The Diplomat: Investing in Girls, Women Key to Africa’s Economic Growth – Nafissatou Diop, UNFPA

Can you give an overview of SWEDD Plus?

The SWEDD (Sahel Women’s Empowerment and Demographic Dividend) project was created by six African Heads of State in 2013 who recognized that fertility rate in Africa was very high, and that Africa had a growing young population, with high unemployment rate, among other challenges in education and health care. But one of the most important ones was that many young girls were getting married before the age of 18. And at 13 or 14 years old, a girl can start producing, and her reproductive cycle can be very high. Of course, this has an impact on maternal mortality because a lot of them, of course die at childbirth. While those who were not in school will receive community, out-of-school education, and also access to sexual and reproductive health, so they can build the agency to ensure that they will be able to fight against gender-based violence, including child marriage, etc. That was how actually the SWEDD project was conceived.

SWEDD + is the start of a new phase of 10 years. This new phase aims to extend its impact by providing even more girls with enhanced access to education, essential and reproductive health services, and economic opportunities, accelerating their empowerment and advancing progress toward gender equality across the region. The difference between the previous SWEDD and the SWEDD Plus, Phase 1 and 2, is that much more attention will be given to issues such as gender-based violence, including child marriage, female genital mutilation; as well as climate change and the humanitarian crisis that we’re seeing because of insecurity and insurgency in some of these regions.

We found out that by bringing together education, health, economic opportunities, rather than just targeting each in silo, had more impact. We want to ensure that those negative social norms harmful to women and girl empowerment are deconstructed for young girls to realise their full potential. So, the whole vision of SWEDD is to put together a multi-sectoral, cross-sectoral approach to tackle the root causes of gender inequality, and also empower and educate girls, so they can contribute to what we call the demographic dividend. If we don’t do that, Africa’s economic growth and prosperity would be under threat. About 50% of the population in Africa is female. If the female population is left behind, we won’t see the expected economic growth for Africa.

What are some of the impacts of the SWEDD project?

In the last 10 years, SWEDD has implemented interventions that significantly impacted the lives of adolescent girls, women and communities. For example, we have been able to build more than 8,000 safe spaces for women and girls for girls across these nine countries. The project has also supported about 1 million girls through educational assistance to stay in school, through interventions such as providing scholarships, meals, transportation, etc., sometimes breaking cycles of early marriage. It has provided economic opportunities to over 150,000 young women, among others. We have also provided access to modern family planning to over 1 million new contraceptive users, with the support of their husband, and they are now adopting family planning to delay the next pregnancy. Our survey show that we are making progress by investing into this young generation of adolescent girls and young women, thereby increasing the return for investment and the indicators of demographic dividend is improving.

In your view, what does the future look like for the girl child in Africa?

With more education, the future is bright. Recently, we conducted a study in six countries, taking into account those who received the intervention about six or seven years ago. We found that their lives, their families, and communities have improved, because one or two persons within that community or village receive a certain number of interventions. We are conducting some mapping to identify the economic opportunities for girls, including education, vocational training, etc. We also found out that girls are resisting negative social norms within the communities, like child marriage. They are now taking a strong stance against gender-based violence, female genital mutilation, among others. Also, they are adopting family planning, and contributing more economically to support themselves and their families through entrepreneurship and other means.As you know, when a woman has money, it’s not for herself. It’s for the family; it’s for the children. It’s for everybody.

What should African governments do for the girl child?

African governments should make more investments in girl-child education. But I need to say this, formal education for those in school, and non-formal education for those who are already out of school. We cannot leave them behind. They are more vulnerable. We need to pay more attention to this community of out-of-school girls also. The overall investment in education is key. Also, there should be investment in health and sexual and reproductive health services. So, it’s a package of interventions and economic opportunities. These packages are paying off. Education – both formal and non-formal, life skill education, sexual and reproductive health, human rights education, access to services, maternal health services, neonatal services, family planning services, and economic opportunities. All of these need to be put together to make positive impact for African prosperity.

Is this your first time visiting Nigeria?

No, it is my second time. I stayed for five days when I first visited. Now, I have stayed for almost 10 days.

What are some things you like about the country?

I really enjoy the food. I like egusi soup. The second thing that I really enjoy in Nigeria, even before my visits, is the music. I love Nigerian music, traditional and modern music. I think that they’re doing great in Afrobeat.

Who are some of your favourite Nigerian music artistes?

I love the music of Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade. I grew up listening to them as a young girl. For today’s artistes, I like Rema, Davido, P-Square. I like a lot of them. But my favourite Nigerian artiste is a lady, Yemi Alade. We call her the Queen of Africa. Yemi Alade is my queen. She represents a strong African woman, and she represents Africa well.

Did you experience any culture shock on your first visit?

Not really. Because I think we are quite similar in West Africa. I think one area – I would say it’s more of a difference rather than a shock, would probably be in terms of culture, and some ways of expression. For instance, I appreciate how Nigerians are so respectful in their greetings. I appreciate the “good morning ma, how are you ma,” I got to hear right from the airport and everywhere. I like that… I would like to visit Nigeria again, maybe this time, on a work-free vacation. I would like to interact with the locals more.

Aside from Egusi soup, what other Nigerian food did you taste?

I ate jollof rice. It’s interesting that we also have jollof in Senegal. So, I was curious to know the Nigerian that went to Senegal to bring back a customized jollof rice (laughs). I had also visited Ghana, and there was already that debate about which country had the best jollof rice. Is it Ghana or Nigeria? I always told them that, at the end of the day, Senegal has the best jollof rice!