USAID grants Somalia $50m to fund education

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced on Friday nearly $50 million in education funding in Somalia.

In a statement, the U.S. embassy in the Somali capital of Mogadishu said the five-year program “aims to increase access to quality education and support accelerated learning for out-of-school children and youth who have been persistently left behind.”Dubbed “Bar Ama Baro”, or Teach or Learn, the program brings funding for Somali education by USAID to $65 Million Dollars.

“USAID is currently supporting a $10 million project implemented by UNICEF and a $5 million contribution to the Girls’ Education Challenge program managed by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development,” the statement added.

The U.S. Government says it recognizes that investment in education is essential for Somalia’s growth and prosperity.  The embassy believes that Educating girls, in particular, has positive impacts on society such as lower fertility rates and healthier, better-educated children and families.

“USAID is currently supporting a $10 million project implemented by UNICEF and a $5 million contribution to the Girls’ Education Challenge program managed by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development,” the statement added.

Somalia welcomed the announcement, saying: “More goodies & goodwill when governance is well driven.”end of quote.The U.S. Government says it recognizes that investment in education is essential for Somalia’s growth and prosperity.  The embassy belives that by Educating girls, in particular, has positive impacts on society such as lower fertility rates and healthier, better educated children and families.