Nairobi, October 29, 2025 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

Financial empowerment and literacy have emerged as critical tools for protecting adolescent girls in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) from early marriage, gender-based violence, and poverty, a new study has revealed.

The joint research by Mercy Corps and Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture in Recurrent and Protracted Crisis (SPARC), titled “Pathways to Resilience: Supporting Adolescent Girls in East and West Africa’s Pastoral Areas,” was launched in Nairobi and brought together stakeholders to discuss the findings and explore sustainable ways of empowering girls.

Speaking during the event, Turkana County Deputy Governor Dr. John Erus said the findings reflect the lived realities of adolescent girls in pastoral counties such as Turkana, Samburu, Marsabit, and Garissa.

Dr. Erus commended the study for documenting the progress made under the Girls Improving Resilience through Livelihoods and Health (GIRL-H) program, noting that more than 10,000 girls in Turkana alone had benefited from the initiative.

“The challenges these girls face call for integrated planning to achieve tangible results,” said Dr. Erus. “As a county, we have created an enabling environment where government and development partners co-create and jointly fund programs that support women and girls.”

He cited ongoing initiatives such as Ujuzi Mashinani (skills development), Inko Moko (financial inclusion), and business de-risking efforts by IFC and Equity Bank as examples of successful models that have improved young women’s lives and strengthened local resilience.

Nelson Owange, a representative from Mercy Corps, said the focus on adolescent girls was deliberate, as they form a significant portion of the population in pastoral regions and face unique vulnerabilities.

“We have been implementing these programs for about eight years in Turkana, Garissa, and Marsabit,” said Owange. “Our data shows that vulnerability significantly increases when girls lack literacy and are economically disempowered. Beyond education and finance, we must also address health, nutrition, and other aspects of their wellbeing.”

The GIRL-H program combined cash transfers, life skills, and vocational training to strengthen girls’ capacity to adapt to changing climatic and socio-economic conditions. Many beneficiaries have since transitioned into stable livelihoods and self-sufficiency.

Nasra Abdi, a beneficiary from Garissa, said she had dropped out of school and faced an uncertain future before joining the program. Through business training and mentorship, she returned to school, earned a diploma in Community Health Sciences, and now supports her family independently.

“This program gave me confidence and a sense of direction. I can provide for my family and make my own decisions,” she said.

From Samburu County, Hellen Nankoya shared a similar experience. After receiving training in garment making and pasture reseeding, she now sells seeds and earns a steady income while ensuring her livestock remain close to home.

“My children have enough milk, and I no longer worry about long treks for pasture,” she said. “My life is much more settled and secure.”

Stakeholders at the Nairobi meeting called for the scaling up of such interventions to other ASAL counties, emphasizing the importance of early empowerment — particularly before girls reach the age of 12 — as a pathway to breaking the cycle of vulnerability and dependency.

Dr. Erus reiterated Turkana County’s commitment to partnering with organizations like Mercy Corps in implementing girl-centered programs that build resilience and promote equality.

“When girls are empowered, the entire community becomes stronger,” he said.

The research comes at a time when global statistics show that Africa has one of the youngest and fastest-growing populations, underscoring the urgency of investing in adolescent girls and youth through health, education, and economic empowerment programs to unlock the continent’s full potential.

Owange added that empowering girls is a direct investment in sustainable development.

“When we invest in future leaders of the continent — adolescent girls and young people — everyone benefits. The research shows why we must create an environment where every girl and youth can succeed,” he said.