Accelerating impact for young women

Clubs are safe spaces, each with two mentors serving, on average, 100 participants in four groups of 25 members- very young adolescent girls, young women, and adolescent boys and young men. Clubs are located within the community they serve and schedules are determined by their members. The clubs will host regular sessions with members, including dedicated sessions with families and partners, cross-gender dialogues, savings group activities, etc. In the sessions, the participants build their life skills through a comprehensive age-specific curriculum.

Creating linkages for adolescent girls and young women to existing service providers of critical services needed by girls and young women. These services include and are not limited to, youth- friendly sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, child protection, psychosocial services and market linkages, especially in remote communities where access to markets is limited.

Educational support for adolescent girls and young women to ensure they continue their education. We focus on participants in school, those at risk of dropping out of, and those who dropped out of school.

Focus on inclusion for groups who are underserved and left behind, such as those living in extreme poverty, young people with disabilities, and those living in a situation of displacement such as refugees, and internally displaced persons. We provide reasonable accommodation and tailor support to meet unique needs.

Livelihood support where adolescent girls, and young women eligible to engage in income-generating activities are linked to livelihood opportunities along four major pathways. The livelihood pathways are shaped by a comprehensive market system and value chain analysis which identifies in-demand skills, trades, and value chains. Participants take one of the following livelihood pathways to realise decent work and sustainable livelihoods: Community-based livelihoods on market-viable agri-enterprises (such as climate-smart agriculture and livestock management); Entrepreneurship (including non-farm community-based livelihoods and childcare enterprises); Vocational skills training in gender-transformative sub-sectors through technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions; Apprenticeships where adolescent girls and young women are placed with a master craftsperson and later supported into job placements. We creates linkages for adolescent girls and young women to existing service providers. These services include and are not limited to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, child protection, psychosocial services and market linkages, especially in remote communities where access to markets is limited.

Market development to boost livelihood support activities to ensure adolescent girls and young women are able to grow their enterprises, especially in remote communities where markets are underdeveloped or access to markets is limited. We ease barriers faced by adolescent girls and young women, while accessing market opportunities. Such interventions include market actor and private sector engagement, market facilitation, and training participants so they can provide agriculture and livestock extension services in their communities

Mentors are young women and men who are rigorously trained to deliver curriculum, manage clubs and receive an honorarium for their work. A female mentor facilitates three age groups of adolescent girls and young women through their club, and a male mentor facilitates boys and young men in the clubs. Mentors are selected from the community, based on strong interpersonal skills, and positive social standing in the community. Beyond the club, they are role models who help connect members to resources in the community.

Transitions most of the participants into ongoing empowerment collectives or groups for long-term impact. These transitions may include connections to other locally existing programmes including BRAC Microfinance (for eligible participants) or forming self-governing groups that are run by participants.

Village savings and loan associations are savings groups that are formed within the clubs for girls and women aged 15 to 35, who are engaged in livelihoods, to build a savings culture and provide them with a safe space to save and avail small credit from a pooled funding to invest or meet emergency needs. The savings groups are optional. Participants commit to an amount that the group determines.

Youth development committees are formed with community members, including community leaders, professionals, persons with disabilities, and youth participants, to promote a sense of guardianship. The committee plays a key role in protecting and promoting young people’s rights and wellbeing – following up on attendance, helping to prevent incidences of gender-based violence and support for survivors, resource mobilisation for emergencies, and establishing links to social services, marketing opportunities, and local advocacy.