A World Bank initiative that aims at economically empowering adolescent girls and young women yesterday launched a three-day training session of those who will be involved in the project implementation. The three-year project, which will be jointly be implemented by the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), the Workforce Development Authority (WDA) and Imbuto Foundation, is in the tune of $2.7 million.“We will work together with local authorities in identifying 2,820 girls who will benefit from this project,” said Fidele Nyaminani, the project manager in MIGEPROF. The project will focus on vocational training and support entrepreneurship, scholarships to resume formal education and capacity building. The initiative is part of the World Bank Group`s action plan – the Adolescent Girls Initiative (AGI) that aims at supporting girls to successfully move from schools to the labour market.It is expected to commence in October and will attract beneficiaries from four districts of Gasabo, Kicukiro, Rulindo and Gicumbi.Mireille Batamuriza, a representative of Imbuto Foundation, which will handle the informal education component, said the initiative bodes well with the organisation’s mission.“We have already been operating in this field by sponsoring girls to promote their education as well as rewarding best performers to encourage others to work even harder,” she said.Other countries where the WB is facilitating a similar initiative include Afghanistan, Australia, Denmark, Jordan, Liberia, Nepal, Norway, Southern Sudan, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
