Girls’ Education Task Force launched by global business leaders

A new Girls’ Education Task Force to overcome barriers that discriminate against girls and their right to education has been launched today by the Global Business Coalition for Education.

Led by the Dangote Foundation and Standard Chartered, it will pledge to address the issue of 31 million out-of-school girls and leverage the resources, networks and know-how of business to ensure girls are completing school, developing skills and finding jobs to reach their full potential. Using technology to improve access to education for the most marginalised girls will be a cornerstone of the task force.

It was launched today at an #UpForSchool event held at Facebook’s HQ in London as part of the build-up to International Women’s Day on March 8. GBC-Education Executive Chair Sarah Brown launched the initiative and said: “The journey of having the best start in life means having the chance to go to school, which is why we are launching the Girls’ Education Task Force.”

Over the coming year, the task force will focus on developing new strategies for companies to more effectively deliver on the promise of universal education for girls worldwide. Other global brands involved include Gucci.

GBC-Ed, representing more than 100 companies working to improve education for children and youth in developing countries, already reaches six million girls through its investments in empowerment, mentoring and Safe Schools.