This policy brief synthesises evidence on interventions to support the financial and psychosocial wellbeing of adolescent girls in vulnerable pastoral areas, highlighting gaps to inform future programmes and policies.
In East and West African pastoral areas that are affected by conflict and climate change, adolescent girls face harmful gender norms, have limited opportunities for education, and are exposed to gender-based violence.
Instability in pastoral areas forces families to adopt survival strategies that increase girls’ vulnerabilities, such as withdrawing them from school or arranging early marriages to offset economic burdens. Climate-induced displacement compounds these risks: displaced adolescent girls in settings face heightened exposure to violence, exploitation and gender-based violence.
These issues must be addressed if adolescent girls are to be empowered and their communities are to be resilient.
This policy brief synthesises evidence on interventions to support the financial and psychosocial wellbeing of adolescent girls in vulnerable pastoral areas, highlighting gaps to inform future programmes and policies.
Between May and July 2024, 24 documents were reviewed, and eight specialists, from Mercy Corps, Girl Effect, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Ipsos, Freely Hope, and the Population Council, were consulted.
Findings include: