The most powerful force to break the cycle of
intergenerational poverty is girls.
When you connect Girls to what they need, unleash
the limits communities set for them, and change how girls see themselves- they change the world.
WHY GIRL EFFECT?
When we succeed — girls flourish.
Adolescent girls and young women face internal and external barriers that limit their control over their health, livelihoods, and education.
Even with the right information, harmful gender norms, systems, and policies hold them back.
But with support, they can overcome these obstacles and unleash their full potential.
WHY GIRL EFFECT?
Last year, we reached 23 million girls with content that challenged the gender norms that make it harder for girls to live the lives they envision for themselves.
We reached:
2.3 million girls in Tanzania
2.3 million girls in South Africa
894,000 girls in Ethiopia
2.6 million girls in Kenya
14.9 million girls in India
WHAT WE DO
We redefine what communities and girls think of themselves.
Girl Effect supports adolescent girls and young women to make informed choices and changes in their lives, enabling them to take control of their body, health, education, and future.
We work with various stakeholders, including girl researchers, creators, champions, and advisors as well as technical experts, partners, and government structures, to inspire girls, co-develop solutions, and connect them to support and services for improved health, education, and livelihoods.
Our approach redefines what communities and girls themselves, think they can and should do, shifts gender norms and uses modern technologies to reach girls in both digitally connected and disconnected communities.
HOW WE DO IT
01
Girl Centered
We engage girls at every stage.
With their advice and support, we design and deliver relevant, culturally responsive, and impactful solutions - centering their voices and needs throughout.
So far, 83 young people have contributed their expertise
and perspectives as members of our Youth Advisory Panels. Their voices are
crucial—they help shape our work, ensuring it is safe, strong, and
impactful.
Together we’ve:
- Uncovered key insights through large-scale research studies
- Developed engaging digital and analog media ecosystems
- Created evidence-based messaging to challenge long-held beliefs about gender, health, mental well-being, and economic livelihoods
- Used technology to build innovative solutions tailored to girls' unique needs
Network members collaborate with our team to co-design products and solutions - enabling us to prototype, test, and launch initiatives within their communities (designing and creating content that plays a pivotal role in driving vital conversations).
TEGAs play a crucial role in collecting authentic
insights to guide our work. We leverage technology to equip, train, and
support young women to become TEGAs, who then collect real-time insights
into the lives of their communities.
To date, we've trained 450 TEGAs who have conducted over 25,000
interviews with girls and their communities.
Girl Champions act as peer engagers - by harnessing peer
networks and support systems we can optimise a girl’s concept of who she is
and what she is capable of.
Equipped with digital tools, Girl Champions become agents of change
within their communities – facilitating discussions with wider networks -
particularly those with limited access to mobile and digital.
02
Proven Social Behaviour Change
We engage girls through evidence-based social and behavioural change.
03
Digital & Analogue Multimedia Systems
We meet girls where they are today, in the spaces and on the platforms and channels they love and trust.
Girl Effect harnesses the power of branded media (TV, radio, social media, and print) and technology (chatbots, websites, mobile applications, and interactive voice response systems) to reach young people with social behavior change communications at scale.
In places where digital access is limited, Girl Effect employs innovative solutions to ensure last-mile communities have access to the tools, services, and support they need to flourish.
04
Systems Change
We work closely with supply-side partners and governments to create sustainable change from individual to policy level.
We integrate with existing systems and co-create new solutions to facilitate access to youth-friendly and life-changing services when they are ready - supporting girls to take up new behaviors. By working closely with supply-side partners and governments, including Ministries of Health, we transform systems to work for girls.
OUR FOCUS AREAS
Improving
Adolescent
Health
We take an integratedapproach to health.
We provide adolescent girlsand young women with essential information and links to services for
immunization, mental health, nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, and early childhood
development.
We know when girls experience better health outcomes, it amplifies positively – leadingto
increased education rates, higher youth employment, and progressive social norms that erode the
internal and external barriers that hold girls back.
We equip young people to access information andservices to:
- Unlock their agency Get life-saving vaccines
- Improve their sexual and reproductive health
- Understand and care for their mental wellbeing
- Enhance their nutrition
- Provide nurturing care for their children
Ensuring
Adolescent
Education
We promote choice through knowledge.
Girls face multiple barriers to completing secondary education, including expectations from
family to contribute financially and caring responsibilities.
We support adolescent girls and young women to overcome barriers and redefine what they believe
is possible for a girl.
Supporting
Adolescent
Livelihoods
We create foundations for girls to thrive.
We support adolescent girls and young women to reimagine their futures and achieve their
economic aspirations - equipping them with the skills they need to identify and apply for
secure, fulfilling, and dignified employment opportunities.
We inspire young people to access information and services to:
- Realize, develop, and articulate their unique skills
- Apply to dignified employment opportunities
- Pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions
- Identify relevant mentors to support their journey
We create solutions with her to encourage girls to make positive changes in their lives.
From access to life-saving vaccines, to pursuing a dream and excelling in a traditionally male-dominated career, or delaying marriage to continue their education.
Transforming the world for girls includes engaging communities around them.
Our focus is always on young women because their unique needs are consistently overlooked – but we are mindful to work with boys, parents, partners, leaders, and governments to progress beliefs, systems, and structures that hold girls back.
In changing how the world sees girls and how they see themselves, while connecting them to the tools, services, and support they need, we walk with them on the path to making positive decisions.