Teaching out-of-school girls how to save, budget, and run small businesses is proving to be one of the most effective ways to help them return to school or build stable, self-reliant lives free from early marriage, a new study has found.
The research, jointly conducted by Mercy Corps and Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture in Recurrent and Protracted Crisis (SPARC), sheds light on how financial empowerment and literacy can transform the lives of adolescent girls in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) an ecosystem considered to be highly fragile for girls, exposing them to vulnerabilities.
Titled “Pathways to Resilience: Supporting Adolescent Girls in East and West Africa’s Pastoral Areas,” the study draws on data collected during the eight years of implementing the Girls Improving Resilience through Livelihoods and Health (GIRL-H) program in fragile and pastoral contexts across Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, and Garissa counties.
Speaking during the report’s launch in Nairobi, Turkana County Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus said the findings reflect the lived realities of adolescent girls in pastoral regions.
“The challenges these girls face call for integrated planning to achieve tangible results,” said Dr. Erus.
“As a county, we have created an enabling environment where government and development partners co-create and jointly fund programs that support women and out of school girls with basic literacy and financial empowerment.
”He commended the GIRL-H program for documenting the progress made in empowering out-of-school girls, noting that more than 10,000 girls in Turkana alone had benefited from the initiative.
He cited ongoing County and partner led initiatives such as Ujuzi Mashinani (skills development), Inko Moko (financial inclusion), and business de-risking efforts by IFC and Equity Bank as other successful models that have strengthened local resilience and improved livelihoods for out of school girls and young women.
Nelson Owange, director of programs at Mercy Corps, explained that the focus on out-of-school adolescent girls was deliberate, given their heightened vulnerability in pastoral areas.
“We have been implementing GIRL-H program for about eight years in Turkana, Garissa, and Marsabit,” said Owange.
“Our data shows that vulnerability significantly increases when girls lack literacy and are economically disempowered. Beyond education and finance, we must also address health, nutrition, and other aspects of their wellbeing.”
The GIRL-H program combined basic literacy, cash transfers, life skills, and vocational training to strengthen girls’ ability to adapt to changing climatic and socio-economic conditions.
Many participants have since transitioned into more stable livelihoods or returned to school through self-initiative.
Nasra Abdi, a beneficiary from Garissa, shared how the program had transformed her life. Having dropped out of school, she faced an uncertain future before joining GIRL-H.
Through business training and mentorship, she gained confidence, started a hand craft business and, managed to re-enroll in school. She is now self employed, a diploma holder in Community Health Sciences and an employer.
“This program gave me direction and independence. I can now provide for my family, assist other vulnerable girls and make my own decisions,” said Nasra.
From Samburu County, Hellen Nankoya narrated an equally inspiring story.
After receiving vocational training in garment making and pasture reseeding, she started a garment business and diversified her income by investing in the reseeding techniques she learned.
“My children have enough milk, and I no longer worry about walking long distances for pasture,” she said. “The money I make supports their education and daily needs.
My life is much more settled and secure.”For the case of Turkana, Mildred Ekal confirmed that the number of livestock in her yard had significantly improved, her business was thriving at Lokichoggio and was sure of some savings from the local savings and loans association they formed with other out of school girls who benefitted from the program.
“I can confirm, we are no longer the people we were after graduating from the GIRL-H program. Personally I have more than 20 goats yet I started with nothing.
My shop speaks for itself. We have formed a group with other girls where we save and borrow money,” she explained.
The report, launched in Nairobi this week, found that teaching out-of-school girls how to save, budget, and run small businesses is among the most effective ways to help them return to school or build stable, self-reliant lives free from early marriage.
Stakeholders at the launch urged county governments and partners to scale up similar interventions to other ASAL counties, emphasizing early empowerment—particularly before girls reach age 12 as a pathway to breaking cycles of poverty, dependency, and gender-based vulnerability.
Roy Sakwa, the executive director of National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) noted that the findings come just days after the International Day of the Girl Child, providing timely content for policy shifts in girl-focused programming.
“The evidence justifies calls to include adolescent girls among the categories eligible for cash transfers to start and grow small businesses,” she said, adding that such empowerment efforts complement—not replace—formal education.
Dr. Erus reiterated Turkana County’s commitment to partnerships with organizations like Mercy Corps in implementing girl-centered programs that build resilience and promote gender equality.
“When girls are empowered, the entire community becomes stronger,” he affirmed.
The research’s release comes at a time when Africa’s youthful population continues to grow rapidly, justifying the urgency of investing in adolescent girls and youth through health, education, and economic empowerment programs to unlock the continent’s full potential.
Owange summed up the message:”When we invest in future leaders of the continent—adolescent girls and young people—everyone benefits. The research shows why we must create an environment where every girl and youth can succeed.”
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