This brief looks at the circumstances of around 13 million teenage girls in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Niger who are between the ages of 10 and 19. Conflict, fragility, and shocks connected to climate change exacerbate structural hurdles such poor economic inclusion, high rates of child marriage, limited agency, and limited access to education. It draws attention to notable differences both within and between nations that are influenced by wealth, geography, and rural-urban divides, which are especially severe in Chad and Niger. The research highlights the compelling economic justification for investing in teenage girls despite these obstacles, projecting significant long-term gains from better results. The brief further identifies four priority areas for action based on recent data: increasing secondary education, enhancing school-to-work transitions, lowering early marriage through social and legal reforms, and bolstering regional policy coordination.
documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099206004292626161