah Hendriks: ‘The Hidden Cost of AIDS Care’ Opinion pieces were contributed by: Dina Habib Powell (Goldman Sachs), Indra Nooyi (Pepsi Co.), Katherine Rake (Fawcett Society), Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this publication is accurate at the time of going to press, Plan cannot be held Maria Eitel (Nike Foundation), Silvana Cappuccio (International Textile, Garment & Leather Workers’ Federation) responsible for any inaccuracies. The commentary and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the official policy of Plan UK or of Plan. Special thanks to: Fabrizio Terenzio, Malick Sy and the boys and girls of the African Movement for Working Children and Youth, and Parts of this publication may be copied for use in research, advocacy and education, providing the source is acknowledged. the World Wide Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts This publication may not be reproduced for other purposes without the prior permission of Plan UK. Unless otherwise indicated, names have been changed in case studies to protect identities. Unless otherwise indicated, dollar values expressed are US dollars. Contents Preface by Graça Machel. .9 Chapter 3 Chapter 5 Section 2 Foreword by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala . 10 Preparing girls for the Girls mean business. 137 Because We are Girls: Real choices, world of work. .67 Real lives Cohort Study update. 177 Because We are Girls: What’s good for girls is Real Choices, Real Lives. .12 Quality as well as quantity: good for business. .139 This is how we support ourselves . 184 primary education. 70 Introduction. 14 Strategy and society . 142 The real stepping stone to the Opinion piece: 10,000 women. 145 future: secondary education. 73 Section 3 Be a part of it. 146 Introduction. 198 Section 1 ‘A dream of becoming’. 76 Chapter 1 What next?. 148 Because I am a Girl campaign. .199 Building skills for life: what else do Putting girls first. 17 girls and young women need? . 79 Opinion piece: Trade unions Girls’ economic rights and working for girls. 151 empowerment under the law. 200 Structure and agenda of the 2009 Financial education . 80 Because I am a Girl report. .17 Global legal mapping. 212 Social support and safe spaces. 84 Girls in the global economy. 22 Chapter 6 How are girls faring? Vocational training. .84 Some statistical evidence The tip of the iceberg . 24 Call to action. .155 Getting into business. .86 from around the world. .216 Girls need economic rights. 25 Start young, involve everyone. 155 The importance of mentoring. 88 Table 1: Gender, institutions Feature: Pushed into poverty – How The early years: building and development database Feature: Information might the current economic crisis the foundations . 157 (GID) – Social institutions . 218 affect girls and young women?. .27 technology for girls. 91 The benefits of girls’ education. 158 Table 2: Gender, institutions and Feature: Roma girls in Europe. 97 development database (GID) – The middle years: equipping Economic status of women. 226 Chapter 2 adolescent girls for economic Table 3: Social institutions Building the foundations. 35 Chapter 4 empowerment. 160 and gender index (SIGI). 236 Survival. 36 Working life. 101 The work years: supporting young women as equal Table 4: Gender-related Opportunities for young women. 103 Legal identity – birth registration economic citizens. .164 development index . 244 is a passport to opportunity. 38 Working in the formal sector . 103 A Global Charter for Investment Table 5: Gender Girls need time and space. .40 Accessing opportunity. .105 in Girls: 10-point action plan. 167 empowerment measure. 258 Girls need friends. 47 The informal economy. .106 Policy recommendations. 168 References . 272 Girls need land and property. .52 At work, at home. .109 Law, poverty and girls by Professor Information on Girls. .296 Geraldine Van Bueren . 172 Feature: A day in the life of. 60 Feature: Girls, young women About Plan International. 303 Feature: The hidden cost and migration. 112 Plan Offices. 304 of AIDS care.
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