GAGE Rigorous Review: Girls' clubs, life skills programmes and girls' well-being outcomes

This review synthesises studies on the empowerment impacts of girls’ clubs and life skills programmes with a gender equality focus

From:
Department for International Development
Published
19 September 2017
Document Type:
Research Paper
Theme:
Social Change
Authors:
Marcus, R, Gupta-Archer, N, Darcy, M, Page, E

Abstract

This rigorous review synthesises studies on the empowerment impacts of girls’ clubs and life skills programmes with a gender equality focus.

Girls’ clubs, or youth development clubs, have become an increasingly common component of school-based and community-based programmes that aim to improve capability outcomes and broader wellbeing of girls in developing countries. While some in the development community are enthusiastic about the potential of such clubs to empower girls, others raise questions about their impact, reach, sustainability and cost-effectiveness. The review, the first of its kind to synthesise existing evaluations of girls’ clubs, finds substantial evidence of the positive impact of these programmes, particularly around changes in discriminatory gender norms and practices. It also highlights remaining programming and knowledge gaps.

This review is an output of the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) programme

Citation

Marcus, R., Gupta-Archer, N., Darcy, M. and Page, E. (2017) GAGE Rigorous Review: girls’ clubs, life skills programmes and girls’ well-being outcomes. London: Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence.

GAGE Rigorous Review: Girls’ clubs, life skills programmes and girls’ well-being outcomes

Published 19 September 2017
Contents