Pathways to Prosperity for Adolescent Girls in Africa

Empowering Adolescent Girls in Africa

Kehinde Ajayi, Estelle Koussoubé

• Publisher: World Bank Publications
• Year: 2025
• Topic: Economics
• eBook ISBN:
  9781464820625
• Subtopic: Development Economics
• Index: Economics

Africa stands at a crossroads, with its future prosperity hinging on the policy and investment decisions it makes today. The continent has an opportunity to shape the trajectories of generations to come by investing in the success of a pivotal population: its adolescent girls. With over 145 million adolescent girls calling Africa home, the potential for transformative change is immense. Yet challenges persist: from high rates of child marriage to limited educational opportunities. Over half of African girls ages 15 to 19 are out of school or married or have children. How can African countries overcome these challenges to ensure that adolescent girls enter adulthood empowered to thrive? Pathways to Prosperity for Adolescent Girls in Africa offers a groundbreaking road map for change. This landmark report • Outlines concrete, actionable policy recommendations; • Provides a comprehensive review of evidence-based interventions; • Presents a data-driven categorization of African countries to guide investments in adolescent girls; and • Introduces an innovative framework for understanding and measuring adolescent girls' empowerment. Drawing on extensive research and consultations with adolescent girls, policy makers, and practitioners, this report reveals that investing in adolescent girls can yield a tenfold return in economic impact. It outlines six key areas for targeted action: building human capital, enhancing economic success, focusing on the most vulnerable girls, adopting a holistic approach, addressing data and evidence gaps, and mobilizing diverse stakeholders. Whether you are a policy maker, researcher, development practitioner, or advocate, this report will equip you with the knowledge and tools to drive meaningful change. Discover how empowering adolescent girls can transform individual lives and African economies. Join the movement to secure a brighter future for Africa's adolescent girls and nations alike. The time for action is now.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Halftitle Page
• Series Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• About the Editors and Contributors
• Key Messages
• Executive Summary
• Abbreviations
• Introduction
• Chapter 1. What Does Adolescent Girls’ Empowerment Mean?
• Spotlight 1. The Challenges of Measuring Girls’ Empowerment
• Chapter 2. What Do We Know about Adolescent Girls’ Experiences in Africa?
• Spotlight 2. Exploring the Complexity of Adolescent Girls’ Empowerment: Insights from Impact Evaluation Surveys in Africa
• Chapter 3. What Do We Know about Improving Human Capital Fundamentals among Adolescent Girls in Africa?
• Spotlight 3. Quality Implementation of Safe Spaces Programs
• Chapter 4. What Do We Know about Enhancing Economic Success among Adolescent Girls in Africa?
• Spotlight 4. Focusing on Change: Analyzing the Political Economy of Adolescent Girls’ Empowerment Initiatives in Africa
• Chapter 5. Conclusions
• Eco-Audit: Environmental Benefits Statement
• Back Cover