Independent research & practical ideas for global prosperity

Girls Count: A Global Investment & Action Agenda

Jan 30, 2008

The wellbeing of adolescent girls has a decisive impact on developing countries' current and future economic and social prosperity, but girls' needs remain at the margins of global development policies and programs. Why should we pay more attention to girls? What difference can adolescent girls make in achieving positive development outcomes? How can stakeholders initiate effective investments that will give girls in developing countries a full and equal chance for rewarding lives and livelihoods?

On Wednesday, January 30, 2008, The Center for Global Development, The Population Council and The International Center for Research on Women co-hosted the launch of Girls Count: A Global Investment & Action Agenda.

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Report authors Ruth Levine, Vice President for Programs and Operations, and Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development; Cynthia Lloyd, Senior Associate, Poverty, Gender, and Youth Program and Chair, Bixby Fellowship Program, The Population Council; Margaret Greene, Director, Population and Social Transitions Team, International Center for Research on Women (ICRW); and Caren Grown, Economist-in-Residence, Department of Economics, American University presented their findings.

Discussants included Kathy Calvin, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, United Nations Foundation; Laura Laski, Coordinator, Adolescent/Youth Cluster, Reproductive Health Branch, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); Joan Libby-Hawk, Public Affairs Specialist, United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); and Caroline Ryan, Director of Program Services, Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. Remarks were provided by Gaisu Yari, Afghan immigrant, currently seeking asylum from forced marriage and gender discrimination, with assistance from translator Feroza Yari. Lawrence MacDonald, Director of Communications and Policy, Center for Global Development, moderated the discussion.

**This event was made possible with the generous support from the UN Foundation and the Nike Foundation.