Girls Making the Grade: Closing the Education Gap in Fragile Settings

Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) and World University Service of Canada (WUSC) are pleased to invite you to an event on girls’ education in fragile settings.

The Government of Canada is boldly committed to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. This global commitment has been expressed through the Feminist International Assistance Policy and, more recently, the G7 Declaration on Quality Education for Girls, Adolescent Girls and Women in Developing Countries, as well as the historic G7 investment in education for women and girls in crisis and conflict situations.

This policy environment provides a framework to bring together leading thinkers and experts to discuss innovative approaches to achieving transformative change for women and girls through education in fragile contexts. As stated in the G7 Summit communique, “equal access to quality education is vital to achieve the empowerment and equal opportunity of girls and women, especially in developing contexts and countries struggling with conflict.”

This interactive session will bring together practitioners, policymakers, youth and academics to share lessons, challenges and opportunities in achieving access to quality education for girls and adolescent girls in fragile settings and conflict areas.

The program will include presentations, panels, and small group discussions that will allow participants to dive into areas of particular interest to their work. A panel of young women will discuss their educational experiences in conflict-affected areas, helping to ground the conversation in real world experiences.

Confirmed Speakers

Julia Dicum, Deputy Director, Global Affairs Canada

Sarah Holst, Portfolio Lead, Girls Education Challenge

Muno Osman, former WUSC Student Refugee Program participant

Nafisa Shekhova, Global Education Advisor, Aga Khan Foundation

Elizabeth Yom, former WUSC Student Refugee Program participant

Space is limited. Please register in advance.