Mali Girls Leadership and Empowerment Through Education (GLEE) Quarterly Report April 1, 2020-June 30, 2020

The project focuses on three main objectives: decreasing key barriers to quality education, improving safety of adolescent girls in schools and communities, and increasing knowledge and adoption of positive health behaviors among adolescent girls. To achieve these objectives, the project has implemented various activities, including learning support opportunities for girls, teaching that is more responsive and relevant for adolescent girls, and community and family support for girls' education. The project has also established strategies and policies to safeguard adolescent girls in schools and communities, effective reporting and referral mechanisms for school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV), and perceptions of safety in communities and schools. During the third quarter of the fiscal year (April 1, 2020 - June 30, 2020), the project adapted to the new realities in Mali due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Despite the challenges, the project made significant progress in achieving its objectives. For example, learning support opportunities for girls were increased, and teaching became more responsive and relevant for adolescent girls. Communities and families also showed increased support for girls' education. The project also made progress in improving safety for adolescent girls in schools and communities. Strategies and policies to safeguard adolescent girls were adopted in schools and communities, and effective reporting and referral mechanisms for SRGBV were established. Perceptions of safety in communities and schools also improved. In addition, the project increased knowledge and adoption of positive health behaviors among adolescent girls. Positive health behaviors were adopted by adolescent girls, and their knowledge of and access to health services increased. Health barriers to education were also reduced. The project has a total estimated cost of $15,000,000 USD and is implemented by Winrock International, with subcontractors IntraHealth International, Œuvre Malienne d'Aide a L'Enfance du Sahel (OMAES), Groupe d'Animation, Action, au Sahel-Mali (GAAS-Mali), and Center for the Promotion of Human Rights and Development in Africa (CPHDA). The project is implemented in the Kayes and Mopti regions in Mali, with a main project office in Bamako, Mali. The project has several major counterpart organizations, including the Government of Mali, the Ministry of Education (MEN), the Ministry for the Advancement of Women, Children, and the Family (MPFF), and the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene (MSHP). The project's geographic coverage includes the Kayes and Mopti regions in Mali, with a main project office in Bamako, Mali. Overall, the GLEE project in Mali has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak. The project continues to adapt to the new realities in Mali and remains committed to increasing access to quality education for adolescent girls.