Adolescence

Project on Participation and Development Rights of Adolescent Girls (PDAP) in Mali

© UNICEF/HQ97-1292/Pirozzi

The project on Participation and Development Rights of Adolescent Girls is the result of a collaborative effort by three UN agencies-UNICEF, UNDP and UNFPA and the national government of Mali funded by the United Nations Foundation.

Project Objectives

To know, understand and improve the conditions and the current situation of Adolescent Girls in Mali through

Adolescent girls development
extend literacy activities for marginalized and migrant (working) adolescents girls Analyse livelihoods opportunities linked with micro finance (savings, credits)

Reproductive health (RH)
enhance adolescent girls capacity in decision making concerning RH

Legal and social protection
enhance capacity of adolescent girls in promotion of their rights

Adolescent girls participation
promote the participation of girls in democratic process and public life

Cross sectoral initiatives
comprehensive approach to adolescent development harmonize information and data sources on adolescents

Project Background

Situation of Adolescents particularly girls in Benin

50% of the population are less than15 years old

22% of the population are between 10 to 19

Primary education for girls compared to boys are 11.9% to 15.6%

Secondary education for girls compared to boys 7% to 15.1%

42% of girls between 15-19 years are married

42.4% of girls 15-19 are against the use of contraceptive

DHS data analysed by Population Council- link

The key assumptions in designing the pilot intervention were based on the following

"adolescent girls" as a group is unknown and they have particular needs;

development policies, projects and programs do not take this group into account;

interventions are partial, punctual, and often poorly identified;

adolescents are confused with children and women;

often, adolescents are considered as a homogenous group.

Within the overall support provided to the project by UNF, UNICEF received $ 480,900 for a period of two years (January 2001-March 2003) for the execution of the project activities.

UNICEF have taken a lead in the areas of non formal schooling including exploring livelihood options linked to credit facilities and advocacy and capacity building on rights promotion for adolescent girls particularly the marginalized and under-privileged. A comprehensive approach to adolescent development and participation involving all the actors is also one of the priority focus of UNICEF within the project. 

Initiation of the project in collaboration with development partners and the Government of Mali reinforces and renews the commitment made by different actors towards CRC and CEDAW for furthering the rights of adolescents.

The sustainability of the project is based on the assumption that with the evaluation results from the 2-year experience a coherent project with a objective to integrate adolescent girls issues in the mainstream UNDAF framework will be submitted for further funding.  

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