The Malala Fund has announced a $1.7 million investment in Nigeria to support girls’ education, targeting nine local organizations that will work to reduce the country’s high number of out‑of‑school girls. This allocation is part of a broader $4.8 million package for 21 organizations across Brazil, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Tanzania, focusing on regions where the greatest numbers of girls miss out on formal education.
In Nigeria, the selected groups include the Aid for Rural Education Access Initiative, the Anti‑Sexual Violence Lead Support Initiative, the Black Girls’ Dream Initiative, and seven additional partners. Their work will improve gender‑responsive budgeting, enhance transparency and citizen oversight, and support school re‑entry for pregnant and married girls. They will also deploy digital tools to track education spending and identify infrastructure gaps.
The Malala Fund’s strategy directs resources to countries with the greatest need, with 66 % of the grant supporting young‑women‑led organizations. Nigeria and Pakistan together account for 15 % of all out‑of‑school girls worldwide. By investing in local civil‑society organizations, the Fund builds on years of partnership and on‑the‑ground impact.
Lena Alfi, Chief Executive Officer of the Malala Fund, emphasized the importance of funding groups that understand community‑level challenges faced by girls. “With girls’ rights under pressure and resourcing slipping worldwide, the smartest investments we can make are in the young women and seasoned activists who know exactly how to defend them,” she said. Co‑founder Malala Yousafzai added that the Nigeria‑focused funding aims to help married girls and young mothers return to school and complete secondary education.
The Malala Fund’s Education Champion Network supports civil‑society organizations advocating for girls’ education and influencing policy change. The new partners will confront threats ranging from child marriage and conflict to systemic gender and racial discrimination, as well as shrinking education budgets in the five countries that are home to 31 million out‑of‑school girls. This investment reinforces the Fund’s commitment to girls’ education globally, especially in regions marked by high inequality and discrimination. By partnering with local organizations and empowering young‑women‑led groups, the Fund aims to create a more equitable and inclusive education system, contributing to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring quality education for all.
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